The first thing to look for on any , and I mean any step stool, is a load rating. Lets say you're looking at a step stool and the load rating for this step stool says that it's rated for 175 pounds. Does that make it a safe step stool? Well it depends on how heavy you are and what you are using the step stool for. If you weigh 175 pounds and you are stocking shelves, it probably wouldn't be safe to stand on this step stool because your weight alone is at the limit of the step stool and you are carrying additional weight. The additional weight exceeds the limit for this step stool. Not to mention that you are probably extending past the safe reaching point of this step stool when you lean over to put your item on the shelf.
Folding are very popular for home use because they take up little space when folded and store very easily. In most homes space is at a premium so the folding step stool makes a good kitchen step stool to reach in the top cabinets and then folds & stores in a closet. But folding stepstools can be dangerous because they have moving parts. Read the warning label on any folding step stool to understand what the maximum allowable reach is. Some folding step stools don't allow for much if any reach.
Next look at the non-slip pads on the bottom of the step stool. Some are made from hard plastic that will slide on a smooth floor. I can't believe anyone would do this but they do. So make sure your step stool has rubber pads to keep them from sliding on a smooth floor. The best way to check the non-slip pads on your step stool is to feel the pads. If the pads feel like the rubber on the bottom of your tennis shoes, it's a good non-slip pad. If the non-slip pad feels like it's hard plastic, don't buy it.
David C. DuPont has been finding solutions to step stool problems for 9 years. He has helped people solve their problems by helping them find kitchen step stools, wooden step stools, kids step stools, plastic step stools and step stools for senior citizens. To see his step stools or to contact him to find a stepstool for you, go to
