Tag: pets

Ensure Your Pool is Safe for Summer Fun

June 21, 2021

As you get your pool in shape for the season, take a moment to go over your safety checklist. While a fun way to take a break from the summertime heat, pools also can be dangerous areas for young children and pets. Here’s what you need to do to keep everyone safe and cool. “I don’t have kids or pets, do I still need to take precautions?” Even if you don’t have young kids or pets, you should still make a safe swimming environment for them. It’s been shown that curious children and animals can wander into a pool area and find themselves in drowning danger. In fact, some states may even require you to implement security systems to prevent this. Florida for example requires you to have an approved pool cover and surrounding barrier at least four feet tall. Even individual counties could have requirements to post signage around residential pools. In this case, it’s always best to check local, state, and also federal laws to see what you need to do. Clean your pool of toys and floats. Kids are easily enticed by fun objects like pool floats and other toys that they see in the water. This

Celebrate Home Safety Month by Improving Your Home!

June 1, 2021

With June being National Home Safety Month in both the United States and Canada, it’s a great opportunity for you to give your house a thorough checkup! Even if you just moved into a new build, there could still be any number of hidden issues with its components. Take some time over the next month to protect you and your family from some of these commonly overlooked problems. Radon Reduction Radon is very common in both the U.S. and Canada, and it’s the second leading cause of lung cancer. It’s an odorless and colorless gas which makes it practically impossible to detect without some sort of monitoring device. Homes both old and new are susceptible to radon, so you shouldn’t assume you’re completely free of it. The most effective way to know how much radon is in your home is to buy a tester. Consistent testing lets you keep an eye on accumulation levels so that you can act quickly to stay safe. Check Wiring Electrical fires account for nearly 24,000 home fires each year. Your home’s wiring is one of its largest components, so you need to be certain it’s in top condition. Loose outlets should be repaired or

Fencing in Fido: What Material and Style is Best for Your Dog

February 1, 2021

Creating a safe home extends to the furry friends that you have under your roof. Your yard is their playground, and making sure that it’s properly secured is necessary in keeping them out of harm’s way–you never know what lengths they might go to to chase that squirrel. Picking the right fence design is important in providing your pet their own safe place. Why Does “Buddy” Break Out? There are several common reasons why your dog turns into a “hound-dini” and disappears out of your yard: • Boredom or frustration• Anxiety• Fear• High hunting instinct• Disobedience• Breed type Luckily, you can be proactive to reduce your dog’s urge to run off. Regularly exercising, training, and playing with your dog can help alleviate the reasons for these conditions with canines. But letting your dog enjoy some fun in the sun while you’re away is still a nice treat. The Paw-fect Match Just as there are multiple reasons for your dog running away, there’s a variety of choices when it comes to the style of fencing. You should try to get to the bottom of what it is that’s causing your dog to get out, as fences are not a one size

Talking Turkey: Safely Frying the Best Bird

November 23, 2020

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time filled with loving family, good friends and of course, delicious food. But it’s also one of the top holidays for trips to the emergency room. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, almost three times as many cooking fires happen Thanksgiving Day than any other time of the year. Here’s what you can do to stay safe while frying your fowl. Why Fry? Deep-frying is a popular choice for people that want to get the perfect mix of crisp, golden skin, while also sealing in those savory juices. Soaking the bird in the fryer allows for a little wiggle room, should you overcook your turkey. Plus, the cooking time can be significantly quicker than the traditional oven-baked method. If you aren’t the most experienced of home chefs, then frying might be the right fit for you. Dangers of Deep-FryingLike any form of cooking, frying up a turkey isn’t without its own set of hazards. The most common safety issues with frying are: The good news is that with some extra precautions, you can reduce the chance of injuring yourself. Take it Outside If your Thanksgiving holiday is usually overcast and cold, you might be tempted

7 Houseplants that Thrive in Low Light

February 13, 2019

Just because your home doesn’t have a perfectly sunny spot for plants, doesn’t mean you can’t keep any. Adding greenery to your space is doable no matter how low your lighting is—it’s all about choosing the right plants for the space you have. Make no mistake: having plants is still a responsibility, even with low-key species. You’ll have to put in a little effort to make it work, like watering and rotating plants and keeping the lights on for a certain amount of time each day. If this doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, the good news is that artificial plants have come a long way, and you’ll still be able to enjoy the look if you want to—without the accountability. 1. Snake PlantSnake plants have a reputation for being one of the most tolerant species. In fact, you can neglect them for weeks at a time without much visible change or permanent damage (not that we’d recommend doing that). Snake plants survive well in low lighting, only need watered every two to six weeks and they can even improve your home’s indoor air quality by removing toxins. 2. IvyLike snake plants, ivy is highly forgiving. This no-fuss houseplant

