How to Childproof Your Home

Perhaps you already have a toddler in the house or maybe you are expecting soon. In either case, childproofing your home can save you a lot of headaches. Remember that just about anything in your house can be a potential threat to the safety of your toddler. But don't panic. Here are a few tips to child proof your house:

See it from the perspective of your baby

Your baby will soon be crawling all over the place. To ensure that their safety is not compromised, what you need to do is to see things from their perspective. Investigate your space. By making a few minor adjustments here and there, you can childproof your home.

Inspect your kitchen and bathroom

Childproofing your home doesn't involve redoing your bathrooms and kitchen. You only need to make minor changes. Take a look at your stoves and kitchen cabinets. If you have a stove with front knobs, you should consider getting it replaced by a model with rear knobs. Or you may want to buy a model with a stove lock.

Your kitchen cabinets should have childproof locks. If your existing cabinets cannot accommodate childproof locks, you should install new doors or handles. Slamming toilet lids can harm your baby's little hands. You should consider installing a toilet lid that closes slowly. Installing a good toilet lid lock is another good idea.

Secure your furniture

Secure your shelves, bedside tables and dressers to the wall. This is very important if you have a little climber in the house. Ideally you should secure all freestanding structures that may fall over.  If you have blinds that operate with strings, you should find some other arrangements. This is of utmost importance.

Install childproof locks

Toddlers are an adventurous lot. Your windows and doors should have childproof locks. If you don't have them, you should get them installed. Besides ensuring your peace of mind, childproof locks may impress potential buyers with young kids should you decide to sell your home in the future.

Install safety gates on stairs. You can also use them to prevent your child's access to certain areas like workshops or garage.

Get it fenced

If you haven't already installed a fence around your property, you should definitely get it installed. This will prevent the child from straying onto the road. If you have fencing around your property, you can let your children play outside without having to worry about their safety.

Install smoke detectors

Smoke detectors are a must whether or not you have young babies in the house. Installing and maintaining a smoke detector is easy. You should also keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen. You need to ensure that your baby will have no access to it. In all likelihood you will not have to use it; however the fact that it is there should give you some peace of mind.

Develop safe habits

A few good habits will go a long way in childproofing your house. Always close drawers, lids, and doors behind you. Small objects are choking hazards. If you find any on the floor don't forget to pick it up and put it away. You also need to clear clutter.

Cover all electrical outlets. Check your stove and electrical appliances frequently just to ensure that they have not been bumped on. These are simple precautions that every parent can take and they make your home safe for your child.

Monthly Maintenance for Your Home

If you keep up with your home's monthly maintenance, you will be able to reduce repair costs.

Most homeowners understand that repair costs can be very high if things go wrong unexpectedly. Still they forget to perform monthly maintenance. By conducting a routine inspection every month, you can keep tabs on things that are wearing quickly. Quite a few things in your house need monthly attention. When you take care of them properly, you will be able to avoid many big headaches and huge repair bills.

Fire safety devices

Your fire safety devices need monthly maintenance. As you probably know, even a small fire can cause extensive damage. That is why you need to keep these devices in good shape. A fire mishap not only damages your home and belongings but also risks the safety of your family.

Fire extinguisher

You have to ensure that your fire extinguisher is fully charged. Recharge it if it was used recently. Make sure that you have a sufficient number of them in your kitchen, basement, and garage. The placement of your fire extinguisher is equally important. It must be easily reachable. If you place it in a spot where you can't find it easily, it is unlikely to be helpful when you need it.

Smoke detector

The smoke detector is another important device. People often forget how important a device it is until there is an emergency. Test the battery periodically and replace it if necessary. Remember that the battery may drain even if you do not use it.

Maintenance for your bathroom and kitchen

People often forget to notice their shower drains and sink until a problem surface. However, by taking some simple steps every month, you can keep your bathroom drains and kitchen sinks in good shape.

Tub stoppers and sink

You need to flush your tub stoppers and sink with a solution of baking soda and hot water.

Garbage disposal

Check the safety valve and the steam pressure gauge of your garbage disposal system. If you detect problems, replace them. You also need to inspect water level gauge. Add water if necessary.

Heating and cooling

Your cooling and heating systems play a significant role in making your home comfortable. When these systems work properly, you probably won't realize their importance. But if things go wrong, these systems can be quite costly to repair. Make sure that your home maintenance checklist includes a quick monthly inspection of your cooling and heating systems.

Forced-air heating system

You have to check the blankets and replace them if necessary. Check air flow and clean unit.

Steam heating system

Check relief valve and if it is faulty replace it. You also need to check pressure gauge. The expansion tank may need to be drained.

Evaporative air conditioner maintenance

Clean air filter and replace it if it is faulty. Clean evaporator coils and condenser and condensate drain. You also need to remove snow and debris from the outdoor portion of the unit.

 

Heat pump maintenance

Clean filter, evaporator coils, condenser and condensate drain.

If you overlook the need for monthly maintenance, your home will be much less efficient. Worse still, you will have to deal with safety issues and huge service bills. If you take care of these important things at least once a month, you will be able to run your home more smoothly and efficiently