Avoiding Grease Fires

To avoid fires from grease never leave your stove unattended as accidental fires can happen.

Even lower heat can cause a fire if unattended over time. Always check your burners to ensure they are off when completing your cooking!

Should a pan catch on fire, first, remove the pan from the heat. If safe, turn off the burner or move the pan to a cold burner.

Then place a pot/pan lid over the burning grease to smother the flame or use a fire extinguisher.

Never put a burning pan in the sink or shower and do not spray water on it! That will cause the flames to explode and spread the fire.

If you feel like you cannot eliminate the fire, please exit the building, pull a fire alarm on your way out, and dial 911.

Cleaning Your Bathroom

Here you will learn about the importance of cleaning your bathroom and how it reduces the chance of mold.

A few importance steps to remember are to make sure your shower curtain hangs inside the shower pan below the lip to keep the water inside the shower.

Once you are finished in the shower, close the shower curtain, leave the exhaust fan on for at least 5 minutes post-shower, and the bathroom door open for at least 15 minutes to allow the moisture to escape.

To prevent mold:

• Do not leave wet towels on the ground
• Try not to leave your shower products on the ground in the shower/ or clean underneath them
• Leave the door open after using the shower

Want to learn more about mold and mildew and tips for preventing them?  Visit our mold and mildew page here.

How To Use a Fire Extinguisher

Fire extinguishers are located on every floor of every building and your RAs are trained on how to use a fire extinguisher.

Instructions are on each fire extinguisher and the gage should be in the green zone.

Remember the acronym - P.A.S.S.

• Pull the pin out of the extinguisher
• Aim at the fire from 6-8 feet away
• Squeeze the extinguisher to discharge its contents
• Sweep the hose back and forth until the extinguisher is empty

 

How to Clean the Lint Trap in a Dryer

Checking and cleaning the lint trap should always happen before starting your load of laundry. Here we highlight where to find the lint trap and how to remove the existing lint.

Too much lint in the trap can cause your clothes to not dry properly which leads to you need to run the dryer too high or for too long. This can then damage your clothing or possibly start a fire.

Setting Your Thermostat

Here you will learn about why your room should always be between 72-74 degrees and the importance of leaving your thermostat on the AUTO setting.

If there is a serious drop in outside temperatures, having the thermostat on auto will allow for the heat function to come on. The heat automatically kicks on once the temperature drops below a certain degree. Do not be alarmed if it smells like smoke when the heat comes on.

Still having trouble with your air conditioner or thermostat? Please put it a  work order here .

The Importance of Dusting

FAU Housekeeping staff takes care of all common spaces in the Residence Halls and Apartments. Residents are expected to keep their rooms/suites clean throughout the year.

One of the main steps in keeping your space clean is dusting.

We recommend using a vacuum with a soft brush attachment or a lightly moistened cloth. If you have a vacuum, or a Swiffer mop, make sure to get into the corners of the rooms and under the bed as dust loves to hide there.

The vents are located in different areas depending on which residential facility you are in. If you are not sure where your vent is located, you can ask the front desk and they can let you know.

Unclogging Your Toilet

Please only flush toilet paper down the toilet. So-called flushable wipes do not break down like toilet paper and should not be flushed. Disposable menstrual products and paper towels should not be put in the toilet but placed in the trash.

Should your toilet ever get clogged, the use of a plunger is the best option to attempt to clear it yourself.

Steps for plunging:

• Place the plunger slowly into the bowl covering the opening at the bottom.
• Using a slow, then more rapid motion, do a pumping action up and down to clear the bowl. This may take several tries, but often you can clear the blockage yourself.

Never flush the toilet if the water is above the normal level in the bowl and not draining effectively, this will cause the contents of the bowl to spill out onto the floor.

If you encounter a clogged toilet that you cannot clear with a plunger, please  put in a work order  and maintenance will come. If it’s an emergency, please notify the front desk.

Using a Stovetop or Oven

The heating elements for either the stovetop or oven are extremely hot even when in the lowest settings and can cause accidental fires should flammable items be placed on them.

