More than 500 people in the Western Cape were poisoned by common household cleaning products in the first half of 2025, health officials say. The provincial Poisons Information Helpline logged 6 142 poisoning calls between January and June, with 514 cases linked to household items such as bleach, laundry detergent, air fresheners and polishes, reports Cape town Etc .
Bleach caused the largest number of incidents, followed by dish and laundry detergents, air fresheners and polishes, the department said. Bright packaging and strong scents can attract young children, and the helpline found 243 of the household-product poisonings involved children under five TimesLIVE .
Cindy-Lee Golding, a specialist at the Tygerberg Poison Information Centre, said many incidents come from everyday accidents. A momentary lapse, such as leaving a bottle open or storing a cleaner within reach, can have serious consequences, she said.