There are some things in life you should just never do. For example – touch your tongue to a frozen pole; poke a sleeping bear; tell your mother-in-law how you really feel, etc.

On that same list (albeit a bit further down) are things you should never suction up with a vacuum cleaner. Spills happen and should be cleaned up quickly. That doesn’t mean you need to break or damage your lean, mean cleaning machine in the process. Check out this website for more information about vacuum cleaners https://www.vacuumjudge.com/ and read below.

Here’s a list of things to definitely not suck up with your vacuum cleaner.

Dead Flowers

They were once pretty. Now they’re lying in pieces on your windowsills and floors. This is manual labor, my friends – pick them up with your hands so they don’t clog up your hoses or stick in your roller.

Mud

It’s so, so tempting to want to break out the vacuum cleaner after dirty boots storm into the house and mess up your floors. Resist! Wet soil can cause stains (you have no idea what else is in it, including oil, etc.). And running the vacuum cleaner over the mess can actually have the opposite of the desired effect by grinding the dirt further into your carpet piles. It can also damage your motor. Wait until it dries/hardens; break it up with a pumice stone and then vacuum.

Ashes to Ashes

You’d think it was a good idea to use the vacuum cleaner to suck up ashes from your fireplace. Nope! Ash is so small it will basically just get thrust right back out into your room, only this time, spreading further. Try a damp cloth instead.

Dust to Dust

Sawdust and drywall dust are nasty to clean. Like ash, they basically will get thrown back out through your vacuum cleaner and spread around your house so you have to sweep them up with a broom, use a damp cloth and/or an industrial-rated shop vac.

Wet foods

This seems obvious but sometimes…we forget. Spices are one thing. If you change your bag and clean out your hoses or containers, dry spills can be ok to suction up with your vacuum cleaner. But do not suck up rice, vegetable pieces, tuna, and cookie crumbs into your machine. Why? Mold is the biggest reason. Clogging and damage are not far behind. Use a broom and/or your hands to get the majority picked up before running your vacuum cleaner. And make sure you clean out your filters, containers, and hoses even then to avoid mold or mildew issues that can cause serious health problems.

It’s Not A Shocker

Electrocution is not on my bucket list. I doubt it is on yours as well, so don’t suck up liquids – at all – ever – with your vacuum cleaner. If you don’t get zapped, your machine sure will take damage. There are dry/wet vacs out there made for these types of scenarios. Plus mops and Swiffer products and towels and, you know … things that don’t get you shocked.

Anything Named “Joe”…

…especially used coffee grounds. This kind of goes into the “duh” category with liquids and wet food but it’s worth repeating. Used coffee grounds are wet. They will damage your machines and lead to mildew and bacterial growth. Suck it up, figuratively, and use a cloth and dustpan by hand.

A Shred Of Logic

Fine. You have a paper shredder. We did, too. Sometimes the trashcan tips over and sometimes it overflows. The bottom line is that shredded paper clogs vacuum cleaners and can cause belts to snap. The convenience of an electronic shredder will be negated by the cost of a replacement vacuum or repair bill, so be logical and pick the shreds up by hand.

Clumps of hair

Hair has a similar effect as shredded paper only often that effect is worse. Hair is hard to clean up, especially when it’s coiled tightly around your vacuum’s roller brush. Drano doesn’t even always unclog hair from your drains, and that’s a chemical made to do just that. Sweep hair up with a broom, use a shop vac that can handle the task, or get a pumice stone and rub it along the hair-balled area.

Don’t Give Your Vacuum Cleaner A Makeover

Makeup melts, my friends. Vacuums get heated. All those products that make you so beautiful will destroy your vacuum cleaner and possibly stain your carpets. Use your hand or other techniques but never ever suction up makeup products into your vacuum cleaner.

A Penny For Your Thoughts?

My thoughts are that you should not suck coins into your vacuum cleaner. That goes for small toys as well. Granted, you likely know this and try to avoid it. So be prepared and run a safety check on your floors before running your vacuum cleaner. If you are absolutely not sure you can attach a nylon stocking tightly to a hose attachment and run that over the suspect areas first. Items will still get sucked up but the nylons serve as a filter that they can’t get through.

Striking A Cord (sic)

Back to basics we go. Don’t run over your power cables. If they get snagged the wrong way they can fray and short out. They can electrocute you and break your machine. At best they can wrap around your roller brush and snap the belt. Just…be careful and watch where you’re cleaning to avoid all cables.

