My Small Appliance

Kitchens have been in existence for many centuries and have always been used for food preparation and storage. The word kitchen derives from the Vulgar Latin cocina and the Late Latin coquina, which literally means to cook. Our modern culture however has evolved the kitchen into a major social and design element of the house, so people can prepare and eat food in style with modern kitchen appliances.

But imagine the kitchen as being a separate room in the house, used only to store food and prepare meals over an open fire using wood or charcoal. Imagine travelling to the nearest well, to fill up your buckets, carrying it all the way back home and waiting hours for it to boil up and cool down safe enough to use. Hard to imagine but this was once the world before kitchen appliances came to existence.

Cookers and Taps - A History

A kitchen appliance was introduced to the Western World between the 18th and 19th century. It was during the industrial period of the 19th century, that architects took to taking the design and function of the kitchen further, by introducing water from taps and cast iron stoves in houses.

Early 18th century industrialisation saw the advancement of technology, which meant that kitchens changed drastically in terms of incorporating new appliances such as the cast iron cooker stove. Earliest models included the Franklin stove, invented by Benjamin Franklin, a furnace stove that was intended for warming up food and not cooking.

But it was not until 1825 that the gas cooker was granted its patent, until this point, all stoves used coal or wood. Early 19th century saw the gas stoves became more popular and commonly used by most households, taking kitchens to the next level.

Not only were gas stoves being installed soon water pipes and sewers were built. Before this collecting water had consisted of a trip to the well, pump or spring every day. It was then carried in a bucket back to the house and heated up for various uses. Certainly, the tap was a major breakthrough in the kitchen design.

Refrigerator Movement

Keeping food preserved and cold was a difficult process before the immersion of refrigerators. Many people would collect ice or snow from the mountains, store them underground which was lined with wood or straw and then filled with ice or snow. This was later known as one of the first cellars in the house.

It was not until mid 19th century after refrigeration was being tried and tested in hospitals to help cool patients body temperature, that James Harrison introduced the first commercial refrigerator to brewery and meatpacking industries. This commercial refrigeration was directed mainly towards brewery’s and almost all breweries used them.

However the natural ice supply became furthermore widespread, allowing it to become affordable and more accessible to the public. This became an important kitchen appliance that evidently evolved in style, size, shape and colour. Appliances at this point became a key element to the design of the kitchen and were ever changing with newer features.

Appliances as a Design

Though these inventions were primarily to make food preparation and storage simpler, efficient and convenient, it was not long before the design element would play an important role. In other words making the kitchen more organised, aesthetically appealing and homely. Catherine Beecher and her sister Harriet Beecher Stowe introduced domestic planning and kitchen layout in 1843.

Their books ‘A Treatise on Domestic Economy’ (1843) and ‘The American Woman’s Home’ (1869) gave birth to the first systematic design using early ergonomics, introducing shelving on the wall, plenty of work space and designated food storage areas.

Post World War II saw women turning to their homes, becoming the key figure of maintaining the home, being mothers and evidently an important consumer to manufacturers. Kitchen appliances were rapidly increasing, introducing standard sized sinks, stoves, worktops and drawers. It very soon included electrical outputs, which were essential for usage of microwaves, blenders, toasters and mixers.

Kitchen appliances have come a long way since the early ages of using wood and coal for cooking food. Nowadays the average homeowner will also benefit from the easy storage of food and enjoy mod cons that aid in reducing cooking time. No longer is the kitchen a separate entity, intended solely for convenient food prep but also a place for entertaining guests, and showing off your modern design that match your swanky appliances.

In our traditional homes, we can see the housewife cleaning all the dishes, knives, spoons, cups, and saucers keeping cleanliness and hygiene in mind after every meal.

Most of the people now a day opt to become corporate and are now busy going to office and then coming back to home. That is why the kitchen duty feels like a burden to everyone after completing the rest of the work. But then again we can give up all this by just being practical enough in buying a good handy appliance which can be called a dish washer. In the recent years the only way that the household dishes would be cleaned would be by actually washing them with soap and water. Modern times however show a different story with wide-ranging given to their aid. There have been a lot of research on home appliances and lots of new appliances have been made to make our life comfortable.

