It is indeed springtime in the state of Florida. The sun is shining, the temperatures are up, and you might begin to notice that the house is in need of a detailed cleaning. Though the annual spring cleaning may not be a fun, effortless task, it is necessary and rewarding!
While cleaning your house this year, it might be smart to rid your house of fire hazards. You may need to rearrange furniture, check the location of your appliances (making sure they have enough room to breath), check your smoke alarm to see if it is in good condition, etc. Make sure to pay special attention to checking your kitchen and closets for potentially fire-causing features.
When cleaning the kitchen, keep in mind that “cooking is the number one cause of house fires.” (fire-estinguisher101.com). In addition to being careful while cooking in the kitchen, it is smart to check your kitchen appliances, making sure they are in safe locations and that the cords are in good condition. It is also a good idea to make sure that you don’t have too many appliances plugged into the same outlet, not only in the kitchen, but also throughout the rest of the house.
When cleaning out the closets with exposed light bulbs, it is smart to make sure to keep everything far away from the bulb. “An incandescent light burns at between 212 and 572°F. Wool can ignite at 442°F, cotton at 482°F. Even a 40-watt bulb can generate enough surface heat to ignite fabric or plastic.” (family education.com). To make sure your closet is fire hazard-free, it would be best to clean out the closet, organize its contents, and replace the exposed light bulb with a glass globe fixture.
Other basic ways to avoid house fires are
-Keep matches away from children
-Be cautious when smoking inside
-Never overload outlets or extension cords
-Keep flammable objects and liquids away from major heat sources
-Keep extension cords out from underneath rugs, carpets, or other objects that could cause them to fray
(http://www.spokanevalleyfire.com/SafetyAndEducation/SafetyResources/HomeFireHazards.aspx)
Check out this spring cleaning checklist!
Westgate-Jones Insurance Agency
352-787-7548
www.westgatejonesinsurance.com