10/21/2026
Homes can have safety issues that aren't always obvious, and the ones you don't notice are usually the ones that cause trouble.
Fortunately, an annual walk-through of your property can help you find these hazards and fix them before they get worse. It may also help you avoid a home insurance claim.
Here's a room-by-room breakdown.
Kitchen
Store sharp knives and utensils where small children can't reach them, and keep cleaning products latched away or up high. Check that your vent hood is actually pulling air, and confirm your extinguisher is somewhere you could grab it in a hurry, not behind a stack of pans under the sink.
Bathrooms
Do your rugs have non-skid undersides in good condition? If not, replace them or add a non-skid mat underneath. Keep hair dryers and other electronics away from the sink and tub, and unplugged when they're not in use.
Bedrooms
Anchor heavy furniture to the wall, especially dressers and bookshelves. This matters most with small children in the house, who will climb an open drawer without any sense of what happens next. Check that every bedroom window opens easily, since a window is the second way out of most rooms.
Laundry Room
Clear the lint trap after every load and have the dryer vent cleaned out regularly. Both are fire hazards when they clog, and a blocked vent also makes the dryer work harder than it needs to.
Living Room
Add a screen to the fireplace if you don't have one. Look at where your cords run, since anything crossing a walkway or tucked under a rug is both a tripping hazard and a fire risk. Area rugs without a non-skid pad are worth a second look as well.
