The Christmas season is upon us and many people are ramping up their annual Christmas cleaning routines - however, don’t forget safety when cleaning those windows.
Here are five safety tips for cleaning in and around the house:
1. Secure ladders properly
It’s important to ensure ladders are placed on a flat, sturdy surface and that caution is applied when using them to access hard-to-reach areas. Make sure to check that a ladder is secure and that there aren’t any loose or defective parts or slippery surfaces. Make sure the ladder’s feet are on a firm, level and non-slippery surface and maintain a firm grip on the ladder while climbing up or down. Do not use a stepladder as a brace or as a support for a work platform or plank and only carry small items up and down the ladder – if the item is too heavy it will make the ladder unstable, resulting in risk of injury.
2. Secure cords, plugs for Christmas lights
Check holiday lights to make sure there aren’t frayed or broken bits and don’t string more than three strands of lights together per extension cord. Make sure the lights you’ve purchased are in alignment with certain standards, and ensure cords are plugged in away from fire hazards.
Don’t overload circuits, extension cords or electrical sockets - overloading circuits, extension cords, or electrical sockets could cause a fire. Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord. It’s also wise to turn off all Christmas lights before going to bed.
3. Don’t leave the stove/oven unattended
Make sure to keep an eye out when cooking/baking Christmas dishes and set a timer if needed to remind you when to check on them. Make sure to use proper safety mittens and other tools to prevent any accidental burns, and keep children out of the kitchen when cooking (unless supervised) to prevent any accidents.
4. Keep toxic plants/small parts away from children and pets
When putting the Christmas tree together make sure there are no small parts that children might be tempted to put in their mouths. The same goes for toys; make sure small items are safely out of reach of small curious hands. Meanwhile, several plants could be toxic to pets so make sure to keep these items out of their reach.
5. Don’t mix dangerous chemicals when cleaning
Everyone knows you never mix ammonia and bleach…right? Make sure not to mix strong cleaning chemicals which can cause a toxic reaction, do your research to make sure cleaning agents are used correctly and always use protective gloves when dealing with harsh chemicals.
Here are some combinations that you should avoid mixing:
Vinegar and Bleach: This mixture will create toxic chlorine gas.
Ammonia and Bleach: This mixture will produce chloramine vapours.
Rubbing Alcohol and Bleach: This mixture will produce chloroform.
Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide: You should use them separately on the same surface, but mixing them in one container will produce peracetic acid, which is harmful to health.
It’s also important to make sure all dangerous chemicals are kept safely out of the reach of children and pets, and that they are labelled clearly. Make sure to rinse out all buckets and other cleaning tools after using them to make sure there’s no residue of harmful chemicals lying around.
Adapted from: Loop
Comments