Never place rags, towels, or other flammable items on the stove as accidents can happen.

In case of an emergency, always know where the closest fire extinguisher is.  Sometimes it may even be located under the sink.

Always check to make sure your burner or oven is turned off after each use. They will remain hot for several minutes afterward so use caution.

Using a Washer and Dryer

Before starting your laundry, read the care instructions for your clothes carefully, don’t place fabrics that are not meant for dryers into the dryer. Make sure to hang them to dry instead.

Dryer fires are typically caused by improperly operating the dryer. Things like not cleaning out lint traps, overloading the machine, or putting clothes that aren’t meant for a dryer into the unit all have the potential to lead to fires.

Materials such as Nylon, Neoprene, Rayon, and the new Dri-fit materials often say you can use the air-only setting (no heat) if you wish to dry.

It is also important to no overload the washers. Please be mindful when you need to wash several towels. It’s better to run more loads than overloading the washer and causing it to overflow and break.

Rules to remember:

• Do not overload the washer or dryer
• One load of wash equals one load of dry
• Pull the items out as they dry
• Do not re-start the dryer as soon as the cycle is done - this will overwork the dryer
• If a washer begins to overflow with water or is leaking or the dryer begins to smoke, alert the front desk immediately

---

Tips For Preventing Mold And Mildew Growth

The Department of Housing and Residential Education provides the following information about the potential

for mold and mildew and the steps to take if you suspect it in your living areas.

With the growing number of mold inquiries related to petri dishes or “Do-It-Yourself” mold test kits, it’s important to note that while these kits are inexpensive and easy to find, mold professionals generally do not recommend their use. This is because mold spores naturally exist everywhere, both indoors and outdoors, so it would actually be unusual not to see mold growth on a petri dish. Since the presence of spores indoors is normal, these kits can give a misleading impression that a mold problem exists when it may not. In fact, petri dish kits promote mold growth by providing all the conditions mold needs: a food source, moisture, and a surface to grow on. Furthermore, there are no standardized methods or accepted guidelines for using or interpreting results from self-administered petri dish tests. Finally, these kits are easily contaminated during the sampling process, which can further distort results and lead to unnecessary concern.

What To Know About Mold And Mildew

• Florida has a climate conducive to mold and mildew. It is necessary to provide proper ventilation and dehumidification humidification of rooms to prevent the growth of mold and mildew.

• Mold and mildew is a normal and necessary part of our ecosystem. It is present in every building you normally occupy, including homes, and classrooms. Mold spores are consistently present in outside air and indoor air, with the exception of sterile environments such as laboratories.

• The EPA states “there is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture”.

• Molds can produce allergens, but just like any other allergen, individual responses differ based on personal sensitivity.

• If you are having symptoms that you believe may be the result of mold allergens, please make an appointment with the  Student Health Service  for an examination.

• After a shower leave the bathroom door open with the light on for 15 minutes to remove excess moisture from the air in the bathroom.

• Bathroom fixtures, toilets, showers, tubs, and sinks should be regularly cleaned with a brush and bleach based or germ-killing antiseptic cleansers such as Dawn.

• Mop up all water on the floor and hang towels and bathmats to dry. Fully extend the shower curtain to allow it to dry between showers. Leave bathroom doors open until hanging items have dried.

• Do not cover vents, or place obstructions in front of vents to allow for best air flow. Periodically clean your vents by using a vacuum, broom/brush, or simply wipe with an antiseptic, germ killing, cleaner and a clean cloth.

• Use of towels as bathroom mats may cause injury or buildup of microbial growth.

* Per the Housing Contract, residents agree to be responsible for properly ventilating and dehumidifying the room and suite/apartment and contents to prevent mold and mildew, and that the University shall not be responsible for damage to the room, suite/apartment or personal property of the resident for damages caused by mold and mildew.

Learn More About Mold From EPA

Mold and mildew is part of the natural environment and can be found everywhere. The best way to control mold growth is to control moisture. For more information about mold please visit the  EPA’s website here.