Most people equate dishwashers with the 24″ size models fixed under the counter. But dishwasher selection is far greater than that! What do you think cleans the dishes in RVs and Boats? If you’re looking at the selection of compact dishwashers, you will find slim 18″ models available as well as countertop models. In addition, portable dishwashers in 24″ size and 18″ size are also available. The18″ dishwasher machines can be very useful when kitchen space is fixed. These dishwashers are portable and generally include either casters or a set of wheels. To operate you need to stop it, and faster up to the tap. For functionality, portable dishwashers can be extremely useful when there’s no room for a built-in machine. When not in use, you can store the unit in a separate location; a cabinet or beneath the stairs. The portable one that is purchased has added flexibility and operability, it is so light weight and easy to carry. It is very easy to operate, as it only has to be plugged in and the cleaning up job is just done in action

One of my friends Samantha stays alone, so she hardly ever has a meal at home as she is so tired after work so she was tired of washing her dishes herself. In view of the fact that her home had a space problem she could not get a larger dish washer to do all the cleaning. After having a hearty meal all the time that went into cleaning would strain and add up to the load of her cooking up a meal. Many people think of dishwashers and relatively compare it to the 24″size models and they are built in beneath counter tops. But things have changed with the development in technology. The need for space restricted homes you have the slim 18″ and even portable ones can be obtained at Toronto appliance under this Bosch is the brand where you can find them all. Every household have their own basic needs if you are a family person or also the people working in industrial areas these appliances will make your work very easy and finish them quickly.

Salesman: “This machine will cut your workload at home in half!”

Housewife: “In that case, I’ll take two!”

An old joke, but as the 21st century unfolds, it becomes truer than ever. Compared to previous generations, people today can find working in the kitchen easier and even fun. The gadgets that compete for precious counter space in kitchens across the country are ready to slice, dice, peel, blend, bake and grill in ways that would have amazed the great-grandparents of their owners.

A century ago, the idea of kitchen appliances simply didn’t exist. There were hand-operated vacuums, and many homes had only an icebox, a washtub, and a sink with cold water, usually operated by a pump. Often the pump was outside the back of the house, or in the street for communal usage. With the advent of electricity, the idea of labor-saving devices slowly took hold. Fifty years later, iceboxes were replaced by refrigerators, which did away with having ice delivered. Toasters became one of the first devices anywhere in the home to use power. One early counter top machine seen in many homes was the electric can opener. Seen at the time as a frivolous novelty, nowadays it’s hard to imagine opening cans without them (especially since nobody can remember where the old-fashioned hand crank opener is). Following close behind it was the coffeemaker, taking over from the percolator that used to sit on a burner of the stove. And its close cousin, the teakettle. Machines like the blender were first developed for commercial use, and quickly found their way into domestic service.

The next big advance in kitchen technology was the microwave oven in the 1970’s. It was to kitchens what the VCR was to the living room - revolutionary in itself, it can now be seen as the beginning of a whole wave of gizmos to be lined up beside the sink. Soon afterwards, the market exploded with toaster ovens, sandwich grills, pasta makers, ice cream makers, yogurt makers and the like. This reached a zenith with the advent of the food processor. Seen as a sort of companion to the home computer (a.k.a. the “word processor”, since nobody could think of any other use for a computer in the days before the web), these kings of the counter top combined blender, grater, masher, slicer, dicer and a few more things all in one package.

Right on the heels of the food processor was the bread machine. As the nation longed for a healthier, more natural diet, something that could mix, knead and bake a staple foodstuff such as bread was seen as ushering in a new way of thinking about what we eat. Unfortunately, while many homes have bread machines today, few actually get any use. The loaf pans are smaller than commercially sold loaves, the mix makes the bread much more expensive, the machine needs cleaning after each loaf, and nobody wants to actually have to slice bread anymore. So not every step forward has been fully embraced by the masses.

The future for kitchen appliances however, looks brighter than ever. In a world where the can opener looks quaint alongside the modern no-stick grill, the next big revolution will be the interconnecting of all these devices to a home intranet. By the end of this century, most western kitchens may be a network hive of activity, as devices share information between themselves, larger equipment such as the oven and fridge, and even across the Internet. No doubt new machines will be introduced, some bizarre hybrids of what we already have, some as unknown to us as a microwave would have been in 1907. Our great-grandchildren will chuckle to themselves as they ponder all the effort we put into buttering our toast or stirring our coffee each morning. Are you ready for the kitchen of the future?

Large kitchen appliances can sometimes be difficult to buy.  The reason is that major kitchen appliances involve a fairly large expenditure, and they also tend to possess a wide range of features between different makes and models.  Unless you have your mind made up on exactly what you want, it is easy to get mesmerised and finally confused, and eventually leave the store with nothing!

