Safe-Home.com

Question about possible mother's day gifts.

Question: "I need some gift ideas for Mothers Day. Mom seems to have almost every kitchen utensil she could ever need. I want to gift her with something unique. Please give me some ideas. Thanks. Susan."

Answer: Safe Home offers a wide variety of gifts both whimsical and practical. Here are some examples of our best sellers for Mothers Day:

For the Bird Loving Mom:

• Songbird Essentials Hummer Helper Hummer Helmet, RED that shields the nectar from the sun and helps attract hummingbirds.
• Birds and Twigs Rustic Birdfeeder includes two metal birds for decoration.
• Red Mason Jar Hummingbird Feeder is an antique style with four feeding ports.

For the Gardening Mom:

• No Pooping in the Yard Sign is a whimsical reminder to pet owners to leave no messes.
• Echo Valley Solar Mushroom Farmhouse captures sun light and lights at night for garden interest.
• Koolscapes Koi or Lily Pond Kit provides all you need but the fish and the lily plants.
• Echo Valley Solar Powered FireFly Lantern looks like the firefly mason jars and grass you may have used to catch fireflies.

For the Mom Dealing with Head Ache or Muscle Pain from Too Much Exercise or Too Much Gardening.

• Orthogel 4 oz. Continuous Spray Pain Relief a cooling topical analgesic for sore muscles and arthritis pain relief.
• Snugglewool's Mediwool Mattress Topper Bed Padkeeps you more comfortable all year around. Available in twin, king, double and crib sizes.
• Medready Basic Pill Box with Alarm to keep track of when pills should be taken and to remind you with an alarm
• Kirks All Natural Castile Soap Bars for use in soothing showers or baths.
• Relief Band for Nausea works for motion sickness and similar nausea.

Go to the SafeHomeProducts.com website for thousands of other products that might make your Mom's life more pleasurable, less painful, or less work!

Thanks for your question. Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Barbara

Question about buying and hanging wind chimes.

Answer: There are many questions to consider when choosing wind chimes and their placement. Often sounds that please your ear may be abrasive to some else.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

1. How much are you going to invest in your chime or chimes? Some chimes are quite inexpensive. For example, the Cohasset Sail Boat Bamboo Wind Chime. Others like the Music of the Spheres Westminster Wind Chime can cost more than $100.
2. How many do you plan to buy? If you plan to hang more than one in an area, please choose units that work well together. Ex. The Music of the Spheres wind chimes come in soprano, alto, bass, etc. They are tuned to the same scale just in different octaves.
3. What is your purpose? i.e to set a mood, to accent an area, etc.
4. Where are the locations you are considering? Chimes range in length from about 26 inches to 90 inches. Are you going to place these outside or inside? Inside means near a screened window or screen door through which wind can flow. Perhaps you'll have to have a fan nearby to jostle the chimes. Typically how windy is it outside your home or building? How close are your neighbors? (long bass wind chimes can be quite loud).
5. What components are in the chimes you are considering? Components change the sounds, from soothing to rather abrasive, from tuned to not tuned. Also the distance the sound travels

Then take a look at the options:

• Glass wind chimes have a higher pitch, are not tuned, add color. Glass chime sounds do not carry as far as metal chimes.
• Metal wind chimes are aluminum like the Amazing Grace Chime, copper like the Woostock Copper Wind Bell or steel. Often you can add additional chimes to provide harmony. Ex. Music of the Spheres has chimes ranging from soprano through bass. The pitch is usually the same and sound not only carries but lasts longer.
• Bamboo wind chimes provide soothing sounds, hollow, deep and resonant. They are less durable than metal. Splits in the bamboo have little effect on the sounds

Choosing the number of tubes:

• More tubes means more notes, more combinations of sounds and different harmonies.
• Fewer tubes results in a smaller range of sounds, well-tuned ones

Choosing Chime Finish:

• Painted
• Natural Metal Finish
• Natural

Choosing Chime Length:

• Overall wind chime length determines both tones and sound depth.  the tone and depth of the sound. Longer chimes result in lower, fuller tones: shorter, higher pitched tones.

