Winter is usually fun for dogs, but cold weather also means that we as owners need to make some adjustments. Icy patios and driveways can be dangerous for pets and humans alike, but so are some ice melters. Ridding driveways from ice is necessary, but certain ice melts contain chemicals that can be harmful to animals. We’ve picked the best ice melt safe for pets to a certain extent.

Please note that there is no such thing as 100% pet-friendly ice melt. In order to melt the ice, these products contain compounds that should not be consumed, but dogs being dogs, they may lick the stuff.   

However, some ice melts are safer than others.
For the uninitiated, ice melting products may often be called by different names. They are most commonly called rock salt, as they contain sodium chloride which is what we know as salt. This compound isn’t the worst for dogs, but it’s better to avoid it.  However, other chemicals in regular not pet-friendly anti-icing products can be even more dangerous.

These are hazardous for dogs chemicals that can often be found in de-icing products:

• Magnesium chloride
• Potassium chloride
• Calcium magnesium acetate
• Calcium chloride
• Calcium carbonate

Because this is a highly unregulated industry, some rock salt or anti-icing products claim to be safe for pets when they actually aren’t. Chemicals in these ice melts can eat away at the pads of your dog’s paws or cause chemicals burns on his pads and his feet skin.

​Problem With Regular Driveway Salt
Regular de-icing salt can burn your pet’s paws if the crystals happen to get stuck. Also, if your cat or dog consumes the salt, it could be bad for its health.

Pet-Friendly De-icers
There are a variety of manufacturers that make pet-friendly de-icers. While the ingredients in the various brands differ, some are 100 percent salt- and chloride-free. Additionally, they claim to melt instantly, which helps limit the chance of the pelts becoming lodged in your dog or cat’s paws.

Also, it’s important for the de-icer to be non-toxic so it’s safe to be used around children and animals.

Other Pet-Friendly Tips
While it’s a good idea to purchase pet-friendly de-icers, there are ways to limit its use in general. They are designed to help loosen up compacted snow and ice, not to melt everything.

​So use it sparingly and get out and shovel instead.

TOP SAFETY TIPS FOR HANGING LIGHTS FOR 2016
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​Lights and Decorations

• When shopping for lights, electric decorations and extension cords, purchase only the ones that are UL-listed
• If you’re planning to decorate outdoors, make sure that you use lights and decorations that are rated for outdoor use. Putting indoor-only products outside in the weather can result in electric shock and fire hazards.
• If you’re in doubt as to whether light strings are rated for indoor or outdoor use, just check the color-coded UL mark on the product’s package. A green holographic UL mark says, “indoors only, please,” while a red one indicates that the product is safe for both indoor and outdoor use.
• Whether they’re brand-new out of the box or seasoned veterans from holidays past, before you put them up, inspect all lights, electric decorations and extension cords for signs of damage to wire insulation, plugs, and bulbs. If the damage can be repaired (i.e. broken bulbs replaced), do not use the item until the repair has been made. If cords and plugs are damaged, discard and replace the decoration.
• Always unplug lights before changing bulbs, replacing fuses, or making any other repairs.
• If you need to replace a bulb in a string of Christmas lights, make sure that the wattage rating of the replacement bulb you’re using matches that of the light strand. Using a bulb with too high a wattage can cause the light string to overheat, creating a fire risk.
• When hanging Christmas lights outdoors, reduce your risk of electric shock by passing up metal ladders in favor of ladders made of non-conductive materials like wood or fiberglass-reinforced plastic.
• Only use lights and decorations in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions.
• Before you begin decorating, verify how many strands of lights it is safe to connect end-to-end (as a general rule, it’s 3).
• Be careful not  to overload extension cords. Before you start plugging in, find out the wattage rating of your extension cord, as well as the power requirements of any lights or decorations you’re planning to plug into it. A wattage rating is the amount of electricity that an extension cord is built to carry, and if the combined power requirements (or “pull”) of your lights and decorations exceed that rating, overheating and fire can occur.
• Every so often, check Christmas light wires to make sure that they’re not warm to the touch.
• Always turn off all Christmas lights and decorations before going to bed or leaving the house.

​Buying a Christmas Tree
Did you know that your choice of Christmas tree could affect its flammability factor? Older, dried-out trees ignite and burn much faster than those that are freshly cut and well hydrated, so when you’re shopping for a natural (live) Christmas tree, keep the following things in mind:

• Before taking a Christmas tree home, make sure that its needles are fresh, green, and firmly attached to the branches. Bend the needles between your fingers – if they break, the tree is too dry. Also check that the tree trunk’s cut surface is sticky to the touch. As a final precaution, pick the tree up vertically and tap the trunk against the ground; if needles fall off, move on to another tree.
• As a general rule, Christmas trees with thicker needles take longer to dry out, so a robust variety like the Noble Fir is a good choice.
• If you opt for an artificial tree instead, be sure that it’s flame retardant.

