storing food and cleaners in same area

[organized lady]

I'm turning an unused basement room into a big storage pantry! I would like to store all my stockpile, food and household cleaners, etc, in this one place. My concern is: will the fumes from the cleaners(lysol kitchen cleaner, toilet bowl cleaners, dishwashing and dishwasher det. etc) get into my boxed foods(cake mixes, cereals and the like)? What is your opinion? Thanks for your input.

[Grainlady]

Call your local health department for more information. I'm pretty sure they can be safely stored together, but you will need to maintain a certain amount of space between them. I keep my non-food items in plastic zip-lock bags and then store them in plastic totes (with lids).

You may want to take some additional precautions with things in boxes (for instance - salt, dishwasher detergent, cake mixes, etc.). Boxes tend to absorb moisture during long storage time in a basement. Place them in a zip-lock bag (remove as much air as possible), or vacuum-sealed using a FoodSaver for additional protection. Where I live it's important to use a dehumidifier for 6-8-months out of the year in the basement.

Don't store anything in direct contact with concrete (floors or walls). Elevate everything on shelves or pallets.

http://extension.usu.edu/foodstorage...age-conditions

[MaryCarney]

I wouldn't worry about fumes for stuff as much as I would accidentally mixing things.

As a former ER nurse, I would recommend not putting edible stuff on the same shelf as non-edible.

I've seen liquid floor wax put in potato salad, and a lady accidentally put nitroglycerine paste on her brush instead of toothpaste (yeah, that was bad)

We had a man DIE becuase he took ONE SWALLOW of concentrated flea dip he mistook for cough syrup in the dark.

I could go on and on - like I said, fumes are the least of your worries!

[udwe]

There is a reason baggers @ the grocery stores separate food from cleaning stuff. That said, I have mine in the same general area, but they are slightly outside the area the food is kept.

[frugalwarrior]

I keep mine in completely different rooms. I even have seperate containers of baking soda and vinegar for consuming and cleaning. I need to paint in the room next to the pantry and will seal it w/ plastic before. We take our shoes off before entering and wash the tops of can goods. It's my food. Why risk it. We are exposed to enough. JMHO.

[organized lady]

thanks for the response! I think I will continue to store the cleaners in the garage as I do now. I certainly did not intend on putting food stuff and cleaners on the same shelves! Not even on the same side of the room!! Wouldn't want to take that kind of chance with my food items.
I do have a dehumidifier in the basement, that I use most months of the year, it is a must here in the South I never store items directly on concrete or next to it. Never have had mice in this finished basement room, but have had scorpions, about an inch long.
I really appreciate your input, it helped me think it through as to what is best for me and mine

[NewLeaf]

I have most of my food in one room in my basement - just one shelf. And my non food items on a shelf in the other room of the basement. But I ran out of room on the food shelf so I put boxes of cereal in a big plastic tub w/lid on the non food shelf. I may end up switching areas. I have to put anything in a box or bag in an airtight and mouseproof container. Why risk my food when I can get cheap buckets from the bakery at Ingles?

But generally, I try to keep food and non food separate.

[frugalwarrior2]

Doesn't moisture effect the boxed food?? We have to run a dehumidifier all the time in our bsmt. In fact in our other house cans took on a little rust eventually.

[Grainlady]

Doesn't moisture effect the boxed food?? We have to run a dehumidifier all the time in our bsmt. In fact in our other house cans took on a little rust eventually.

Yes, moisture effects boxed foods, or laundry aids in boxes (Borax and Washing Soda), as well as foods sold in paper bags (flour, salt, etc.). If this is a problem, transfer the contents of a boxed item to a glass jar or a plastic storage container with a tight-fitting lid. A FoodSaver is so handy for all kinds of storage items. You can seal boxed foods in the FoodSaver bags - seal the bag before all the air is completely remove from the bag to prevent the box and contents from getting completely crushed. Place boxed items into a ZIP-LOCK bag and remove as much air as possible (using a drinking straw) will also help. I've even considered placing some of our long-term storage food (#10 cans) in those large Space Bags - https://www.spacebag.com/ - to reduce the potential for rusting in the basement.

You can do treatments to cans that have to be stored long-term in a humid area. For more information, check out the link below.

Source: Prudent Food Storage - scroll down to page 60
http://survivalacres.com/information...storagefaq.pdf

[frugalwarrior2]

Thanks for the website GL. I actually have a foodsaver I bought at a GS but never have used. Just on the run too much. Maybe a goal for 2010.