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Many homeowners take advantage of spring’s warmer weather to complete home cleaning and repair projects that were left neglected during the winter. Unfortunately, some homeowners with longer spring cleaning to-do lists attempt to work so quickly that they put themselves in harm’s way.

As you tackle your spring cleaning checklist, take appropriate safety measures. Pay particular attention to the following eye health and safety protection recommendations.

A sliver, cut, or scrape can be uncomfortable, but will heal quickly. Recovering from a spring cleaning-related eye injury could be much more difficult.

Choose Greener Cleaners

Many conventional cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can cause eye irritation or injury, either by creating toxic fumes or releasing airborne particles. Aerosol and spray solvents are particularly hazardous due to their delivery methods.

Always use household cleaners according to their individual instructions and the constraints of common sense. To further reduce the risk of eye injury, switch to green cleaners that contain fewer potentially dangerous chemicals.

Limit Toxic Chemical Use

You may not be able to completely eliminate traditional cleaning solvents. For example, you may still need to use ammonia or bleach for certain tasks. Always exercise caution when using these toxic cleaners.

Make a list of all tasks that require these conventional cleaners and attempt to finish all these tasks at once to limit your chemical exposure. Additionally, practice safe and careful use of these chemicals. Be sure to keep all harsh solvents separate from each other and from other cleaning solutions to prevent chemical reactions that could generate large amounts of toxic gas.

Prepare Areas to Be Cleaned Appropriately

Many eye injuries that occur while cleaning result from a lack of foresight. Before you start cleaning, look around the space and eliminate potential hazards. For example, you may want to vacuum using a handheld attachment before cleaning closets and crawl spaces to limit the dust particles in the air.

This step is particularly important outdoors. Outdoor maintenance like mowing the lawn can turn debris into projectiles. Do not attempt to mow over anything that isn’t grass, including sticks and twigs, because this choice could endanger your eyes and the rest of your body as well.

Ventilate Your Home

Eye irritants related to cleaning are mostly airborne. To reduce the risk of eye irritation, check that your home has adequate ventilation while you work. You may need to open doors or windows and employ fans to circulate the air properly.

This safety step is just as important when dealing with dust, pollen, and other foreign particles as it is with cleaning solvents.

Wash Your Hands Frequently

While the majority of eye irritants are airborne, contaminants can also enter your eyes when you touch your face, wipe your brow, or rub your eyes. Wash your hands frequently as you work your way through your spring cleaning to-do list and avoid touching your hair, face, or eyes as much as possible.

Additionally, wear gloves when working with harsh chemicals so that these solvents don’t injure your skin and hands or transfer into your eyes by accident.

Wear Eye Protection When Necessary

Some cleaning and maintenance tasks will require that you wear protective gear. In addition to your work gloves and boots, be sure that you have safety goggles on hand. You should put on this eyewear when doing any repairs with a hammer or drill or using gaseous chemicals.

Work With a Professional to Remediate Pest Messes

Many pests, including both insects and rodents, infiltrate homes during the winter in search of food, water, and shelter. As you clean in the spring, you may come across nests or droppings that you didn’t notice during the cold months.

If you see pest messes like these, call in a professional to ensure that the infestation isn’t current and that you protect your home from future infestations. If you decide to work in the area around a nest, wear eye protection, gloves, and a face mask.

Not only can dried droppings become airborne irritants, but any droppings on your hands could get into your eyes. These messes can be more dangerous than many others because droppings may contain bacteria and parasites that could cause eye infections.

 

Use these guidelines to protect your eyes from the common hazards associated with seasonal cleaning projects. If you need to purchase new protective eyewear in preparation for your spring cleaning, consult with your eye doctor to ensure your goggles or glasses truly protect you.

If you notice signs of eye irritation while working, like redness or feelings of a foreign object in your eye, put your project on hold. If your eye irritation does not dissipate with rinsing and rest or you experience an eye injury while cleaning, see an optometrist at the All About Eyes location nearest you as soon as you can.

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