Setting Up Your Christmas Tree
The way you set up and care for your tree has a big effect on how long it will last, how beautiful it will stay, and, ultimately, how safe it will be to have in your home.

• Before putting your new Christmas tree into its stand, cut a couple of inches off the bottom of the trunk to expose fresher (and far more absorbent) wood. Taking a few minutes to do this will improve your tree’s water intake, and make it harder for your tree to catch fire.
• Your tree stand should have a capacity of at least one gallon, which is the amount of water that the average 6-foot Christmas tree can consume in a day’s time. As a general rule of thumb, live Christmas trees require one quart of water for every inch of trunk diameter.
• Water live Christmas trees daily.
• Position tree a minimum of 3 feet away from candles, fireplaces, space heaters, radiators, heat vents, and other heat sources.
• Because nearly half of all Christmas tree fires involve electrical malfunctions, it’s extremely important to check that light strands and other electrical decorations are in good condition (free from insulation cracks, fraying wires or damaged bulbs and plugs) before decorating your tree with them.

For more resources on how to safely decorate your home for the holidays, be sure to check out the National Fire Protection Agency’s (NFPA) guide to Winter/Holiday Safety, as well as Holiday Fire Safety suggestions from the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).

With winter just around the corner. It is essential that you winterize your home.
Especially in the Windy city of Chicago and Chicagoland Burbs! 
 
10 Top Tips to keep in mind while winterizing your home:

Seal the leaks

It is important that you check the pipes in your house.  Leaks need to be sealed or they can freeze and block the passage of water.  Turn the water off on your outside spickets – (where your hoses hook into your home), and remove the hoses.  Bring the hoses inside, as they also will freeze and crack on the sides, making that another trip to the local hardware store.   Maybe a plumber needs to be called if you have a leak in a water pipe..  FYI.

Upgrade your furnace

Furnaces are an essential part of the house. Older furnaces are more likely work longer than they should, allowing more energy consumption than necessary.   It might be time to hit that Local Home Depot and check the sales..  Before it is too late!  Always better to be safe than sorry when it is -30 degrees outside.   Your furnace filter should also be cleaned, or replaced to allow full airflow, and cut back on the amount of energy it takes to move the aid.   A time span of 3 months is considered ideal in replacing filters, and or cleaning them depending on the unit you have.

Insulation

Insulation is the trick behind getting warmer houses during winters. If your house is properly insulated from cold weather outside, you will stay warm and cozy inside.   It is of prime importance that you insulate water pipes before winter season arrives with pipe blankets. This will keep the water warmer for your early morning showers!   

Allow more sunlight in

Know the design of your house. Try to uncover the shades of all windows facing south. This will bring more sunlight into house, keeping those rooms warmer. Use the suns heat, and save some cash along the way! 

Use fireplaces

A fireplace is one of those, “why do we even have this in our living room” items, until its -20 and the wind is blowing at 40 miles an hour. Fireplaces are ideal for creating a warm environment in your house. Using fireplaces instead of heaters will not only be more economical, but also create a great family environment that you can enjoy some family time with popcorn and a movie.   

Plantation

Not only are plants and trees more useful for fresh air and a clean environment, they are great helpers in winters too. They block the wintery wind from entering your home.  Planting evergreens, seem to be the tree to go with, as they create a huge shelter from the wind around your home.

Thermal curtains

These curtains can come handy to prevent the chilled wind from entering house through windows. You can install them in every room of the house to get warmer feeling, and less, chilled air.
Sealing the doors
To prevent the cold from entering your home, seal all the doors and any extra spaces giving way to wind entering your house. You can use either plastic or any other insulation material to do so. Make sure the material is removable, as you will have to remove that again for the summer.

Use area rugs

Area rugs are one of the best ways for a warmer feeling of a home.  Area rugs also act as insulators and keep the warm air in the room.  While the floor gets incredibly cold to walk bare feet on, carpets and area rugs come in handy when you are walking barefoot in the kitchen.

Wearing right apparel

During winters, it becomes very necessary to wear proper clothes. You have to consider the cold weather and dress accordingly. Always remember to put on socks to prevent your feet from getting cold. There are many varieties of socks available. There are also special pairs that you can use at night to get a better sleep.

Hope these tips help! 

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