An Essential Childproofing Checklist for Your Garage

An Essential Childproofing Checklist for Your Garage

If you’re a parent of a young child, you’re busy. That’s an understatement, right?

Keeping your child safe and nurtured often means staying one, ten, or thirty steps ahead at all times. So even if you have every inch of your home prepped against potential accidents, the garage can be another story.

There’s a nearly endless list of scenarios to worry about as a parent, and many of those worries are beyond your control. However, you do have control over the safety of your home.

The garage is an extension of your home, so consider childproofing the garage as a part of the overall task of childproofing the home. Here’s are some childproofing tips that can give you more peace of mind.

Secure Harmful Substances

Young children are curious, and the garage can be a playground of new and irresistible items to explore, including dangerous chemicals.

According to the National Safety Council, accidental poisoning is the number one cause of home-related injuries and deaths.

If you store your washer and dryer in the garage, chances are bleach and laundry detergent are close by. If you have a vehicle or two in the garage, you probably also have antifreeze, gasoline, or windshield wiper fluid on hand.

Make sure these substances are secured away from your children’s reach. Keep them out of plain sight. In fact, storing them away in locked cabinets is an even better bet.

Carefully Store Tools and Machinery

Another item for your garage childproofing checklist should focus on the power tools and appliances in the space. Think about the lawnmower, grill, lawn and gardening tools, and even power drills and saws if you have them.

Do your best to secure smaller tools in locked workbenches and cabinets. Keep larger machines completely out of reach if you can, in closets, bureaus, or somewhere where children cannot access them.

Also, don’t forget to keep your vehicle doors locked, just in case a young one ventures out alone into the garage.

Reduce Clutter

Another childproofing tip that goes hand-in-hand with storing dangerous machines and chemicals is clearing clutter. Keeping items out of walkways ensure your home and garage are free from fire hazards.

Organizing your garage will help you find what you need more quickly, which is never a bad thing. It will also reduce the chance of trips and falls, and you’ll decrease the likelihood that your young ones will get into things they shouldn’t.

Make Sure the Garage Door is in Good Order

Finally, another large part of your garage is the door. Garage door hazards like pinching and being pinned underneath are very real dangers of automatic doors.

You can do your part by regularly testing your garage door opening mechanism and sensors. You can also keep the garage door opener elevated and away from your kids’ reach.

Maintain a Childproof Garage With Our Help

A childproofing checklist for the garage and home is nearly endless, but we can help you keep this space secure with a safe door.

Not sure if it’s time for a new garage doorContact us and we can help you determine whether you’re due for an upgrade.