Kids safety in the home laundry design

Planning your laundry design is a good way to refresh the way you think about kids safety in the home. Below are some steps to help you implement a safe environment for your family.

1. A secure laundry design

Chemicals, detergents and paint that families generally store in the laundry can pose a risk of poisoning to inquisitive young children. Overhead cupboards are the ideal layout, while childproof latches should be used on lower places, such as under the sink, to improve your kids safety. Look for complex types that require a ‘push-and-twist’ action to open.

2. Use the correct containers

Increase kids safety by keeping chemicals and detergents in their original containers, so if children manage to gain access to the storage area, they won't mistake them for drinks.

3. Be water safe

In your laundry design, it's essential to ensure buckets of liquid are stored up high and secured with tight-fitting lids. Top-loading washing machines should be fitted with a locking mechanism, or opt for a front loader, as they have automatically locking doors. Remember – just 5cm of water is enough to pose a threat to your kids safety.

4. Understand your laundry design from a child’s perspective

A great way to understand the laundry design from your child’s perspective, and therefore improve your kids safety, is to kneel on the floor and detect any problem areas such as sharp edges on cupboards, exposed power points, or dangling cords from appliances.

5. Turn down the heat

Once your kids can reach the laundry taps, they're at risk of scalding. To prevent this from happening, turn down the thermostat on your hot water service to around 50 degrees Celsius, which is hot enough to wash your clothes but not hot enough to burn.

6. Have a back-up plan

Even with all of these measures in place, accidents can still happen in the laundry, so it's important to be prepared. Keep a list of emergency numbers next to the phone - if the worst eventuates, you have the best chance of getting help for your child.

Contact an interior designer to help you with your laundry design: