In our daily living, we interact with the spaces around us in different ways, either at home or at workplace. If you're not tall, you don't need to change your residence to access from top shelves to bulbs, ceiling pipes to picture frames that need to be hanged and so on.
One of the best inventions in all the civilization was step stools and ladders. Ladders and step stools have come in handy over the years – from scaling enemy walls to fixing the light bulb. In this article, we take a look at the best step stool that will help you access high places around your home or place of work.
What is a Step Stool?
A step stool is a type of stool with ladders used to reach for the higher objects. There are some that have foldable ladders at the back while others have a fixed-step at the back end. Step stools will come in handy in areas such as the kitchen or a store which will require access to the shelves at all times.
A step stool is somewhat a normal stool in certain incidences and at the same time through some incidences a step stool can be categorized as a step ladder. A step stool can be a standalone appliance, although it can be moved and in some instances folded for use as a flat-top surface.
Now that you know what a step stool is, below is more insight on the top step stools to use at home and work.
How to get the Best Step Stool?
Best Step Stool
1. Handy Step Stool
- 300 lb. capacity with grip-dot textured surface makes the folding...
- The anti-skid foot-pads feature makes it safety certified and...
- The lightweight, but sturdy folding step stool is easy to use...
- It’s a great step up for the kitchen, bathroom, closets, RV's,...
- The maximum standing height is 9", and it easily folds away for...
If you want a household step stool that is strong and sturdy, Handy is an excellent choice. It’s lightweight and strong, holding up to 300 pounds. The step stool is one of such Handy products that ensure your safety. With a maximum height of 9 inches, it’s high enough to reach those top house shelves.
Using the stool after laundry and other chores besides, you can hang clothes on it. Now you don’t need an electrician to fix your bulb with this brilliant creation.
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2. HBTower 3-Step Ladder
- 2021 UPGRADE STEP LADDER—Open: 20.1" x 26.8" x 40.9", Folded:...
- PORTABLE AND SPACE-SAVING: This Folding Step Stools Comes fully...
- SECURITY AND STABILITY—High-grade steel frame is constructed...
- NON-SLIP DESIGN: The 3 step ladder has non-slip rubber handgrip...
- HASSLE FREE WARRANTY: You can get 2 years warranty, 100% money...
HBTower provides an anti-slip wide pedal, to ensuring you are steady always on the stool. It has a weight limit of up to 500 pounds, and it is not so simple to reach that limit when using the ladder. However, your safety is assured by it since the provided step ladder has a hand grip to help you ascend or descend it. Since you are looking for a safe, convenient and fully functional HBTower is the place for you.
HBTower is slip resistant with rubber incorporation to the legs so as not to slip. Also, the warranty of the ladder for two years make the brand to be working for you for the longest time.
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3. ACSTEP Foldable Step Stool
- PREMIUM QUALITY - Manufactured to Acko standards, made of tough &...
- CARRYING HANDLE - Ergonomic carrying handle is designed for easy...
- SQUASH and ROUND CORNER PROTECTION FEATURE - We have designed a...
- ANTI SLIP - Special rubber dots on the surface and anti-slip...
- PROPER USE - The maximum load capacity of the folding step is 300...
Having ACSTEP stool is the best thing that you can possibly have in store. The stool will open a whole expansive world of DIY because of the stable construction that can support up to 300 pounds. The step stool is even in design and does not have a very industrial look which makes it blend with the other equipment in the house.
This design is foldable and it means that you do not need to worry about storage of the furniture. The stool can also be folded to create room when it is placed in small areas.
The safety–oriented design of ACSTEP guarantees that the user is always safe. The stool cost is affordable to any household.
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4. Rubbermaid Step Stool
- 2-step molded plastic stool with a black finish
- Designed with cutout handles and non-slip step treads
- Lightweight for easy portability
- 300-pound load capacity
Rubbermaid is a powerhouse in the household equipment world. This name pretty much explains itself as the surface of the stool is rubber, making it safer and exponentially reducing the chances of slippage. The surface of rubber further features treads that will increase friction even if the surface is slightly wet.
When on the stool, the stool will have broad base that keeps you grounded. This two step stool comfortably supports up to 300 pounds. The stool is solid and is lightweight so you have the best combo for the house.
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5. Little Giant Ladders Safety Steps
- Lightweight aluminum stepstool uses a non-slip staircase design...
- Safety handrail increases stability while working on top step and...
- Extra-wide, slip-resistant feet are perfect for working over...
- Tip & Glide wheels allow for easy transportation from job to job.
- ANSI Type IA 300 lbs. Duty Rating. Stepladder Size- 2 feet, Top...
Little Giants is well-known to all households equipment stores in the country. This brand is actually celebrated for some of its products that have surpassed performance of other brands. Little Giants step stools are made of an aluminum body. Aluminum is actually light weight, however at the same time it remains one of the strongest available metals for product fabrication.
The other metal that was used here is aluminum and this metal does not rust but rather it corrodes and if not well maintained. Adjustable heights are provided for along with slip-resistant steps and foldability; Little Giant stands tall above all the rest.
