5 Home DIY Safety Tips Everyone Should Know

Safety tips and why its important! It may have a bit to do with growing older, maybe we all just get a certain amount of close calls that finally knock it into our thick skulls that we need to start being more careful. It was quite awhile ago when I started watching myself a little closer. I injured my back badly during the renovation and though I kept right on working it slowed me down considerably. My reason for self preservation may not be for my own health, but to be able to keep working, but that’s good enough! I’ve repeated to myself multiple times that if I get injured here then NOTHING is going to get done!

I even mentioned it in a blog post once on how important decent boots are! Having beat the absolute crap out of my poor feet on multiple occasions I am ALWAYS conscious now on what I’m wearing. I don’t care how hot it is I wear boots now after what I did to my foot in the photo below lol.

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)

There’s a unique satisfaction that comes with completing DIY projects. For one thing, knowing that you’ve saved a lot of money instead of hiring someone for the job makes you (and your wallet) incredibly happy. There’s also the fact that you completed a project on your own, making you feel like the man (or woman!) of the house. 

But for all of the benefits of DIY, there are twice as many precautions. Safety is essential if you want to reap the rewards of your project – after all, if the professionals have to put on safety gear, so do you. 

Before you start your next project, read these five essential safety tips to keep yourself and your home protected. 

Practice Fire Safety 

If you aren’t careful, a fire can happen when you least expect it. That’s why fire precautions need to be your top priority, no matter the project. 

If you’re doing anything with electricity, be prepared for electrical fires – use electrical gloves, keep flammables as far away as possible, and keep a fire extinguisher close by. Remember, water doesn’t put out electrical fires – a fire extinguisher is your safest bet.

If you’re doing anything outside, like building a fire pit, you need  need to make sure you don’t hit any underground utility lines before you start digging. Fire safety is no joke, so make sure you’re prepared for any accidents, no matter the project.

Dress For The job

The wrong clothes can spell disaster for you, your project, and even your home. Loose-fitting clothes and jewelry can get stuck in any tools or moving parts you use. Additionally, there’s safety gear for every project, and if it’s not built into your budget, you could be paying a lot more for a medical emergency.

During any project, be sure to wear clothes that are comfortable but tight-fitting. Make sure that there are no holes, especially if you are working with chemicals. For safety equipment, check out this guide on essential protective gear for any project. 

Keep the Room Ventilated

If you’re working with paint or chemicals, or if your project involves a lot of sanding and wood dust, you want to keep the room ventilated. Even if you wear a protective breathing mask, chemicals and wood dust can waft throughout the house. This could cause potential harm to your family. 

Make sure that you leave the windows open for any project involving these substances, and if you can, work on the project outside or in the garage with the garage door open. Additionally, ceiling fans and box fans are both great ways to keep the air moving, especially when used together.

Finally, if you’re working indoors, close the doors to rooms that lead nowhere, like the closet or pantry, that way the air is escaping your house instead of getting trapped inside.

Heed the Safety Manual

This is a big one. The equipment you use has its own safety manual, and you want to be sure you understand everything it says. For example, although we all know how to set up a ladder, different ladders have different guidelines regarding how to set it up and what angle to climb at. 

Additionally, if you’re building a project that has a construction manual, read it. No matter how straightforward the project seems, read it, because one wrong screw or a wooden board that’s flipped the wrong way can ruin the whole project. You don’t know what you don’t know, so make sure you know everything before using any tool.

Prepare for the Worst

Of course, the worst rarely happens. But in the off chance it does, make sure you’re ready. Having a fire extinguisher at the ready and a phone to call 911 nearby is essential for any project. Additionally, prepare for the worst in your budget.

For example, if you’re working on your home’s walls or ventilation, and you discover faulty insulation or mold spores, you need to make sure you can afford these changes as well as your DIY project.

DIY projects are fun, rewarding, and can greatly improve the comfort of your home. With these safety tips to start, you can be sure that your home and family stay safe from any accident.

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)