As the holiday season quickly approaches, the last thing on your mind is your laundry room. There are a handful of hidden dangers that should be addressed before the kiddos come over for presents, “roast beast” and eggnog.
Hosting friends and family during the holidays usually means kids will be in attendance. If you have a separate laundry room, a quick safety check can often be overlooked and accidents can happen quickly. It’s best to prepare before your guests arrive with a quick walk through of the following recommendations to keep your guests and their kids safe.
Here are some quick and easy tips to keep your laundry room safe this holiday season.
Store all liquid laundry packets in a locked cabinet.
The bright colors of laundry packets make them look like some sort of candy to an untrained eye, so it’s best to keep these out of sight. If you don’t have a cabinet available, place liquid laundry packets into a larger bin with other laundry and household products and put it up high where those at risk won’t be able to see it.
Keep liquid laundry packets tightly secured in their original packaging, stored up and out of reach.
While clear or glass jars can be a creative way to display household items, storing liquid laundry packets visibly in these jars could be confusing for adults with memory impairments.
When purchasing laundry packets and other household cleaners from the store, have them bagged separately.
A separate bag makes it easy to put them away in their designated safe storage spot – out of sight and out of reach – as soon as you get home and unpack your groceries.
Keep Visual Safety Reminders in the Laundry Room
FIRE PREVENTION: Your dryer can be a risk, with the possibility of overheating and potential to start a fire. This can be the case for both electric or gas dryers, so be sure to keep that lint trap clear of any build up and keep your vent clear. Follow the vent hose to the exterior wall, make sure there are no bents or folds in the pipe. You also want to make sure the vent on the exterior of your home is clear from any vegetation, piles of leaves or snow.
INGESTION: If you have grandkids that may access your laundry, ingestion of some of your cleaning chemicals can be deadly. Even if all precautions are taken, accidents can happen. It can be helpful to keep this number readily available or posted in your laundry:
Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222)
Following these easy tips ensures that your laundry room is a safe space for loved ones in your care with cognitive decline or for the children of your friends and family who visit during the holidays.
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