Fire Prevention Steps to Take While Spring Cleaning

Spring is an excellent time to organize and clean your home or commercial business to prepare it for the rest of the year. Among your spring cleaning steps, you should also take some time to protect against potential fire hazards. 

The Restoration Network team wants you to keep your home or business as safe as possible, and by following our expert recommendations, you'll be able to maintain safety and security all year long.

Inspect Smoke Detectors & Replace Batteries

If you can't remember the last time you checked your smoke detector, you should avoid putting it off for much longer. Because your smoke detector plays a key role in keeping your home or building safe and free of smoke damage, you should ensure the batteries are still working. 

Inspecting your smoke detector is a simple process. There should be a test button on your smoke detector that will inform you whether you should replace your batteries. Even if the test is successful, you may want to consider doing a replacement to avoid failure later on in the year.

Deep Clean & Organize the Kitchen

Rogue towels and other clutter can pose a fire risk in your kitchen. If your countertops and stovetops have accumulated excess particulates or have items that can catch fire easily, utilize your spring cleaning schedule to get everything back in order. 

Consider ways potential fires can start and clear those areas of flammable materials.

Replace Dangerous Electrical Cords

While you were trying to stay warm and comfortable in your home over the winter months, you may have forgotten to move misplaced extension cords. While these cords may help you keep your technological devices in comfortable positions, you should avoid letting these cords stay under carpets, between doorways, and in hallways. 

When cords aren't kept out of the way of daily foot traffic, house pets, and movement, they can eventually break and cause a fire, leaving you with a massive headache between the fire, water, and smoke damage in your home or business!

When you're taking on your spring cleaning chores or delegating them to employees, consider also moving your extension cords to safer locations. You should also promptly replace any cords that show signs of fraying and breakage. By adding these steps to your spring cleaning process, you can establish a safer environment.

Clean Out the Dryer

Add the dryer to your list of appliances to clean this spring. Because the clothing dryer's drums accumulate excess lint during every laundry load, cleaning the area is critical to prevent fires. 

Keep flammable items, such as boxes, pieces of clothing, or linens for hotels and hospitals, stored in a different location from the area if a fire breaks out. 

Establish Your Fire Escape Plan

Spring is the time for getting organized, but that doesn't only hold true for cleaning and personal belongings. Take time to get organized with your fire escape plan in an emergency. 

Establishing your fire safety plan should consist of having a trusted fire restoration company's number for easy access, a method for exiting your building or house, and keeping your family members, clients, and employees safe. Create a map of your property so anyone on site knows of at least two escape routes in each location.

Do Your Grilling Away From Any Structures

Whether the BBQ is in your backyard or near a loading dock, the flames inside the grill can jump quickly and, before you know it, turn into an emergency. One tip for preventing a fire is to check the unit is in good condition, and that there's no damage or leaks for propane models. 

Our other recommendation is to keep the unit at least 10 feet away from any buildings, garages, or trees because if the flames decide to take off, they will be far enough away that nothing else can catch fire.

Be Mindful When Using Grease in the Kitchen and Employee Break Areas 

From barbecues to homemade fries, grease is a natural part of most meals, but its chemical makeup makes it the perfect bi-product to start a fire that can burn out of control. Because of its viscosity, grease can get hotter than water, which is why it's so dangerous! 

So, as you go through your cleaning checklist, wipe down any appliances that might have residual left on them, and for the times you're cooking with it, always have a fire extinguisher handy or baking soda to smother the flames if they catch.

Fireplace & Space Heater Maintenance

With the cold winters in Minnesota, most businesses and homes will have additional heating options they depend on. While fireplaces aren't as common in businesses, many homes use them, and the ones without might revert to space heaters as alternatives. 

Spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity to clean out the fireplace and have it professionally inspected. It doesn't hurt to check your space heater and make sure that it is damage-free and working properly.

Restoration Network: Minnesota's Team of Trusted Contractors

While taking these steps will enhance your home's safety, emergencies can still occur, and it's important to be ready to contact a trusted restoration team. Restoration Network is an experienced and reliable restoration team serving Twin Cities' homeowners, including Edina and Minneapolis.

We'll be ready for your call any time of the day with our 24/7 emergency response services.

From board up and tarping to rebuilding, we have the tools and experience to thoroughly repair your home after a fire. To speak with one of our team members about how we can assist you with your restoration needs, contact Restoration Network today at 612-564-0202.