How to Stay Safe While Cleaning Your Home?
How many times have you stubbed your toe on a mop bucket while cleaning the floor? Or slipped on a soapy surface that sparkled from your scrubbing? Or maybe you mixed cleaning products, and the resultant odour forced you to evacuate the room? If any of these ring a bell, it is perfectly fine because you are not alone. As mundane as every household chore may sound, it presents numerous dangers. Thousands of accidents occur while cleaning the house, from cleaning-induced falls to chemical burns and electrical shocks. Most of these accidents occur in the effort to keep our homes cleaner and safer. The good thing is that these two concepts do not need to conflict. A few precautionary measures, smart habits, and a little mindfulness go a long way in making the cleaning process uncomplicated and safer. Here’s your clean, clever, and safe-cleaning checklist, because safety is equally critical as cleanliness.
1. Remove All Obstacles From The Space Before Sweeping
Before grabbing a broom or a vacuum and going to town on the floor, Bond Clean Sunshine Coast recommend you first remove all loose items such as wires, toys, and other geegaws from the cleaning space. People tend to fall while cleaning due to tripping over items that are already on the floor. For example, the shoe on the floor, the laptop cable under the table, or the toy truck hiding behind the sofa. All of these items, and many more, fortunately, can easily be put away.
Don’t forget to ensure that the walkways and restrictions are not overly cluttered and try not to look into the other side of the area while you are still in the process of cleaning it. You may also prevent slipping or slipping while performing the cleaning whatsoever by removing the non-slip shoes you have on and instead going barefoot or just wearing socks.
2. Do Not Combine Any Cleaning Products Together
This is something very important that needs to be taken care of. If you happen to put cleaning products together, notably bleach and ammonia, just don’t. Note that putting together the wrong chemicals may give rise to gases that can be extremely damaging when inhaled, in addition to causing severe harm to the lungs and eyes.
Make sure that you always check the set labels to ensure you are reading them, Note, do not use two cleaning products unnecessarily at once. Instead, focus on one product at a time unless stated otherwise. It is better to stick to a single product that has been created for use alongside other products. When in doubt, alternatives such as do it yourself ways using vinegar or soda can work wonders, but they cannot be mixed with bought chemical products.
To optimise air circulation and eliminate inhalation risks, windows and exhaust fans need to be opened and activated, respectively.
3. Disregard Using Chairs or Sofas as Step Stools: Use Step Ladders
From ceiling cobwebs to dusty top bookshelves, never work off the edge of a sofa or chair. Instead, use a fold-up step ladder with rubber feet.
Each individual must open and unlock the step ladder before climbing and ensure that the topmost rung isn’t stood on. A free hand to maintain balance needs to be set, otherwise, the person must reposition themselves by stepping down. A single wiggle during the descent can yield painful results, and therefore, a complete reset to the original position is warranted.
4. Always Anticipate Wet Floors
Wet floors present some of the most common orthopaedic injuries due to slip and fall mechanics. Signage or simple notes placed where the floor needs drying can help remind people that the area was scrubbed clean.
By partitioning sections to reduce the likelihood of crossing over damp areas, instead of starting from the farthest corner and conveniently working back towards the exit. If you share your space with others or have pets, inform them ahead of time what space is being cleaned so no one accidentally interferes.
5. Exercise Caution With Electrical Appliances
Always take extra care around electrical sockets or if water is involved in any form, close to plugs and cords. For appliances like toasters, blenders, and microwaves, wipe them down after they have been unplugged.
Ascertain that hands are dry before touching extension cords or that the person is not standing on a wet surface while standing on a wet surface. For the kitchen, laundry, or bathroom, these instructions should always be followed. Electric sockets should not be in contact with water or cleaning solutions at any time.
Check all equipment cords for fraying or damage before plugging them in if using a vacuum or steam mop.
6. Store Cleaning Products Safely
These should be kept out of the reach of children and pets and stored in a dry area. Do not transfer these to unmarked bottles or food containers as dangerous mistakes could be made.
Always return these to their appropriate storage space after usage by closing lids tightly. Misuse or ingesting even if the product is natural can be harmful.
Also, sort your folders in a logical way so that they can be retrieved with minimum effort and automation, preventing the wrong folder from being taken in a hurry.
7. Avoid Overlooking The Details
To be injured while cleaning is not uncommon, and it does so most often when people are hurrying to get things done. Pursuing speed brings slips, missed steps, lack of tool and/or chemical handling discipline.
Walk slowly, especially when dealing with dangerous materials or working in tight and cluttered environments. Rushing through cleaning tasks and ignoring potential distractions is ineffective. Listening to podcasts and/or playlists slows one down without putting them in danger.
A clean house is good, of course, but not with a bruised knee or a sore back.
8. Safety First: Cleanup Edition
Set gloves if you need to protect your in from abrasives, chemicals or hot water. Safety goggles are useful for people who use sprays a lot. Glueing pieces through holes makes it dusty.
Mould and strong creatures need face masks to filter spores and fumes and need to be avoided. A little stretch before and after helps avoid muscle strains that come with bending, lifting, reaching and/or twisting too much.
Add breaks and remember to drink water, much more if you have a longer cleaning task ahead of you. Having caution and care will keep you safe.
Final Thoughts: Clean Safe, Stay Safe
Cleaning should feel good and refreshing for the home and not cause anxiety. The unfortunate accidents, such as slipping on wet floors, mixing the wrong chemicals, etc., are accidental by virtue of carelessness and poor preparation. Bottom line: Clean smart. Clean slowly. Clean safe. Cleaning a home can physically benefit somebody while maintaining health with the appropriate tools and safety measures. So the next time you pick up your bucket and mop, don’t ask yourself, “How clean can I make this?” Instead, pose the query, “How safely can I get this done?” The very cleanest house is the safest one to live in.
