Your bathroom can be a precarious place, and yet, it’s one of the hardest working rooms in your home (just ask the plumber!). Bathroom safety is paramount for everyone in the family – from toddlers to seniors. With just a little effort and time, you can create a bathroom that helps everyone stay injury free. In fact, some of our tips below don’t require any shopping or tools at all – just a little awareness. 

Here’s our top ten suggestions to keep your bathroom safe: 

Secure the floor rugs and mats. Wet, slippery bathroom floors are the number one cause of injury in the bathroom. Make sure your throw rugs are held down securely with waterproof, double-faced tape. 

Keep it well-lit. Another source of injury in the bathroom occurs at night, when we make a bathroom run half-asleep and try to find our way around in the dark. Instead, install a nightlight so you can see your way around. If you’re worried you’ll forget to turn it on, get one with a timer to turn on and off automatically. 

Make sure medications are stored in childproof containers. If you’ve got small children, do a check of the medicine cabinet to make sure every item is secure and can’t be opened easily by tiny hands. That includes cosmetics, deodorant, and over-the-counter medicine as well. 

Install non-slip strips or a non-slip mat in the bathtub. Make sure the strips or the mat is secure, and replace these often, as they’re subject to wear-and-tear quickly. 

Keep the tub and shower mold free. It’s easy for your bathtub to get slippery thanks to mold and soap scum, too. To combat this, keep a spray bottle of a non-toxic, mild cleaning solution within easy access so after you shower or take a bath you can wipe down and dry the tub. 

Install bars in the shower and by the toilet. This is especially important for seniors or those who have a disability that affects balance. Of course, if you don’t feel the need to install bars, at least make sure that in your shower and around the toilet, you have something secure to hold on to in case you slip.  

Eliminate shock risk. Never use appliances like hair dryers near standing water and make sure to unplug  appliances when they aren’t in use. Additionally, make sure the sockets have ground fault circuit interrupters and always cover sockets that aren’t in use. 

Install a toilet seat extender. These are important for people who have mobility concerns or have difficulty sitting and standing up easily. You can find toilet seat extenders at your local home improvement store. They’re good to have on hand in the event that you or a family member have temporary mobility challenges, too. 

Use a weighted shower curtain. This helps keep water from leaking onto the floor during a shower. Don’t like the look? You can always double up your curtains and put the fancy one in front of the weighted curtain. In fact, two curtains are better than one when it comes to keeping the floors free from water. 

Never let standing water sit. Always drain the tub and sink immediately after using them. This is especially critical if you have toddlers (in fact, if you do, keep the toilet seat covered, too). Standing water can also lead to plumbing issues and can even attract insects.  

Relax. Injuries at home tend to happen when we aren’t paying attention. Instead, take your time in the bathroom. Step in and out of the shower mindfully, and look around before you leave to make sure the floors are dry, water has been drained, and appliances have been unplugged. 

When the weather heats up and the sprinklers get going we often get asked one simple question: How can I use less water in my garden? While we’re happy to help install water conservation systems to keep your plants and flowers healthy and growing, there are plenty of ways you can use less water in your garden easily. 

In fact, just doing a few of the things on the list below can help you save water when you garden – and that will save you money on your next water bill, and possibly your energy bill, too. 

Check the weather. Don’t use your own water when Mother Nature is going to lend you hers. During the summer months, Cincinnati lawns and gardens require about an inch of water every week.  Sometimes, you can catch a break and let the rain do its job.  Make sure to turn off any automatic sprinklers when the forecast calls for rain. And of course, check for high heat and humidity, too. There may be days when you’ll need a little extra watering in the garden. 

Mulch. A lot.  As a general rule, your trees, shrubs and flowers should be covered by one to three inches of mulch. This will keep the soil below cooler and the moisture in.  

Purchase the right tools. There are tools out there that will help you keep your garden watered, and they’ll help you reduce the amount of water you use, too. Consider investing in bubblers, soaker hoses, and micro-sprinklers. These will help you tailor your garden’s watering needs so you’ll only water the areas that really need it – when they need it. 

Water in the morning. The longer you wait in the day to water your garden or lawn, the better the chances are for the water to evaporate. Watering plants in the heat can also cause fungal disease. Not a morning person? Try watering your lawn at night after the sun goes down. Or, choose a sprinkler with a timer so it will turn on during the wee hours while you snooze. 

Use water-conserving crystals. These are easy to find in any gardening or home improvement store. The crystals work by swelling as they absorb water. This can cut your watering usage by half. 

The dangers of overwatering your yard. There’s more at stake from overwatering your yard and gardens than wasting money.  It can also lead to root rot caused by lack of oxygen in the soil. And it can deplete the soil from the nutrients your flowers, plants and trees need to thrive. 

Want to plant flowers that can withstand the heat and go without daily watering? Choose those with a shallow root system. Here’s some of our picks below. 

Annuals. Sunflower, Celosia, Moss Rose, Summer Cypress, Zinnia, Cosmos, Four O’Clocks, Globe Amaranth 

Perennials.  Black-Eyed Susan, Daylilies, English daisy, Lamb’s Ear, Lavender, Blanket Flower, Butterfly Weed