Top 10 Spring Cleaning Safety Tips

Spring is a popular time for home improvements. Whether it's cleaning out clutter or just scrubbing the inside of your home so it sparkles, spring cleaning is certainly in vogue.

Do not rush because you are tired or in a hurry. This is really the most basic spring cleaning safety tip; all the other ones, at least to a certain degree, stem from this one. 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.
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.
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.
Be careful when walking on wet surfaces. This spring cleaning safety tip is really important every time you clean. Everyone knows how easy it is to slip on a wet floor. 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, in order 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.
Keep stairs, landings, and walkways clear of boxes, bags and 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.
Don't carry too much stuff at once, especially on stairs. During spring cleaning you will also probably go up and down your stairs a lot carrying things (if you live in a home with 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.
Always 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. When it doubt, don't mix; just use one product to get the job done. You should also wear rubber gloves to keep your hands from getting dry and cracked from the hot water and chemicals.
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.
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.
Put away all your cleaning supplies when you are done. When you finally finish your spring cleaning tasks for the day, it is easy to say to yourself, "I'll put these away later," or "I am just going to use these again tomorrow, so I'm keeping them out." Cleaning supplies are an attractive nuisance for our children and pets — something inviting that they should definitely not be getting into. 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.

Follow these spring cleaning safety tips to have a safe and productive spring cleaning!

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Top 10 Spring Cleaning Safety Tips

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