The chill of winter has finally faded, and hopefully, you can open all the windows for some fresh, sunshiny air. Many of us schedule a big spring cleaning right around now, and while undertaking all that scrubbing and organizing may not be the most fun we’ll have this season, we sure do love the results. If you are ready to make your home sparkle for spring, it is important to take some safety precautions. Accidents in the home are a common source of injuries for children and adults, and spring cleaning can get pretty messy. The experts at Dr.STITCH have a few tips to keep your family safe during spring cleaning season.
Be Mindful of Furniture
If you move furniture to dust or clean around it, be sure to ask for help with heavy pieces and check that there are no little ones scampering nearby. If rearranging is part of your spring refresh, make sure to secure all tall, heavy furniture to the wall. When left alone for even a minute, toddlers may see a bookcase or dresser as a climbing challenge, so it is important that they are secured to avoid toppling.
Watch for Wet Surfaces
Slip and fall accidents are the source of many in-home injuries and a wet floor can be quite a hazard. Take your steps carefully while cleaning around wet surfaces! Make sure the whole family knows when a floor is freshly mopped and use child safety gates to keep youngsters away until the floor is completely dry.
Careful with Cleaning Products
Cleaning products should always be stored securely! Even while you’re in the process of cleaning, try to keep all cleaning products well out of reach of little hands. It can be tempting to use everything in your product arsenal to get tough cleaning jobs done, but avoid mixing products (some mixtures can create chemical burns or toxic inhalants) and always follow label instructions.
Stay Attentive Around Tools
Ladders can be necessary to dust high shelves or reach the top of a closet, and it is important to keep safety in mind whenever using one. Make sure your ladder is on a stable surface, is in good condition, and is locked in place. Never leave small children alone in a room with a ladder. If you are rearranging artwork or wall hangings, keeping an apron on to hold your hammer and nails will keep them out of the reach of kids (and help you keep track of them!)
Keep Clear Paths
Anyone who has launched a major home reorganization project knows that it often looks worse before it looks better, but it is important to keep your chaos somewhat organized. When pulling out tubs of unused toys or emptying a closet, be sure to keep a clear walking path through main areas and around doorways. Using boxes to keep things organized as you go can help your family avoid tripping hazards.
Bonus Tip – Use Your Spring Refresh to Update Safety Information
Spring cleaning is a great time to reassess your family’s safety plan. Here are a few things to add to your spring cleaning list:
- Check or replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Check fire extinguishers and replace if needed
- Review your family safety plan and make sure everyone knows what to do in an emergency
- Update emergency phone numbers – add the number for Dr.STITCH if it is not already on your list
Dr.STITCH Wishes You a Sparkly Clean and Super Safe Spring!
Dr.STITCH is a 24/7/365 immediate, on-call service of Long Island Plastic Surgical Group. Our experienced, board-certified plastic surgeons utilize advanced techniques to treat lacerations, burns, complex wounds, facial trauma, and hand injuries. We hope you never need us, but we’re here if you do!