I am the kind of person who is very particular with details. Maybe it has become a course of habit due to being exposed to situations and responsibilities that entail details. Being the eldest child in the family with one sibling to take care of, a former teacher of preschoolers, and now being a full-time mom exposes me to situations that need to keep people dear to me safe. Hence, I've listed down the basics in preventing home accidents that I always practice .

- Avoid using electrical appliances near a bathtub, pail, or basin full of water.

- Never use an electrical appliance while barefoot, standing on a wet floor, while taking a shower or bathing in a tub.

- Never plug an electrical appliance with wet hands or while being barefoot.

- Turn-off the light switch when replacing a light bulb. Using a thick dry cloth or gloves can also keep you protected from being electrocuted. 

- Place a non-skid mat in the bathroom to refrain yourself from slipping.

- Always clean as you go. Wipe water, powder, grease, or oil on the floor to avoid slipping.

- Don't put containers of hot liquids like soup, coffee, tea, on top of the table covered with a table runner with the edge running down. Someone might accidentally pull the cloth and can scald himself or anyone near the area.

- Make sure that the handles of the pots are not protruding out while cooking to keep them away from children's reach. By doing this, you keep yourself from bumping into it accidentally.

- Keep all sharp objects like knives, pairs of scissors, blades, needles, tools, cutters out of children's reach. The best way to keep them is inside a cabinet with key and lock.

- Janitorial needs and chemicals must be kept in a place where they can't be reached by children. The best way to store them is on a top portion of the storage area and must be secured and locked at all times.

- Using a fan is not recommended when mixing chemicals especially when you do it inside a room with less ventilation. More chances of poisoning may happen if you do.

- Mix chemicals using disposable cups, plates, or spoons and never reuse food and beverage containers to avoid accidental ingestion.

- In case you forget a pan with oil on the stove, never put water to stop the fire. Oxygen in the air causes the fire to rise. Cover the pan to make the fire stop then turn off the heat.

- If very curious young kids are present at home and have the tendency to plug appliances, make sure to use electrical plug covers. 

- Protect yourself and your loved ones especially the young ones from bumping into table and furniture edges by placing edge guards.

- Place a double lock on top of the door, difficult for small kids to reach to refrain them from opening the door without your help.

- In purchasing an electric fan, check if small fingers can fit into its guard, otherwise, don't purchase it.

- Cosmetics are attractive to kids die to their colors and they should be placed in areas where they can't be reached easily.

I will keep updating this list. How about you? Do you have other suggestions in preventing home accidents?

#AAPMmusings: Greenfield District Celebrates its Milestone in Integrated Future-proof Development (Photo Credit: Zitan | Greenfield District

Like everyone else, living in our own home is our family's dream. Who wouldn't love having our own abode together in a location where the things that we want for a home and environment are found? Investing in a home is a serious business because our hard-earned money and all the aspects that can benefit us are at stake.

If you are going to ask me, I prefer to invest in a condominium due to its "lock and go" feature. Despite paying for monthly association dues, what I like best about living in it is having the capability to enjoy its COMPLETE amenities that are close to what we see in hotels. The idea that it's SAFE which follows high-security standards executed by well-trained security guards 24/7 creates an environment that promotes peace of mind. There is no need to worry that burglars, criminals, or other persons with bad intentions intrude the place. Furthermore, safety would mean that the environment is clean to avoid acquiring disease-causing bacteria, peaceful with no crime incidents that make the place suitable to walk at even during night time, and not fire or flood-prone to avoid losing and damaging properties. Added to these, the building structure should also be developed by a trusted developer, thus having a guarantee that it shall not be destroyed easily when an earthquake or any disaster comes.

Our family commutes. Living in a home ACCESSIBLE to public transportation like cabs, jeepneys, trains, etc. establishes convenience, making us go anywhere and anytime we want. Presence of restaurants, schools, hospitals, church, payment centers, supermarket, banks, malls, police station, government offices, and other important institutions within the periphery is a plus point for us but should not keep us from being CLOSE TO NATURE.

I believe that there are condominiums out there that are still AFFORDABLE despite offering the above-mentioned specifications. Just recently, I've learned the vision of Greenfield Development Corporation that suits our family's needs when it comes to condo-living.