5 Must-Have Activities on Your Spring Cleaning Checklist

There are multiple aspects of your home that should be checked each year during spring cleaning. For example, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors, and smoke detectors should be checked and sometimes replaced. Failing to inspect or replace these items can be a disaster waiting to happen, so it is vital to include this activity on your spring cleaning checklist. It is also important to check some of these items for product recalls. The following tips can help you get an idea of what you should be looking for and when you may need to replace common household items.

1. Check your smoke detectors: The U.S. Fire Administration recommends testing your smoke detectors once per month and changing the batteries twice per year. There are different types of smoke detectors, so always check your manufacturer’s instructions before making any repairs.
2. Inspect carbon monoxide detectors: If your home uses fuel-burning appliances, it should be outfitted with several carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide is an invisible and odorless gas that can kill you within minutes. The National Fire Protection Association recommends installing detectors on each floor of your home and within 15 feet of fuel-burning appliances to reduce the chances of false alarms. You should ensure these alarms are clear of dust and debris. Replace batteries or ensure the detectors are plugged into wall sockets.
3. Inspect fire extinguishers: Depending on the size of your home, you may need more than one fire extinguisher. However, fire extinguishers can expire or break down from wear and tear. They must be checked regularly to ensure they are not past the expiration date. Inspect the pressure gauges and look for rips and tears in the hose and nozzle. The needle on the pressure gauge should be in the green area.
4. Replace first aid kit items: Every home needs a first aid kit. Unfortunately, items in this kit can expire and need to be periodically replaced. You should also check for items that may be missing from the first aid kit. Any excess or expired medications should be tossed.
5. Switch out dirty air filters: Check and replace your air filters while doing your spring cleaning. Dirty air filters can become clogged with allergens and other particles that may be harmful to your health. It can also lower the spike in blood pressure you may experience after seeing your first electricity bill during the summer months.

Should You Check These Household Items for Product Recalls?

Always be on the lookout for recalls on some of these products. For example, manufacturing defects can render smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors useless. Last year, Kidde recalled its combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms over a defect that kept the device from working. Check the manufacturer name and model, then plug it into the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website.

Lawn Mower Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs

Last week, our blog discussed how cleaning products can be misused with tragic results. There are additional spring cleaning tips that are necessary for staying safe. Lawn mowers can cause catastrophic injuries or death, sometimes without any warning. According to statistics collected by the Academy of Pediatrics, lawn mowers injure 68,000 people every year. More than 9,400 of those injuries involve children. Common lawn mower injuries to children include lacerations, amputations and fractures.It is a matter of vital importance to keep your children inside while mowing the lawn, and to ensure children they are old enough to use this equipment.

Why Should You Keep Children Inside While Mowing the Lawn?

There are several ways children can be injured while parents are mowing the lawn. For example, parents may fail to see their children are in the path of the mower. Last year, a Houston man accidently backed over his 4-year-old son’s foot while mowing the lawn. The boy was treated at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital for a lacerated foot. According to the father, he was unaware his son was in the path of the lawn mower.Children can also run behind or in front of lawn mowers while they are in use. In addition, lawn mower blades can strike rocks or other objects, turning them into high-speed projectiles.

What Other Tips Can Protect Your Children from Lawn Mower Injuries?

Keeping your children inside while you are mowing the lawn is the best surefire way to prevent injuries. However, experts with organizations like the Academy of Pediatrics have other tips that may help keep your children safe.The Academy of Pediatrics has the following suggestions:

• Children under 12 years old should never use push or “walk-behind” mowers
• Children under 16 years old should not use riding lawn mowers
• Parents should never allow their children to be passengers on riding lawn mowers

It is also important to carefully check your surroundings when mowing the lawn. You will not be able to hear children approaching from the side or behind while mowing. If you are going to put the mower in reverse, look behind you beforehand.You should also stay informed of possible recalls. Some lawn and brush mowers may have defects. For example, the Pro-XL-44 field and brush mower has a fuel tank malfunction that may release gasoline liquid or vapors this is a fire hazard.You can check the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website for more information on lawn or brush mower recalls. If you or a family member were injured by a defective lawn care product, you may have legal options to pursue damages against the manufacturer or retailer. The Texas product liability attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC can help you weigh possible options.

Can Spring Cleaning Mistakes Endanger Your Safety?

If you are planning to do some spring cleaning in the next few weeks, it is essential to avoid making mistakes that can endanger your safety. When cleaning products are used incorrectly, chemical reactions can occur. Some of these chemical reactions may result in serious injury or death. The following examples are common spring cleaning mistakes people make with these products.

Never Mix Bleach with Other Cleaning Products

Bleach is great at what it is designed to do – clean and sterilize surfaces. However, it can create deadly chemical reactions when mixed with other products. Chlorine gas is produced when bleach is mixed with acidic products. This is a common mistake people make when cleaning toilet bowls. They will buy a toilet bowl cleaning product that contains acid, and then mix it with bleach. Another common mistake is to mix drain cleaners from different brands. Mixed together, this may also create chlorine gas.Chlorine gas irritates the mucus membranes. Low levels of exposure can cause coughing, breathing problems and watery eyes. High levels of exposure can lead to vomiting, chemical burns, severe chest pain, pneumonia and death. Acidic cleaning products include vinegar, drain cleaners, window cleaners (some but not all) and drain cleaners.Chloramines are produced when bleach is mixed with ammonia. These are toxic vapors that cause coughing fits, nausea, wheezing, shortness of breath and pneumonia.If you are cleaning with rubbing alcohol, do not also clean with bleach. Rubbing alcohol and bleach create chloroform and hydrochloric acid when mixed together. In large enough quantities, chloroform vapors can cause dizziness and irritation. Hydrochloric acid is a corrosive substance that may cause chemical burns.The Centers for Disease Control recommends avoiding the use of bleach products in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces. Only mix bleach products with water and your own hard work ethic.

Are There Other Dangerous Cleaning Products?

It is very important to keep cleaning products away from children. If you are going to be doing some spring cleaning, be sure to keep these products out of reach. For example, drain cleaners that contain sulfuric acid can lead to serious chemical burns and disfigurement when it comes into contact with soft tissue. Many of these products are uniformly fatal when ingested.Although some websites claim these products should be kept on a high shelf, that is hogwash. Keep these products in a high area in a locked cabinet or large toolbox. Children can climb counters and they may not understand why these products are dangerous. Make sure your children can not see how you unlock these cabinets or toolboxes. Never leave cleaning products unattended.The Texas personal injury attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC are committed to serving the community by promoting safety.