Fall is a good time to review our home for potential hazards, including evaluating and improving the ways we store and handle cleaning products in the laundry room. Safe storage isn’t just a recommendation; it’s a way to care for the smallest members of our families. 

Laundry Rooms Deserve Special Attention 

Babies and toddlers are naturally inquisitive. The laundry room is a place that crawling and toddling explorers can access. Yet, the same products that make our laundry fresh and our home clean—liquid laundry detergent, stain removers, bleach, and fabric softeners—should never be in little hands. 

Practical Steps for Protection 

Cleaning products should be kept out of reach and sight of children. If a cabinet is in reach of a child, use a childproof lock on the door. Products should also be kept in their original containers to make use of the secure packaging and clear labeling. In addition, it’s important to have conversations with everyone in the household on the importance of safe storage and proper handling of cleaning products. 

Designing a Safer Laundry Room 

For families with infants and toddlers, consider reimagining your laundry room layout: 

• Install higher shelving or cabinets: Create storage space at adult head height for all cleaning products. 

• Use decorative storage with caution: Glass jars can look nice in the laundry room but use them for things like dryer balls and clothes pins, not cleaning products. 

• Create a “baby-free zone”: Use child gates to restrict access to the laundry area entirely when possible. 

• Use visual cues: Place brightly colored safety stickers or clings to remind everyone in the household of safety practices. Don’t have one? We’ve got you covered! 

Check out our latest PSA showing that a well-decorated laundry room can also be a safe one. And get our Home Safety Guide for more tips. This Baby Safety Month let’s renew the commitment to safeguarding our homes.