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What Should I Consider Before Buying a Step Stool?
a) Weight Capacity
A step stool is designed to assist you anytime you are extending your arm to grab an item slightly above your normal reach. These furniture are made in different materials. Plastic step stool and a wooden step stool will not have the tensile standards of the stool when it comes to plastic stool. With most structures, the load carrying capacity for various materials will be different in most cases.
Thus, no matter what material the stool is to be made from, a good step stool should be provided with a wider bottom for more stability. A step stool should provide minimum load-bearing capacity of 300 pounds at any one time. The material used in the construction of most step ladders is sturdy and many of them do not require support.
b) Rubber Feet
You’re not standing stiff while you’re on top of the step stool. Perhaps the step stool is one you're changing the bulb or pulling something from a shelf, such that it absolutely must keep you safe at all times. Elevated, your potential energy goes up big time and you are much more likely to fall off of it, as you are above the ground. The elevated center of gravity is one of the things that increase (the chances of) falling. An increase in the center of gravity decreases stability.
If you have a stool with rubber feet then enough resistance will stop it from sliding at all. You only need the rubber at the tips of the leg just enough to be slip resistant. The floor has to be dry as you might end up sliding by leaning too far for tips in order to increase their efficiency. You just need to make sure that the feet are dry before you do.
c) Nonslip Treads
The step stool increases the stability of the step stool by increasing friction that reduces the chances of slippage. The rubber feet will not be enough stability needed when on top of the stool. Best step ladders have increased friction in every contact point with the ground or feet. The surface from which you will be operating, the top step has to have treads.
Step ladders are only as safe as the surface. Metallic treads can, in fact, be replaced by rubber. Rubber should be used when making a slip resistance for a stepping stool. When searching for a stool, safety is not negotiable.
d) Lightweight
A step stool should not contribute to any inconvenience. A step ladder needs to be used by every member of a household. Everybody in a household needs to use a step ladder for once. The step stool should move easily around the house from everybody from kids to the elderly. Using different material for the stool will also make all the difference as far as weight is concerned. For example, the density of the metallic or wooden stool will be different than the one of the plastic stool. Not every lightweight step ladder means a soft step stool. The importance of the strength of the stool should be the first one taken into consideration. It will weed out problems with a lightweight step stool.
e) Compact Design
Your step stool should be able to be stable on all four feet. Not everyone likes heights but most especially not unsteady high places! The anti slip surface will be useless as a wobbling step stool will increase the instability. As Kitchen is a place of fragile things, a kitchen step stool should be very stable. Stability has to be high all the time, no matter if it’s household or commercial use.
f) Material
One of the factors that will make an immense impact on your step ladder features and long life is the type of material that is used to make it. The steel frame of a step stool will usually be more stable than the plastic framed versions. But steel frame also comes with their own challenges. Over time if you do not take care of the stool it might begin having rusty parts.
If it’s in the house we think wooden stools work really well because both look good. These stools can also serve as bookshelves or plant shelves. The weight is also an other factor resulting out of material used to make step stool.
The plastic step stool should be lighter than that of the wooden or metallic stool. And the metallic stool won’t be wobbly and can hold a higher capacity. Metals are used more commercially and commercially of industrial setting than a wooden or plastic step stool appears.
g) Folding Step
The size advantage of the step stool is that it can fold up to store easily. When the steps have hinges attached to the frame, a step stool folds. When you’re ready to use it, you can just unfold it, and put it away when you’re doing other things. Transportation is easier once the stool is folded rather than when the stool is unfolded. Also, folding stool is more handy to store in the tight place.
You want to move the step stool around as easy as you can. For an industrial environment, with co workers moving around and tight spaces in warehouses a folding step stool would be far easier to move than a non folding step stool. You can carry one easier than one that does not fold and takes up too much space when folded.
h) Tool Compartment
Having a stool with a compartment for holding tools is drastically easier than someone handing you the tools. A step ladder with tools can carry it all to provide less bulk and weight when working on an elevated position. The best step ladder is designed to offer you convenience at all times when there is no chance of falling victim to instability. A tester or a screwdriver that’s often used to make repairs is small enough to fit inside storage compartments on the step stools.
i) Wide Steps
The wide steps make a large base which lowers the center of mass of both you and the stool. The wider the surface the larger the force needed to fall over. Consider a stick on which you stand: how easy to topple over; how hard on a solid table. While standing on the stool, do you think of the nature of work you will be doing? Select a stool accordingly. The more steps the more stable you're going to be on the stool. Also, the larger the surface of the step ladder, the more surface it will have.
Tips on How to Care for the step stool
i) Oiling Hinges
The stool needs to have smoothly moving hinges in case the stool can fold. Screws and knobs are metallic and make most of the moving parts. The problem occurs when the oil dries out and the friction wears out the hinges which makes you less efficient and less functional.
ii) Storage
If the stool is metallic make sure to keep it in the safe of corrosive elements like water. And you may end up keeping the stool in the store with other things. Keep its integrity by making sure nothing heavy is on top of the stool. Moving parts have their worst enemy dust. It's most likely because the moving parts are oiled and hence they attract most of the dust.
iii) Respect Weight Limit
Make sure not to exceed the weight limit that was on the stool. At no point should more than one person be standing on the stool. Buy a stool that will hold 300 pounds and above to ensure users are safe and for the stool to be in good condition. If well taken care of, the stool will last longer.