Are Electric Blankets Safe? Here’s What Experts Have to Say

January 29, 2019

Electric blankets have come a long way since the first automatic model hit the market in 1936. But even with the modern versions of today, is it really a good idea to curl up under an electric blanket at night? We’ve done our research, and here’s what you need to know. Under Blankets and Over BlanketsFirst, let’s distinguish between the two types of electric blankets available for purchase: under blankets and over blankets. Under blankets, also known as heating pads, are placed directly on a mattress, while over blankets are just like traditional blankets you would cover yourself up with. We’ll go ahead and put one huge safety concern out there right off the bat: Using both an under blanket and an over blanket at the same time can create a major fire hazard, so you should only ever go with one or the other. Common ConcernsWe should exercise caution when it comes to anything that plugs into the wall, but electric blankets seem to have a reputation that precedes them. The good news is that at least with modern electric blankets, that reputation is, for the most part, undeserved. An average of 360,000 home fires occur each year, and

How to Organize Your Garage in One Weekend

September 12, 2018

The garage is one of those spaces that often serves as a “dump” zone. Not only does it house bikes, tools and lawnmowers, anything that can’t be stored inside tends to get shuffled off there. And before you know it, you can’t see the floor! While we realize everyone’s storage space and belongings are different, we have a few tips to help you organize your garage in a stress-free way that makes sense. It’s Not Just You Before you go feeling ashamed at the state of your garage, know that up to 57 percent of people with a two-car can’t even park one vehicle inside due to the sheer volume of clutter. Whether you want to blame it on consumerism, the homeowner DIY movement, or something else entirely, Americans have a lot of stuff. And with our busy schedules, we don’t make a lot of time to think about how we store it. Because we’re betting on there being several years’ worth of clutter to sort through, we recommend setting aside one full weekend to conquer your garage with your undivided attention. It might not be the most fun you’ve ever had, but it’ll be worth it. Make it a

8 Cleaning Tasks You Might Be Overlooking

August 8, 2018

Keeping a neat and tidy house is no easy task, and you’ll inevitably overlook a few much-needed cleaning duties from time to time. Here are eight oft forgotten jobs that are worth the extra effort for a healthier, happier home. Pet Supplies When’s the last time you cleaned your furry friend’s bowls? Their favorite blanket? Their toys? Odds are, these items don’t make your regular to-do list, but the good news is that they’re easy to take care of. Bowls and Hard Toys: Many pet bowls are dishwasher-safe, and you can place them in the top rack with your regular load of dishes. If you’re not sure, it’s best to wash them by hand with hot water and a drop of gentle dish soap. Hard dog toys can also be placed in the dishwasher or washed gently by hand. Blankets and Soft Toys: Blankets can be cleaned in the washer and dryer, and believe it or not, so can squeaker toys. For a load of pet items, you can use natural, or “free” laundry detergent, but our favorite is several capfuls of white vinegar. This should be added during the rinse cycle for the best results. Blankets and toys can

Firework Safety 101: Stay Safe This Fourth of July

June 29, 2018

With the Fourth of July rapidly approaching, you’re probably busy stocking up on fireworks and finalizing plans with family and friends. While firework safety might be one of the last things on your mind in the midst of all the bustle, it’s worth looking into. An estimated 11,000 people were injured by fireworks-related incidents in 2016, and those were just the ones reported! The vast majority of those accidents? Entirely preventable. Take a moment to review these safety tips and keep your loved ones out of danger this Fourth of July. Know Your Local Laws Before you consider setting off fireworks at home, you’ll need to check up on your local laws. Certain states have banned fireworks outright or prohibit the use of certain kinds of fireworks. These regulations change all the time, so even if you think you know your city or state’s views on fireworks, it never hurts to review them. Don’t Give Fireworks to Your Kids Even though they’re considered a “kid’s” firework, you might be surprised to know that sparklers are the leading cause of injuries on the Fourth of July. Sparklers can reach up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to cause severe burns or

8 Ways to Allergy-Proof Your Home This Spring

May 2, 2018

Some of us are in the throes of it and some of us are just starting to experience the first twinges. For many, spring means allergy season and dealing with irritating symptoms for weeks on end. Today, we’ll let you in on our best tips for creating an allergy-proof home during pollen season and well beyond. 1. Find out what you’re allergic to. Don’t take a stab in the dark when it comes to allergies! For red, itchy eyes, sneezing, shortness of breath and other symptoms, you’ll need to consult with your physician about testing and treatment options. Not only can finding out exactly what you’re allergic to help you save significantly on medication and health care costs, it’ll let you know precisely where to start when it comes to making a more allergy-proof space for your family. 2. Allergy-proof your mattress. Dust and dust mites are a leading allergen for many individuals all year long. Dust and its mites are more likely to gather and multiply in and around your mattress, bedding and bed itself than almost anywhere else in your home. That’s because a dust mite’s favorite food happens to be skin flakes. As humans, we’re constantly shedding