Housekeeping safety tips

Home is where the “heart” is. Everyone needs to feel safe and secure in their home. Unfortunately, this is a myth, most accidents occur in the home. How can you make sure that your house is safe and accident-free? Here are a few housekeeping safety tips to help you accomplish this most important of tasks.

Never store anything where it can be reached by children or pets

It isn’t just the cleaning supplies that you use that can be toxic; it is also the weed killers, the ant cups, and the air-freshener. The list is endless. Take the time to look at the labels of all the things you use routinely to see if they pose a health hazard. You will be surprised at what can cause damage if it is ingested or gets into eyes.

Move everything to a high shelf or if possible out of the house and be sure to store in accordance with the package directions. Many items need to be stored in cool, dry places. There is a danger of combustion when some items are stored too close to a heat source.

Never mix chemicals

Always read the package to find out if the cleaning solutions contain ammonia or bleach, these two-in-particular produce a lethal chlorine gas when they are combined. Make sure that there is proper ventilation when you are using cleaning solutions.

Keep walkways and stairs in your home clear and clutter free

Don’t use your stairs to store items, not only can this cause falling accidents but in case of fire or emergency, you don’t want to worry about navigating an obstacle course.

Chimney and furnace

Have your chimney and furnace cleaned yearly to avoid fires and keep flammable items away from heat-sources. Part of your yearly maintenance should be to replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. This is one of the most important safety tips. Your family’s lives may depend on it.

Cords and wires

Make sure that the cord on your vacuum; carpet cleaner or steam cleaner is in good repair. You don’t want to get an electrical shock and especially when you are using water with electricity. Never leave the cleaners plugged in when not in use. Cords are a trip hazard and pets just love to chew them.

Ladder

If you are using a ladder to reach higher places it should be well secured and in good repair. If you have high ceilings or places that need a ladder to clean, inside the house consider getting an extra long handle so that you can dust and clean while standing safely on the floor.

Use wax sparingly

Be careful when using wax on wooden stairs and floors, they also can become very slippery and falls are one of the main causes of injuries in the home. While a fall won’t usually hurt a healthy adult, for small children and the elderly it can be quite traumatic.

Breakage is a part of life

Who hasn’t dropped a dish or a glass and had shards everywhere? This needs to be handled immediately and carefully. All glass need to be carefully swept up and disposed of and them the area needs to be vacuumed and finally washed to remove any tiny pieces that may remain.

Bathroom slippage

When cleaning the tub or shower be sure to check if the cleaner has made the surface slippery. If it has you may want to put in a slip-proof mat or strips. Bathroom accidents are among the most common.

Using chemicals safely

In an ideal world we would all use biodegradable, organic gentle cleaners but in real-life there are some jobs that call for something stronger. If you are using a solvent that is harsh be sure to use gloves to protect your skin. Not only can they dry your hands but they can cause rashes and burns.

All of us want to feel safe in our homes. With a little prevention, you can be sure that you will avoid many the potential household hazards.