Antifreeze & Automotive Fluids
Ethylene glycol antifreeze tastes sweet to children and pets, and even a small swallow is dangerous — the poisoning develops over hours, so it can go unnoticed until it is serious
Spot it
A green or orange jug within reach, a drip pan under the car, or fluids decanted into unlabeled containers. Pets find spills first; toddlers find open jugs.
Fix it
Store all automotive fluids locked and in original containers. Choose propylene-glycol antifreeze (the lower-toxicity formulation) and brands with bittering agents. Wipe spills immediately — antifreeze on the floor is the classic exposure. Windshield fluid (methanol) belongs in the same locked cabinet. If a child or pet may have swallowed antifreeze, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 immediately — Poison Control's antifreeze guidance explains why waiting for symptoms is the wrong move.
Safer swaps
What actually fixes this — the category to look for, not a brand we were paid to name.
Propylene glycol ('safer'/pet-safe) antifreeze
Dramatically lower toxicity than ethylene glycol
No shopping list for this hazard — the fix is a habit, not a purchase.
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