If you’re fortunate enough to have friends and family to gather with you this holiday season, you owe it to them to make certain your house is as safe as possible.
That’s why we’ve amassed a variety of ways that you can create an environment that’s secure, cozy and wonderful for your houseguests. Enjoy the revelry!
- If your guests are staying overnight, clean all mattresses, bed sheets, pillow cases, etc., with hypoallergenic detergents.
- If you expect to have children at your house, childproof where possible, paying special attention to any poisoning or electrical safety hazards.
- Do not use candles unless you’re awake in the room where the candle is burning.
- Make sure you alert your guests to any smoking policies you have, such as no smoking in the house or garage.
- If you haven’t already done so, replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Schedule a cleaning of all your ductwork so there aren’t nasty particles of pollen, mold, mildew, dander, dirt, etc., in the air.
- Have your carpets professionally cleaned.
- Have food on hand that your guests are able to eat, especially if they have special dietary needs.
- Turn your hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or less to minimize the risk of scalds.
- Ensure the lights inside and outside your house are in good working order.
- Clean the bathrooms and place no-skid mats in the bathtub/shower area (if applicable.)
- Put food away in a safe amount of time to avoid food poisoning.
- Add nightlights to all sleeping areas to make bedtime more inviting.