Believe it or not, that is what many people do, because they have had their heads turned so much by all those features that they were unaware of.  You walk into a large retail store wanting nothing more than to purchase an oven for your new home, or perhaps your old oven has gone the way of all ovens eventually.  All you want is something with which to cook your family meal, and suddenly you see this array of gleaming sci-fi monsters, with between 4 and 8 hobs or burners, depending on whether you want gas or electric (that’s another choice you have to make with today’s high power costs).

You have single ovens, dual ovens, separate hob and oven, split level, wide, narrow and square. You can choose a microwave oven that incorporates a grill and traditional convection oven. You get high grills, low grills and rotary grills.  You have the option of a fan in your oven, or just straight convection with the old-style heat distribution, hot at the top and cooler at the bottom that many prefer. You can have fan grilling, fan defrosting and fan cooking.  All that without even looking at the controls yet!

How about a steam oven, glass windows or no windows, cool sides and self-cleaning?  How are you to choose?  You could ask a salesperson, but will they give you advice based on their own oven, on what they have been instructed to promote or simply repeat the manufacturer’s advertising material? You are unlikely to find anyone that has used all of these, so will never be able to get a proper review or comparison of large kitchen appliances.

Of course, a cooker is not the only major kitchen appliance.  If you are equipping a new home there are also the freezer, dishwasher and microwave, and you might prefer a range cooker to the traditional or split-level style. How are you possibly going to manage to select what you want when you will have similar problems with all of these?  The days are past when your large kitchen appliances involved nothing more than switching on and selecting one of a few settings.

One possible answer, and that preferred by a large number of people, is to shop online using a comparison site such as ShopSuperMarket.  Such websites allow you to compare the different makes and styles of major kitchen appliances, and also to compare their prices.  You can compare specifications, and also the safety features inherent in each model, which will be of particular importance to those with young children.

You will also be able to compare a review of the UK online stores offering these products, generally in the form of a star rating provided by genuine online buyers who have used each store. These are as genuine as you get because a dissatisfied customer is going to make his dissatisfaction known! You rarely get that with traditional High Street shops, and the larger ‘out of town’ retail emporia tend to be a bit sterile and dispassionate where customer relations are concerned.  You don’t seem to get the personal touch any more, which is why many are turning to online shopping for their large kitchen appliances.

Just imagine the benefit of sitting on your sofa, checking out what the various stores have to offer, comparing stores and comparing models, not to mention the price which is a major consideration for most people these days.  Major kitchen appliances are expensive enough today without having to pay more than you need, and they are generally cheaper online.

So, next time you have it in mind to purchase a large kitchen appliance, such as a cooker, fridge/freezer or dishwasher, then consider an online comparison site.  You will not only be surprise at what they can offer you, but also delighted with the range of products and the prices available.

First of all some background on the company: Gaggenau was founded in 1681 by Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm von Baden. He established an ironworks in the German town Gaggenau, and named the company after the town. It is both the oldest and widest distributed appliance brand and over the years, Gaggenau expanded into the manufacture of coal-fired cookers and some of the first gas cookers.  But technology has moved on considerably since then and Gaggenau embraced the changes and has been credited as the leader in introducing European convection ovens, the pyrolytic self-cleaning mode, and 36-inch ovens in North America.

Gaggenau’s world headquarters is still located in the city of Gaggenau, Germany to maintain some of the tradition and history of the company. But Gaggenau kitchen appliances are manufactured in several countries across Europe and North America including Lipsheim,

France, Bretten and Dillingen in Germany and Boston in Massachusetts.
Gaggenau has over 550 employees in 50 countries and is currently the only manufacturer that offers a combination steam oven with true convection plus multiple humidity settings in one unit for the home chef.

Gaggenau specialises in cutting-edge built-in home appliances. Its portfolio includes ovens, gas, electric and induction cook- tops, ventilation, dishwashers, modular refrigeration and freezer columns and wine storage units. Gaggenau also produces specialty appliances such as steamers, grills and deep fryers, and the Asian-influenced Teppan Yaki. These are more luxury items and available to customers with a big budget.

Now for some product information: Well some of the appliances that Gaggenau is particularly proud of are the Modular Column Refrigerators and Freezers. They have an unusual stainless steel interior and plenty of placement options. The fridges and freezers also have low energy consumption and quiet operation.

In their range of ovens, Gaggenau’s BS 270 Combination Steam and Convection Oven combines the dry heat of convection with non-pressurized steam so that the shape, colour and nutrients and flavour of food are better preserved.

