I’m proud to be working with the American Cleaning Institute to help spread the word about their #PacketsUp campaign for laundry room safety. All opinions expressed are my own.
As the holiday season quickly approaches, caregivers are spending even more of their time prepping and cleaning for the host of parties of friends and families who will be coming to call. The season brings with it a time to laugh and celebrate, but it also takes some time to plan and prepare! Some of these guests and visitors might not be used to taking extra safety measures around their loved ones, and accidents can happen quickly. For the caregivers, getting ready for the season can add to their already long to-do list, making it easy to rush through the holidays in a bit of a blur.
The American Cleaning Institute wants to take one thing off of your list by offering easy tips through their Packets Up! campaign that will keep your laundry room a safe space for the loved ones in your care and the guests you will be hosting this holiday.
Here are some quick and easy tips to keep your laundry room safe this holiday season.
Tip #1: Store all liquid laundry packets in a locked cabinet.
If you don’t have a cabinet available, place liquid laundry packets into a larger bin with other laundry and household products and put it up high where those at risk won’t be able to see it.
Tip #2: Keep liquid laundry packets tightly secured in their original packaging, stored up and out of reach.
While clear or glass jars can be a creative way to display household items, storing liquid laundry packets visibly in these jars could be confusing for adults with memory impairments. 
Tip #3: When purchasing laundry packets and other household cleaners from the store, have them bagged separately.
A separate bag makes it easy to put them away in their designated safe storage spot – out of sight and out of reach – as soon as you get home and unpack your groceries.
Tip #4: Keep Visual Safety Reminders in the Laundry Room
Call the Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222) immediately if a liquid laundry packet is ingested.
Order a free cling and put it on your cabinet as a safe storage reminder.
Following these easy tips ensures that your laundry room is a safe space for loved ones in your care with cognitive decline or for the children of your friends and family who visit during the holidays.
Do you want to learn more about laundry room safety? Check out these caregiver resources from the American Cleaning Institute:
The Upside to Aging 