Safety isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when planning your spring cleaning, but it should be. Especially as we get older, it’s important to keep a few things in mind when cleaning out the cobwebs in the corners or trying to get that dust bunny on top of the fan. Here are your spring-cleaning safety tips, straight from the experts at Specialized Health and Safety.
1. Don’t Rush Your Spring Cleaning
All the following tips below truly stem from this one. Cleaning, in general, is tiring work, and that’s without the added stress of trying to freshen up the entire place for spring. Don’t forget safety precautions after working hard all day. We get it—you just want to be done with it, but it’ll be better for your health if you take frequent water breaks and rest instead of making mistakes that could lead to bodily harm.
2. Watch for Slips on Wet Floors
We all know how easy it is to slip on a wet floor. Prevent injuries by having the patience to wait for floors to dry before cleaning the rest of an area. If smaller children are present, block off access to the wet floors.
3. Lift Properly
Keep your back straight and lift with your legs. This is an oft-mentioned lifting technique everyone has heard of once or twice, but it’s doubly important while cleaning. Moving furniture can be heavy work; if it feels too strenuous, don’t be afraid to grab a partner to help. Don’t forget to wear shoes while moving heavy items to avoid crushed toes, and avoid carrying too much at once, especially when ascending or descending stairs.
4. Declutter Walkways, Landings, and Floors
Spring cleaning is a fantastic time to clear your home of anything not being used on a frequent basis. There are proven mental health benefits from a decluttered home—just make sure all that clutter stays out of the way of your cleaning. Remove tripping hazards from walkways, landings, floors, and, most importantly, stairs before beginning your cleaning.
5. Pay Attention to the Labels on Cleaning Products
Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from the drying and cracking effects of hot water and chemicals. Know that many cleaning supplies can create nasty fumes, so be sure to keep a window open or fan running when cleaning with more potent chemicals.
Never mix bleach and ammonia—the combination of the two creates toxic fumes that are harmful to the bodily functions and are seriously detrimental to the eyes and lungs. If you’re not sure if two products can be mixed, don’t mix them Use one product to get the job done.
6. Clean up When You’re Done
You may be finished with spring cleaning, but don’t let that lull you into noncompliance with spring cleaning safety practices. Put your cleaning products away before moving on to that Netflix show you’ve been waiting to binge. A childproof cabinet is essential for those with youngsters—the Tide pod craze of 2017 shows us how attractive cleaning supplies can be to kids.
Looking for more articles on seasonal safety tips? Check out the Specialized Health and Safety blog.