As regards hobs and cook- tops, the Vario 400 Series of Modular Cook- tops feature large, 15-inch Gaggenau kitchen appliances are designed to be able to fit into any size or style of kitchen, even the cosiest of kitchens.

Gaggenau also manufacture appliances for ventilation and the AT 400 Backsplash Ventilation eliminates vapours and odours directly at the point where they occur, which is on the cook- top. They are designed for island units and smaller kitchens and have very high ventilation power levels.

Gaggenau kitchen appliances do not just comprise of big products such as fridges and cookers. They also manufacture small kitchen appliances such as coffee machines. They are available in aluminium or brushed stainless steel and is designed to integrate easily with any style of kitchen cabinet. Gaggenau use a unique conical grinding gear of hardened steel, together with Aroma Whirl brewing techniques, to produce flavoursome coffee each time it is used.

For more information about Gaggenau kitchen appliances, visit their website. It includes more information on individual products, recent news concerning the company and also recipes for you to try out on your new cooker- even if you decide not to go for a Gaggenau.

Kitchen can easily be called the heart of your home. Just like the entire home, the kitchen too is incomplete without your set of electronic appliances that act as your support to make your work and life a lot easier. Can you imagine a life without refrigerators, air conditioners and washing machines? Similarly, can you imagine your kitchen without washers and dryers, venting systems, ovens, coffee makers and water systems? Not really, isn’t it. It’s no surprise that the sale of kitchen appliances has not shown any signs of decline since a long time and the trend is expected to continue for long.

Kitchen appliances are the quintessential part of every kitchen and it is impossible to have one that includes no appliances at all. They are your helping hands when you cook. Makes your work a lot easier and moreover, saves on a lot of time! Buying kitchen appliances was never difficult but it was never easier than this. Since the proliferation of internet and advent of cashback sites on the household appliances scene, the task of buying of appliances is accomplished from the comforts of ones home.

To buy kitchen appliances today, one just needs to visit any of the appliance manufacturer’s site, browse through the product and place orders instantaneously. In case you want to have a choice and wish to compare all leading manufacturers at one single platform, cashback sites are your best bet. They will not just offer you household appliances at unbeatable prices but will even reward you for shopping with them through cashbacks! Visit one for your net shopping

Kitchen equipment such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and ovens need to be upgraded on a regular basis to ensure there are no interruptions in the productivity of the kitchen. This means that with an appliance that is new, you have fewer instances of problems and break downs. Breakdowns can cost time and money and are worth preparing for before they occur. You may find that the money you spend on upgrading your kitchen appliances will be much lower than the cost of lost business and constant repairs.

Nice equipment also looks good to the customers. They are more apt to spend their money with you if you can show them that you care about what you are doing enough to provide quality equipment for you business. It shows that you care about the health of your customers. No one wants to walk into a restaurant that is not clean and kept nice. This includes the appliances you have in the kitchen. Make sure your staff is fully trained on how to use the equipment so you will have no problems with improper use and have to spend money to fix broken equipment.

Kitchens in the home are often the focal point of the home and are used more than any other room. The latest kitchen appliances can really make a difference, especially if you entertain on a regular basis. High quality stainless steel can be one of the best choices. You can find refrigerators, ovens, and dishwashers in the stainless steel design. If you are into a more natural look, you can choose appliances that have beautiful wood paneling and easier to clean features.

With all the latest technology in kitchen appliances and the energy saving choices, there will be no problems finding a style to fit your kitchen design. The compact sizes make them a great choice for any area, large or small. With so many colors and designs, the possibilities are endless as to what you can do with them. The newer flat top ranges are easier to clean and the refrigerators come with everything to regulate your food chilling experience. You can choose to have your freezer on the side, the top, or the bottom. New doors have been installed to make it easier to take out a soda. Instead of having to open the larger door, you only need to open the smaller one.

No matter what type of kitchen you work in, having the latest kitchen equipment available will make things easier all around. This is especially true if you are in the food industry. Falling behind on technological advancements in cooking and food storage appliances could very well cost you money and customers. Restaurant equipment and concession equipment are not only a necessity for your business; they are what holds it all together and makes it run smoothly. For those that only cook in the kitchen at home, what better place to bring in new items than the room that is used the most?

If your household is like most, you do not have a full-time, live-in chef.  And there probably isn’t a full set of the latest and greatest designer kitchen appliances at your disposal to prepare the finest in world cuisine for your family each night.  Chances are good that your favorite room in your home is not your kitchen.

