Keep Yourself Safe While Cleaning This Spring
It’s that time of year again—time to tune up the air conditioner and run a dust mop under the guest bedroom beds for the first time since last spring. While you’re ridding your home of a winter’s worth of clutter, play it safe. Some tips:
- Suit up. Wear sturdy shoes that will protect your feet in case you drop something heavy, step on a power cord or other sharp object or spill a slippery cleaning product that could cause you to slip and fall.
- Watch your step. Your house probably will be in disarray as you pull furniture away from the walls and pickup throw rugs to shake them out.
- Keep high-traffic areas clear of buckets, extension cords and boxes. Keep moisture—including cleaning liquids—away from electric appliances and outlets.
- Never spray cleaning products directly onto light switches or the fuse panel of an electric stove. Don’t use your vacuum cleaner on damp surfaces. Never touch a light fixture while you are standing on an aluminum ladder. And if you’re using a pole to reach ceilings or wash windows, keep it away from indoor lights and outdoor power lines.