The Holiday Season often means a great deal of cooking time spent in the kitchen and with all of that work comes increased spills from fatty meats and poultry, cheeses, pies and other such foods.  And an increase in spills prompts many to use oven cleaners – to dissolve both baked-on food and grease but people need to be careful using those products.

According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, most of the oven cleaners have high PH levels, making them caustic; if that oven cleaner is not wiped off completely it can smoke when it burns off causing burns or irritation to exposed tissue – the mouth, skin, eyes or airways.

If swallowed oven cleaners can also cause vomiting and burns to the lips, mouth, throat, and digestive tract.

Most symptoms are very mild BUT a burn on the lips can cause swelling, redness and blistering in the mouth and throat.

When inhaled oven cleaners can irritate airways, causing symptoms that range from coughing and chest pain to shortness of breath – and possible chemical burns in the throat.  Chemical burns in the throat could lead to swelling, which can possibly block the windpipe, and cause the person to drool.

A burn in the skin can cause redness, peeling, blistering – and swelling – and lead to deeper, more severe burns.

ADPH said people should follow all instructions on, and pay attention to, product safety warnings.

If you do opt to use the products, ADPH recommends wearing thick, long protective gloves, safety glasses, and also a respirator to avoid chemicals entering your lungs.

The 24/7 toll-free number for the Alabama Poison Information Center at Children’s of Alabama is 800-222-1222 – for poison advice for all ages.