Yet a kitchen offers a world of possibilities.  It can be the perfect place to gather with family and friends, strengthening relationships through conversation over relaxing, delicious meals.  Kitchens also offer the unique opportunity to explore flavors and cultures of the world all from the comfort of home.

If how your kitchen looks and feels is preventing you from seeing its full potential, it is time to step back, evaluate your surroundings, and come up with a new recipe for the designer kitchen of your dreams.  And you don’t need a professional decorator to make this dream a reality.  What follows are a few simple guidelines anyone can follow to transform a tired and outdated kitchen into a modern oasis where everyone will want to congregate.

Determine your personal style. Is your style retro and funky, or classic and clean?  Do you like a space that’s loud and vibrant, or quiet and mellow?  By pinpointing your style you can create a look and feel in the kitchen that reflects your personality.  Take some time to leaf through magazines looking for other kitchens or rooms that spark your interest.  Is it the color or pattern that you like?  Does the design hearken to another era that resonates with you?  As you identify your style, you’ll have an easier time choosing which furniture, appliances, and accents can transform your kitchen into a unique reflection of your personality.

Set a reasonable budget. While everyone dreams of being able to start from scratch in their kitchen, replacing everything from the floors to the cabinets and each appliance in between, most people have to work within a budget.  Creating a budget will help you prioritize your purchases and make realistic decisions about what you can afford.  If your budget isn’t what you hoped it would be, there are options for giving your kitchen a new look on a limited funds (see below).

Another idea is to implement your kitchen makeover in manageable phases.  Perhaps the first phase is a fresh coat of paint and new dishes with the second phase including a new refrigerator or stove.  You might wrap up your mini home makeover with new kitchen flooring.  Breaking your wish list into manageable chunks can help stretch a limited budget.

Choose the right appliances. While updating your appliances may be as simple and inexpensive as replacing your outdated countertop toaster oven for a new model, sometimes a complete overhaul is in order or within the reach of your budget.  Whatever the situation, it is important to weigh the options for each kitchen appliance.  Do you need a professional-quality double oven or will a standard range work for you?  With such a variety of colors and styles available in appliances today, it is a good idea to consider how each piece will contribute to the overall style of your kitchen.  While color selection may be as far as you need to go, staying within your style and plan for the kitchen may mean purchasing a matching designer collection.  Browsing Web sites for appliances that fit your style may save you from being overwhelmed when you take your first visit to a showroom.

Create a new look on a budget.Sometimes the budget for a kitchen update is smaller than you hoped, yet you can easily spice up a bland kitchen by adding a few simple touches.  Grow a windowsill herb garden to add life and vibrancy to your kitchen and your family’s flavor palate.  No green thumb?  Changing the curtains in your kitchen will transform your view of the outside and contribute to how your kitchen looks on the inside.  You can also create an attractive centerpiece by combining a favorite bowl or plate with some seasonal produce – try gourds or small pumpkins in the fall, oranges in the winter, and fresh lemons in spring or summer.  Consider new towels or placemats to add a splash of color.  Small touches can make a big difference when it comes to changing the look of a room.

Clean out the clutter.Make room for new designer kitchen appliances by sorting through your current stash of appliances.  Anything that is broken should be thrown away.  Items that work that you no longer want or need may be donated to charity or passed on to a younger relative or student.  You might even consider holding a yard sale to add to your budget.  Not only will you clear some space in the kitchen, but you will move one step closer to that built-in bottom-freezer refrigerator that you’ve had your eye on.

Get the family involved. If your kids help out in the kitchen on a regular basis, they may offer a unique perspective or a creative idea to make the space a great place for everyone to gather.  Perhaps your spouse would volunteer to cook one night a week if a new swivel cabinet-mounted LCD television is a part of the new decor.  Getting others involved can help spark new ideas and allow everyone to take ownership and pride in the finished product.

With a little bit of planning and a lot of inspiration, mixing up a new designer kitchen is a recipe for success.  By keeping your personal parameters for style and budget in mind you can make professional looking changes to your kitchen that will enhance and liven up the space.  In just a short time, the investment you put into designing the kitchen of your dreams will pay dividends in comfort and quality time spent with family and friends over warm meals and pleasant conversations.

Say goodbye to your outdated kitchen appliances and hello to the more efficient, eco-friendly and elegant kitchen you’ve always wanted!

