9 Safety Tips for Spring
Spring cleaning safety is not normally on people’s minds when they begin to haul out all those cleaning supplies and equipment, but it should be.
Everyday we need to be careful when going about our household chores, but when you really start tearing the house apart and moving things around during spring cleaning, especially with all those cleaning supplies and equipment out, it is doubly important to keep safety in mind.
Do not rush because you are tired or in a hurry.
Spring cleaning can be tiring work. Do not forget safety even if you have worked hard all day and want to get done. The better thing to do when you are exhausted is to stop and take a break, drink a glass of water, sit under a nice cool fan, and rest instead of being unsafe.
(1) Be careful moving large pieces of furniture and appliances.
Use proper lifting technique, keeping you back straight and lifting with your legs.
Also, wear shoes when moving heavy items so you don’t hurt your toes.
Finally, if you feel it is just too heavy and you can’t find someone else to do it for you, just don’t move it. It won’t be the end of the world to just clean around it.
Always have spring cleaning safety in mind.
(2) Be safe while on ladders and step stools.
When doing a task, such as washing windows, where you need to be on a ladder use extreme caution. Do not lean too far to either side. A good rule of thumb is that your belly button should not go beyond the sides of the ladder. Also, have someone available to hold the ladder steady for you if possible, and make sure before you step on them that the rungs are not wet, and you are wearing non skid shoes.
(3) Be careful when walking on wet surfaces.
Make sure you take the proper precautions to keep from falling. Also, make sure others in your family, including children, are also warned of the wet floor to keep them safe. You may need to block small children’s access to wet floors because they just don’t understand not to run and slide on them.
(4) Keep stairs, landings, and walkways clear of boxes, bags & other clutter.
Spring cleaning is a great time to declutter your home, but you need to make sure all the boxes and bags of stuff you are getting rid of don’t cause a safety concern.
Make sure you place them outside walkways and especially away from steps and stairs where someone may trip on them.
(5) Don’t carry too much stuff at once, especially on stairs.
Make sure you keep a hand free to hold onto the stair railing. Also, whether you have stairs or not, always make sure you can see over the load you are carrying so you do not trip.
(6) Follow cleaning product label safety instructions and recommendations.
Cleaning supplies can create nasty fumes, so make sure you get some fresh air by opening windows, turning on the exhaust fan, or placing a fan in the room.
In addition, do not mix ammonia and bleach together, both of which are common household cleaners, because they create toxic fumes when combined. You should also wear rubber gloves to keep your hands from getting dry and cracked from the hot water and chemicals.
(7) Wear a mask when cleaning dusty areas.
This may seem like overkill to some, but if you are at all allergic to dust this tip is very important.
(8) Do not leave buckets filled with water around your home.
Even if you need to take a quick break make sure you empty that cleaning bucket, or at least put it in an inaccessible area. Even small amounts of water are a drowning hazard for small children.
(9) Put away all your cleaning supplies when you are done.
Put the cleaning products away in a childproof cabinet for your children’s safety and well-being as soon as you are done with them.
Cleaning your home may not always be a pleasure, but it never has to be a hazard. Follow these spring cleaning safety tips to have a safe and productive spring cleaning!
“THE KEY TO SAFETY IS YOU”
This message is brought to you by Hinkle Contracting Company who would like to remind you that safety in the workplace makes Good Business Sense.
Thank you so much Hinkle for these great safety tips!!!