Your home is your sanctuary, a safe place to retreat to at the end of a long day. But is your home really as safe as you think it is? Hazards lurk in most homes, waiting to harm you, your family members, or your guests. Take the following steps to make your home a whole lot safer.
Remove Dangerous Chemicals
Open the cupboards under your kitchen sink and laundry basin and you’ll probably see a cocktail of chemicals. You’ve got potions for cleaning, for bleaching, and for soaking. However, these chemicals are also hazardous. Should an unsuspecting toddler or child drink these solutions, the results could be fatal. Many people also don’t think of the damage these chemicals do to our bodies every time we use them. These substances can harm your respiratory system, cause skin irritations, and more.
The good news is, you can ditch your chemicals and still keep a clean house. There are plenty of eco-friendly cleaning products made from natural ingredients that are every bit as effective as their chemical counterparts. Don’t underestimate the power of your great-grandma’s solutions either. Ordinary pantry ingredients like baking soda and white vinegar are cleaning wonders.
Install GFCI Outlets in Kitchens and Bathrooms
You might have seen power outlets with a button and a GFCI label. These are ground fault circuit interrupters, commonly known as GFCI outlets, and they can literally save lives. These clever fixtures recognize when an electrical current isn’t grounding properly and instantly cut power. This can protect you from electrocution when you’ve got electricity around running water, a common scenario in kitchens and bathrooms.
GFCI outlets are mandated in modern and remodelled houses, but there’s no requirement for older homes in original condition. For their lifesaving credentials, it’s worth hiring an electrician to install GFCI outlets if you don’t already have them.
Light Up a Dark Stairwell
Stairwells tend to be dark, dingy places. You might feel confident of navigating around this space, but what about your guests? Would you feel as confident with your footing if your child left a toy there? Without adequate lighting, these areas are accidents waiting to happen. Make your stairwell much brighter and safer with overhead lights. Remember to put a switch on either end to maximize your lighting’s effectiveness.
Install a Security System
Hazards inside the home aren’t the only threats to your safety. It’s scary to learn a burglary occurs in the United States every 18 seconds. That’s nearly 200 home invasions every hour, and around 4,800 every day.
You can lower your chances of becoming a statistic by installing a security system. Sixty percent of convicted burglars say if they spot a home security system, they’ll target another home. Use the yard signs and window stickers that come with your home security system to encourage thieves to move along.
Making your home a safer place doesn’t need to take a lot of time, effort, or money. Stay alert to potential hazards and you can make sure your home is the safe sanctuary you deserve.