An empty dishwasher can injure. Common sense tells you to keep children away from an open dishwasher filled with knives and forks. But an open dishwasher is dangerous to small children even when empty. A dishwasher rack is basically a series of blunt spikes. If your child falls onto a rack, he will almost certainly land face first and could be seriously injured. So don’t ask a small child to help load or unload the dishwasher. It’s best if she is out of the kitchen while you do this chore.

For more childproofing and safety advice, see the Consumer Reports Guide to Childproofing & Safety, also available in stores nationwide.