Child Proofing The Laundry Room

Robert Robillard

10 years ago

Making A Home Safe For Children

Many houses these days have laundry rooms on the main floor or bedroom level floors. These rooms are usually designed to accommodate the washer, dryer, maybe a sink and counter top or ironing area. This post will address child proofing the laundry room.

Everything Starts With Proper Supervision:

Child proofing the laundry room begins with proper supervision. Supervision is the best thing you can do to keep your child safe; to minimize hazards, it’s necessary to use a combination of securing items, supervision, and common sense.

Lock The Door

The best mechanical protection you can do to a laundry room is to put a lock on the laundry-room door, keep it closed and use doorknob sleeves. [See photo]

In these rooms is usually an abundant supply of poisonous substances lying around such as:

detergents,
starches,
bleaches,
cleansers,
fabric softeners,
stain removers.

Other cleaning household supplies are often found in these rooms.

Cabinet Latches

Keep all of these items in a closet or cabinet and install cabinet latches. [see photo]

Unplug Machines:

Unplug the washer and dryer and keep the lips and doors closed to avoid a small child from crawling inside.

Lock and Store Supplies Out of Reach:

Store cleaning chemicals up high or in a locked and secure area.

Watch The Iron:

Use care when using an iron. Never leave an iron on top of the ironing board. A child could reach up and burnthemselves or pull the cord and smash themselves in the head.

Child proofing the laundry room begins and ends with proper supervision. Taking additional steps to properly store, secure and organize your laundry room will help. When adding precautions try to think like a little person, it may even help to sit on the floor and look up to see what is accessible and within reach.

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