Tips for Clearing Your Clutter
Clutter in and around your home could have a negative effects on both your emotional well-being and your physical well-being. Not only does clutter create a sense of disorganization and mess, but to a person trying to escape a burning home, navigating through a maze of clothes piles, magazines, newpapers, or old electronics can be downright hazardous. Clearing your clutter is a fire-wise investment.
Boxes stacked to the ceiling packed full of stuff not only adds to a feeling of claustrophobia, but it adds fuel to any fire. Clutter may impede your escape and it creates hazardous conditions for firefighters who are trying to get into the home and fight the fire at its source. Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue firefighters strongly encourage residents to clear your clutter before it becomes a health hazard.
See Also
safehomecentral.com - America's Most Affordable...safehomecentral.com Reviews | scam, legit or safe check | ScamadviserTop 428 Reviews From Legit Safe Home Security, Inc. BuyersNo Contract Alarm Monitoring From $8.95 | Alarm.com, AlarmNet, Alula, Telguard | Qolsys, Honeywell, DSC, Alula, 2GIG, InterlogixWe understand that clearing clutter can be an overwhelming chore. What to keep, what to throw, what to give away or recycle? At times, it feels as though clutter takes on a life of its own. Once you have decided to clean, it is natural to begin to ponder whether the item you are about to toss might come in handy at some future date. Just remember, a clutter free home is less likely to become a place where fires occur.
Make this spring the time to give clutter a life far away from you.
Clearing Clutter Tips
Select the room you are going to start clearing of clutter and designate three piles with the following labels: Garbage, Give Away, Keep
Garbage – This includes any item you do not need, want, or that is damaged and broken. If you save newspapers and magazines, now is the time to haul them to the recycling. The trash is not the place for items that could be recycled, sold or given to charity.
Give Away/Sell – Remember, your clutter may be a treasure to others. Be ruthless with yourself and remember that if you haven’t worn or used an item in the past year, donate it to charity or sell it. Prom dresses, baby clothes, dishes, lawn equipment and other valuable items may be worth selling at a garage sale or on a free Internet site that sells new and used items.
Keep – These are items you need on a regular basis. Check yourself by deciding if you have a place for each item. If the “keep” box contains more than will fit in your home without cluttering an area, take time to determine if you really need the items. If you do need these “essentials”, come up with a storage solution that fits into your home.
If your home or garage is cluttered and a challenge for you to maneuver in, it is a good bet firefighters would have a hard time with access in the event of a fire or emergency. Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue urges you to become fire-wise and clear your clutter today!
FAQs
Clutter also presents a fire hazard issue if it blocks doors and windows that could otherwise be used to exit the home. You should have access to a clear door in the event of a fire. It doesn't take much clutter to become a warm invitation to household pests including mice, rats, silverfish, ants, and co*ckroaches.
What to remember in case of fire at home? ›
Never open doors that are warm to the touch. If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your exit. Close doors behind you. If smoke, heat or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with doors closed.
Is it OK to have a cluttered house? ›
Having a messy house is very normal and common, even if it doesn't seem so. Mess can be found in every house. Sometimes clutter becomes a bit overwhelming, but there's no need to panic because all houses become messy at times. If the space is still sanitary there shouldn't be serious long-term harm.
Is clutter a hazard? ›
People prone to clutter often store things in stacks or piles on tables and floors. The stacks can easily crumble, topple, or have landslides. This creates potential hazards that can trip someone, or cause them to slip and fall.
Does a wet towel help in a fire? ›
If you can, you should first unplug or turn off the heat source; this includes the stovetop, oven, or any electrical appliances. Doing so will prevent the fire from spreading to other areas. You can try to smother the fire with a wet towel. Then, consider opening doors and windows to ventilate the space.
What is the number 1 fire safety item you should have in your home? ›
Smoke Detectors
Smoke alarms are essential in detecting fires to give you and your family an early warning. Installing the proper number of smoke detectors can make all of the difference in the safety for you and your family.
Where is the best place in the house for a fire safe? ›
Ideal Placement: Install the safe on the inside corner of two exterior walls, especially if you have a concrete home construction. These areas remain cooler during fires. Floor Level: If possible, keep the safe on the first floor. Heat rises, and an upstairs safe may crash down during severe fires.
What kills you first in a fire? ›
Most fire deaths are not caused by burns, but by smoke inhalation. Often smoke incapacitates so quickly that people are overcome and can't make it to an otherwise accessible exit.
Where do house fires usually start? ›
Home fires are more likely to start in the kitchen than any other room in the home. The second leading cause of home fires are heating sources like wood stoves, and fireplaces. Fires caused by smoking are the leading cause of deaths. Who are affected by home fires?
What not to do after a house fire? ›
Do not enter your damaged home or apartment unless the fire department says it is safe. The fire department will make sure the utility services (water, electricity and gas) are safe to use. If they are not safe, firefighters will have your utilities turned off or disconnected before they leave.
Hoarded homes are a fire risk. The number of possessions can also lead to exit routes becoming blocked, making safe evacuation more difficult. Fires spread faster, especially if doors cannot be closed and where there are flammable items such as newspapers or cardboard lying around.
What is considered a fire hazard in a house? ›
Common fire hazards are found in most occupancies and are not associated with any special occupancy. Smoking, trash, electrical appliances, storage, and heating are common to most occupancy types.
Can a messy room cause a fire? ›
If you've gone overboard on papers and other flammable items, your home can be a fire hazard. Even if a fire starts in the most common of ways (cooking oil goes up in flames or a burner catches the edge of your dish towel), clutter makes it harder to get help.
What does a cluttered house do to you? ›
Clutter can affect our anxiety levels, sleep, and ability to focus. It can also make us less productive, triggering coping and avoidance strategies that make us more likely to snack on junk and watch TV shows (including ones about other people decluttering their lives).
