~~As the weather begins to warm, invariably begins the season of Spring, and along with it, Spring cleaning. People clear out closets, attics, garages, and any other nooks and crannies where junk has accumulated over the past year. Homes are deep cleaned to perfection, and upon completion, your home is refreshed! But any time large scale endeavors such as this are mounted, it is important to observe some basic guidelines that will keep you safe, and out of the doctors office.
When cleaning, don’t mix chemicals!
That stain has been eyeballing you all year and it has GOT to GO! As much as you want to attack it with the full force of the cabinet beneath your kitchen sink, please remember the following! Don’t mix bleach and ammonia! You will create poison gases called chloramines! The side effects of which include shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing, nausea, wheezing, watery eyes, pneumonia, and fluid in the lungs! Also, do not mix bleach and acid based cleaners! You will create chlorine gas – which has all of the side effects of a chloramine, but more severe. The simplest guideline to follow is: make sure that any cleaner you do use is rinsed away very thoroughly before trying something else, and never use them at the same time.
Lift with your legs, not your back!
You are pulling all of the storage containers out of your closet, and some of them are pretty heavy! Make sure you lift with your legs instead of your back! Back injuries are incredibly difficult to deal with, so prevent them by using the largest muscle group of your body (your thighs) to lift, instead of your back. You can sprain your back, pull a muscle, herniate a disc, cause a slipped disc, have muscle spasms, and pull or tear ligaments. Most back injuries occur in the lower back, which is also the most dangerous location for them, as your leg function can be effected. So be safe, use your legs, and if it’s too heavy for you, don’t force it, get someone to help.
We understand the need for a spotless home, and we also know that accidents happen. So if you do happen to slip and fall on your freshly mopped floor, or you underestimate how heavy that box is, come in and see us. We will be able to get you fixed up and back on your feet!