Looking at the wind chime sail size:

• This is the piece that catches the breeze. If it is too large and heavy, the sound may be decreased. Choose a wind chime that will not need gale force winds to chime. Usually a gentle breeze of 8 to 10 mph activates a chime. A very heavy sail can "beat up" the wind chime,

Just go to SafeHomeProducts.com and enter wind chimes in the search box to browse through our very large selection of wind chimes.

Thanks for your questions.

Sincerely,

Barbara

Question about the most common dangers to children in and around homes.

Answer: According to the USA Today, July 5, 2012 report, the Consumer Protection Product Safety Commission lists drowning, poisoning and tipping furniture as most common dangers. You may recall the baby crib recall. The cribs our parents used for us and we used for our children and grandchildren can no longer be sold. Remember the double release locks you pushed with your foot and the side dropped?  The Commission received reports and does research to determine which products are safe.

Drowning, poisoning and tipping furniture are considered the most common risks to young children. Cordless window blinds are recommended to reduce risks of strangulation.

The COSC recommends that whatever safety devices you buy for do-it-yourself installation or have installed by handymen or professional childproofers meet voluntary industry standards or are recommended by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association.

Common sense tells you that poisons, medications, dishwasher detergent, etc. must be stored in secure places whether that place is a cupboard or a closet.

Here are a few suggestions based upon our customers' purchases:

• Install child safety gates at the top and bottom of open stairways. Our customer favorites are the Cardinal Stairway Special Child Gate 27-42.5 Inches wide BLACK. These gates are made especially for stairways and can be installed at a 30 degree angle. Suggested mounted height: 29.5". Actual gate height: 27.75" (1.75" space from floor). Mount no higher than 4" off floor for toddler safety. (Gate height then is 31.75"). Bars are spaced 2.75 inches apart. Extensions are available. Also available are mounting kits for wrought iron, square posts and round post installations. This means few or no holes drilled into your railings or posts.
• Door locks to keep children out of closets, from opening entrance or basement doors, etc. Safe Home sells a variety of locks. The most popular are the Patio Door Guardian SLIDING Door/SLIDING Window Lock in WHITE that works to keep sliding windows and sliding doors closed until you want them opened. For doors that swing, the most popular are the Door Guardian locks that come in silver nickel , brass, antique brass, chrome and white.
• Window guards and window stops are very popular especially when you can save on AC by opening windows. Window guards are mandatory in some states and cities when children age 10 and under are present. Check your local codes. The Guardian Angel removable white telescoping window guards are the most popular for those who want a powder coated guard that removes entirely for cleaning. The John Sterling window guards are painted, available in white or black, and come in fixed and swing open models. Window stops come in permanent and removable versions. Window Wedges attach with velcro: use on windows that slide open either sideways or up and down. Window Guardian Window Locks and Window Guardian window locks require screws and add security, too.
• Furniture safety straps and cabinet and drawer latches. Children are injured or killed every year by furniture, TV's, microwave ovens, etc. that topple over on them. Cabinet and drawer latches help keep children out of drawers and cabinets that may contain anything from flour (what a mess!) to poisons. See Safe Home Products for ideas.
• Deck netting and xbalcony guard products. Many openings in older outdoor decks are over 4 inches. Similarly balconies inside homes often are over 4 inches. Children or pets can slip through and die or suffer injuries. We sell black and silver deck netting for outside use and PET grade sturdy plastic balcony guard for indoor use.
• Sliding door safety outlet covers for electrical outlets keep children safe and keep heat or cold out or in, depending upon the season. Most parents and grandparents choose thessliding door outlet covers that also insulate. Cover Plug Outlet Plates plates cover unused outlets and can be wallpapered or painted. We also sell Sockit Lockits, insert difficult for young children to remove from electrical outlets.
• Edge cushioning and corner covers are available for narrow and wide edges and corners. Hearth padcomes in many colors. Attaches quickly to hearth edges. Keeps young children from falling onto hard fireplace hearth edges. Install hearth padding with or without a metal backing.

These are childproofing products that are easily installed and may save the life of your child or grandchild or a visiting child.

Thank you for your questions.

Sincerely,

Barbara