Monday, June 17th, 2019
Bathroom safety tips – Our top 10
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.
Call or Contact the at Allied Reddi-Rooter, 513-396-5300. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.