Most often we think the biggest accidents in the laundry room are the ones that come in as stains on our clothing. But actually, the electrical shocks and slippery falls that happen in the laundry room send hundreds of people to the emergency room every year. There are some basic washer rules that will help keep you safe.

Water and Electricity Safety

Washing = water, of course, and water and electricity don't mix well. Outlets in the laundry room should have a ground fault circuit interrupter. If your home is older and doesn't have these, they are easy to install. Should you have a leak or burst hose, unplug your machines immediately.

Slippery Floors

Wet floors are slippery floors. If you have a floor drain in the laundry area, cleaning up water becomes quite simple. If you don't be sure to clean up spills immediately.

Detergents and cleaning products are also quite slippery. Even dry detergent powder can become like ball bearings underfoot. Keep a mop and broom handy.

Washer Hoses

If your washer is a few years old, your water supply hoses are probably made of rubber which can easily crack and fray. If you see any signs of wear on rubber hoses or if they are more than five years old, they should be replaced with braided steel lines. They come in varied lengths, are not very expensive and install like a garden hose. It will only take one burst rubber hose to make you diligent about water hose quality.

The key step in changing a supply hose is turning off the water supply valves first. Valves may be hard to turn but can usually be closed with pliers. Use a bucket to collect the water remaining in the hoses. Hand-tighten the new hoses, turn the water back on and check for leaks.

As an added precaution, automatic flood stopping units should be considered. The units contain two solenoid valves that connect between the shutoff valves and the hoses. A sensor, mounted beneath the hoses, detects a leak and stops water flow at the control valve. Installation is just as simple as changing the hoses.

During vacations or when you will be away from home, the water supply should be turned off. A burst hose is going to pump hundreds of gallons of water each day into your home. I had a hose burst and caught it very quickly but still had two inches of water everywhere. I can only imagine if I had been away for any period of time.

Washers and Children

Big loud machines filled with water are a magnet for children and look like a great place to play. Be sure to keep washer doors closed - especially on front-loading machines. There are also childproof locks that can be installed. Accidents can happen so quickly and most are preventable .