skip to main content
MSDMERCK MANUALConsumer Version
Search icon

Some Nontoxic Household Products*

  1. Adhesives

  2. Antacids

  3. Bath oil†

  4. Bathtub toys (floating)

  6. Body conditioners

  7. Bubble bath soaps (detergents)†

  8. Candles

  10. Carboxymethylcellulose (dehydrating material packed with film, books, and other products)

  12. Cetyl alcohol (also called palmityl oil, a substance used in certain cosmetic products such as shampoos and conditioners)

  14. Colognes

  15. Contraceptives

  16. Corticosteroids (applied to the skin)

  17. Cosmetics

  18. Crayons

  19. Deodorants

  20. Deodorizers, spray and refrigerant

  21. Diaper rash cream and ointment

  22. Dry cell battery (alkaline)

  23. Fabric softeners

  24. Glow products, such as glow sticks and glow necklaces

  25. Glycerol

  26. Glyceryl monostearate

  27. Graphite

  28. Gums (such as acacia, agar, and ghatti)

  29. Hand lotions and creams

  31. Incense

  32. Indelible markers

  33. Ink (the amount in a ballpoint pen)

  34. Iodide salts

  35. Kaolin

  37. “Lead” pencils (which are really made of graphite)

  38. Linoleic acid

  39. Linseed oil (not boiled)

  40. Magic markers

  41. Matches

  44. Modeling clay

  45. Newspaper

  46. Paint (water color or water-based)

  47. Perfumes

  48. Petroleum jelly

  49. Plant food (household)

  51. Polysorbate

  52. Putty

  53. Sachets (essential oils, powders)

  54. Shaving creams and lotions

  55. Silica (silicon dioxide)

  56. Soap and soap products (including hand soap)

  57. Spermaceti

  58. Starch and sizing

  59. Stearic acid

  60. Sunscreens

  62. Titanium dioxide

  63. Toothpaste with or without fluoride

  64. Triacetin (glyceryl triacetate)

  65. Vitamins (children’s multiple with or without iron)

  66. Vitamins (multiple without iron)

  67. Wax or paraffin

  69. Zirconium oxide

* Almost any substance can be toxic if ingested in sufficient amounts.

† Moderately viscous (thick) substances like oils and detergents are not toxic if ingested but can cause significant lung injury if they are inhaled or aspirated into the lungs.

In these topics