Have you flipped through the pages of a home decorating magazine or visited the home of a friend and turned green with envy when you saw how sleek and modern today’s kitchen appliances are becoming? From technology to décor, manufacturers are adding a variety of new features to make kitchen appliances more efficient, eco-friendly and elegant. Whether you want to replace an eyesore of a range for something more contemporary and stylish, or you’re looking for a refrigerator that’s designed to make better use of space, today’s kitchen trends offer something to satisfy every customer’s needs and desires.

High performance kitchen appliances are a necessity for modern households. If you’re like most consumers, you often find that you’re tight on time.  You live a fast-paced life and you don’t have time to hurry up and wait. These days, manufacturers are making kitchen appliances that work as hard and fast as their consumers do. High performance appliances can help consumers do everything from preparing their family’s favorite meal to cleaning heavily soiled dishes in no time. Many households are now opting for restaurant-grade appliances, which are perfect for large families or family’s that entertain often. Cooktops that incorporate induction technology use electromagnetic energy to increase temperature faster, while hot water dispensers installed under the sink, can deliver hot water for tea straight from the faucet, without the wait. And when it’s time to clean the dishes after a large family meal, there are a number of dishwashers designed to get the job done faster and better than ever before. Features like steam cleaning use high temperature steam to give dishes a spot-free, hand-washed appearance, while dishwashers manufactured with smart sensors can determine how much water and power are needed to make dishes sparkling clean.

For consumers who are committed to doing their part to help protect the environment, eco-friendly kitchen appliances offer a number of ways to help save energy and save money. Traditionally, refrigerators have required more energy than any other kitchen appliance, greatly increasing the household energy bill. But now newly manufactured refrigerators are often designed to run on a low, constant speed, which is more energy efficient. There are also a number of “green” dishwashers that use less water for consumers concerned about conservation. Some dishwashers are even built with 100% recyclable parts so that when it’s time to replace it, the parts can be re-used.  There’s a common misconception that eco-friendly kitchen appliances aren’t stylishly designed and can take away from the modern look you may be trying to achieve. But actually, energy efficient kitchen appliances have come a long way in terms of design and aesthetics, which means you can still have the beautiful, modern kitchen appliances you want while conserving energy at the same time.

One of the most popular trends in kitchen design is the incorporation of integrated kitchen appliances to create a sleek, stylish and modern look. Some integrated kitchen appliances can be built into kitchen units, and camouflaged with modern cabinetry in a variety of colors, styles and contemporary finishes. Other integrated kitchen appliances are manufactured to seamlessly coordinate with new or existing kitchen designs. Imagine refrigerator drawers and a prep sink built into your kitchen island for easy access, or a specialty range designed to compliment the colors and theme of your dream kitchen.

Today’s modern kitchen combines technology, design, versatility and unique style to create an inviting environment that you’ll love to cook in and show off to friends. Don’t hold on to outdated kitchen appliances that lack style and innovation and drive your energy bills through the roof. Have the kitchen and kitchen appliances of your dreams today

If you have toddlers in your home, then safety is obviously a big concern. They are big enough and mobile enough to go just about anywhere but they little to no understanding of how dangerous some things might be. So, you know that you need to toddler-proof your home but how do you go about it?

A great place to start is by placing ‘baby gates’ at the top and bottom of the stair case to prevent injuries. Be sure that you purchase a gate that is sturdy and can be easily fastened to the wall, railing or some other solid surface on or near the stairs. Even with a baby gate, never leave a toddler unattended near the stairs.

Next on the list to put child safety latches on all cupboard and cabinet doors the child could possibly reach. Remember, toddlers can climb! Pa extra attention the cabinets under the kitchen or bathroom sink or anyplace you store medicine, cleaning supplies, garden chemicals or poisons. In the garage or storage shed, store all weed killers and chemicals in a locked cabinet and place the key in a location where your child cannot find it.

When it comes to toddler safety, prevention is the best method. Store your child’s books and toys at their level so they do not have to climb to get to their favorite game or stuffed animal. If your child has a lamp, fan or other electrical appliance in his/her room, tuck cords safely behind furniture so the child cannot pull anything down on himself.

Avoid choking hazards by keeping young children away from small objects, pieces of toys, and small pieces of board games. Read manufacturer instructions for all toys and follow their guidelines. Buy only those toys and games that are appropriate for a child of a particular age. Place plastic safety plugs in electrical outlets so the child cannot stick his fingers in the outlet.

One aspect of home safety that is often overlooked is mildew and mold. Mildew and mold can cause serious illness and injury in adults and toddlers alike. Mold or mildew can be the cause of allergies and asthma in small children. Install a dehumidifier in any damp areas to mitigate the moisture in the air.