Don't let hazardous household products and floodwaters mix
Minnesota flood information
Minnesota stream levels: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and MPCA Cooperative Stream Gaging
National Weather Service (NWS): Minnesota forecasts and flood information and forecasts.
USGS stream flow conditions: Provides daily updates on stream and river flooding conditions in Minnesota.
Minnesota Department of Health: Cleanup and health tips for homeowners and businesses.
Spring has sprung and floodwaters are rising. Now’s the time to prepare and protect the inside of your home by getting rid of unneeded hazardous household products. A hazardous household product has one or more of these words on the label: caution, warning, danger, poison, flammable, reactive, corrosive, toxic.
If you still have a use for an item and want to keep it, move it to a place that you are certain will not be flooded. Any items you no longer need should be taken to your county’s household hazardous waste facility. If you live in Minnesota, Find your household hazardous waste collection site.
Check areas that are likely to be flooded for these products
In the basement, workbench, or craft areas
- paint
- varnish
- paint thinner
- household batteries
- furniture stripper
In the laundry room and other storage areas
- furniture polish
- spot remover
- pet flea spray/collars
- bleach
In the garage and where yard products are kept
- motor oil
- gasoline
- antifreeze
- weedkillers, insecticides and other pesticides
- fertilizers
- pool chemicals
- other chemicals
In the kitchen
- drain, oven, and floor cleaners
- disinfectant
- ammonia
In the bathroom
- nail polish/remover
- drain cleaner
- pharmaceuticals
- sharps
- aerosol sprays
You can print out this checklist to identify common hazardous products in your home: 
Healthy home checklist (w-hhw1-35) .
Other tips
Items such as vehicle batteries and propane tanks should also be moved to higher ground because they pose a danger if their contents are released to the environment.
It’s also a good idea to move canned goods and other foodstuffs so they’ll be out of harm’s way. Should these come in contact with flood waters, they are considered unsafe for consumption and have to be thrown away.
Putting containers of bottled or other potable water in a place that will remain dry throughout flooding is another wise precaution. This will ensure that you’ll have safe water to drink and to cook with.
For more information
More information about disposing of hazardous waste: Household hazardous waste
More advice on what to do before and after flooding to minimize risks to health and damage to property and the environment is on the Floods: Minimizing pollution and health risks webpage.
