November is Child Safety and Protection Month. The goal of the month is to raise awareness of the potential dangers that children face every day. When it comes to keeping children safe, there’s no better place to start than at home.
While keeping your house clean is important for keeping kids healthy, the reality is that cleaning supplies can present safety issues for children, especially babies and toddlers. The ingredients in cleaning supplies can irritate children’s skin, eyes, nose, and throat, and some cleaners are poisonous if ingested even in small amounts.
Because of these risks, it’s important to ensure that you safely store and use cleaning products. Here are some tips to help you keep your home clean and your family safe.
How to Safely Use Cleaning Supplies
Being proactive about how you use and store cleaning supplies can help to drastically reduce the risks that come with these products. Here’s an easy checklist to follow:
- Always read the labels on cleaning products. When you do, look for words like caution, warning, toxic, or danger. These supplies present an increased risk and you should be particularly careful about how and when these products are used.
- Never remove labels from cleaning products or store products in different bottles. The labels provide essential information about potential risks and how to safely use a product. It’s important to keep these intact and to reference them as needed.
- Safely store cleaning supplies so kids can’t get to them. Your cleaning supplies should be on a high shelf in a closet or secured with child safety locks. Cleaning supplies often come in bright bottles that are inviting to babies and small children. As a result, it’s important to consistently store cleaning supplies out of reach of children.
- When cleaning, always use supplies as instructed. Read the instructions for cleaners and don’t use more than you need. Also, make sure that you’re using the product in the right places. It’s important to not use excess products and to not mix cleaners.
- After cleaning, dispose of all paper towels or rags that were used. It’s key to properly dispose of cleaning materials to ensure they’re not accessible to children or pets.
- When possible, replace dangerous products with safer ones. For example, in some instances, bleach can be replaced with lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide. Additionally, vinegar and baking soda can be used to make safe cleaners, and in some cases, all you need is soap and water.
- If your child ingests cleaning supplies, immediately call Poison Control at (800)222-1222. Don’t wait for the child to get sick, instead, call immediately to get advice from a trained professional.
Let Nashville Brighthouse Help Keep Your Family Safe and Healthy
At Nashville Brighthouse, we use all-natural and allergy-reducing cleaning products. We are committed to keeping your spaces safe and helping to promote healthier homes. We pride ourselves on our high quality and attention to detail.
Let us help to keep you and your family healthy and safe this November. Contact us today to learn more or schedule your first cleaning online. Make sure you use the promo code WEB10 for a 10% discount on your first cleaning!
For more tips to safely clean a home with children , visit 15 Secrets to Cleaning with Kids from Parents.com!
