Five More Dangerous Mistakes to Avoid When You’re Cleaning

Yesterday we told you about four dangerous mistakes you could be making while cleaning your house.

Here are five more . . .

1.  Using air fresheners and scented cleaning products.  According to the American Lung Association, even natural fragrances in cleaning products and air fresheners can react to form formaldehyde and other dangerous particles in the air.  And even at low levels, those particles can irritate your eyes and lungs.

2.  Being careless on a ladder.  Accidents while using a ladder send more than 90,000 people to the ER each year.  So just use some common sense . . . like making sure the ladder is on firm, level ground, and not overreaching if you can’t get to something.

3.  Lifting furniture the wrong way.  Moving heavy furniture the wrong way to clean around it can cause sprains, strains, tendonitis, or even broken bones.  To avoid getting injured, stretch for 10 minutes before cleaning, and always squat and lift with your legs.

4.  Using a vacuum without a good filter.  If you’re using a vacuum cleaner without a HEPA filter in it, you might be sucking up dust and shooting it right back into the air.  That could trigger an allergy attack or cause your asthma to flare.

5.  Getting moisture in your gadgets.  Don’t spray liquids or use a wet rag to clean anything electrical, since it can lead to an electric shock.  Use a damp but not dripping cloth or disinfectant wipe.  And unplug anything before you clean it.

(SafeBee)