6 Steps to a Safer Home

Spending more time at home these days? You’re in good company! Use this extended time on the homefront to conduct a safety check to make sure your dwelling has all the right precautions in place. Include the following six tasks:

1. Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. This is the simplest, yet perhaps most important, safety check you can do. Just press down on the test button until the alarm sounds. If it doesn’t, then you need to replace the batteries. Remember, you should have a smoke detector in every room and a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of the house.

2. Outfit your kitchen for safety. A few simple steps in the kitchen can make a big difference when it comes to avoiding an emergency. Remove any flammable items, like pot holders and dish towels, from the vicinity of the stovetop. When you’re cooking, keep a pot lid at the ready to snuff out any fires that may flare up. In addition, make a nominal investment in a fire extinguisher, another smart item to keep in the kitchen.

3. Unclutter your outlets. With more of your family at home, chances are your outlets are more overloaded than usual as everyone looks for space to plug in their devices. Overloaded outlets, however, can be a fire hazard, so take the time to streamline the situation. Consider a surge protector strip to safely accommodate multiple wires, and do away with any frayed cords.

4. Eliminate tripping hazards. More people at home usually means a little more chaos—and stuff. Do regular strolls through each room to tidy up stray toys, shoes, books and rearranged furniture. Remind your family members to be a bit more focused on putting things back in their rightful place.

5. Improve air quality. Before turning on your AC for the season, dust all the air vents and change the filter. While you’re at it, take some time to properly clean humidifiers, fans and air purifiers as well.

6. Store your cleaning products. Just about all of us have stocked up on cleaning supplies in recent months, and are using them more frequently. But in the wrong situation, cleaning products can be hazardous, so make sure they’re properly closed after each use, and stored in an out-of-the-way spot, such as under the sink or in a closet. If you have curious little ones at home, add a lock to those storage spots.