September 15th, 2008 -- Posted in House Cleaning |
Did you know the average kitchen sponge is saturated with mold, bacteria and yeast, giving food pathogens free range to roam on kitchen counter tops, dishes, small appliances and eventually enter your mouth, according to the USDA Department of Agricultural Research? The result is often downright distasteful – stomach pains, cramping, and diarrhea.
The USDA team who investigated different methods to clean dirty sponges found that microwaving sponges for one minute or running them through a dishwasher on a heated dry cycle killed more than 99% of bacteria, yeast and molds. Bleach solutions, lemon juice or deionized water killed an average of 37-87% of these pathogens.
This is probably the only reason Ｉ ｋｅｅｐ ｍｙ ｍｉｃｒｏｗａｖｅ ｉｎ ｔｈｅ ｇａｒａｇｅ．
April 29th, 2008 -- Posted in House Cleaning |
This spring, make your house a healthier place to live. With these simple steps, you can minimize germs and infections, reduce allergens and prevent aches and strains. Choose one or two ideas to get started. When they become regular habits, add a new routine.
TO FIGHT GERMS AND BACTERIA
- Regularly clean telephones, computer keyboards, doorknobs and light switches with disinfecting solution or wipe .
- Scrub your tub with disinfectant weekly, as germs thrive in moisture and soap scum.
- Microwave kitchen sponges while damp (dry sponges can burst into flames) for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, (I only use my microwave for the purpose) or place sponges in each dishwasher load to kill bacteria.
- Twice a week, disinfect you sink with a solution of disinfectant. (chlorine bleach is not recommended)
- Before and after preparing food, clean kitchen counters and surfaces with a disinfecting product.
TO REDUCE DUST AND MOLD
- Use an air purifier to remove pollen and dust from your home.
- Reduce moisture and prevent mold by running a dehumidifier and opening windows for ventilation.
- Frequently wash bedding in hot water.
- Vacuum regularly, at least once each week.
- Dust furniture and polish with dusting spray and cleaning oil
- Store clothing in zippered plastic bags.
- Keep pets out of the bedroom or out of the house entirely if you are allergic to pet danders
- For severe allergies, remove carpets, drapes, upholstered furniture, items with feathers or wool and stuffed animals from the home to reduce dust.
TO PREVENT INJURY
- Slide plywood between the mattress and box spring to firm up a soft bed.
- For proper alignment, sleep with a pillow under your knees (back sleepers), between your knees (side sleepers) or under your hips (stomach sleepers).
- When vacuuming, step forward and back, rather than standing in place and pushing.
- When cleaning, use handle extenders, Don’t strain to reach high windows or deep corners.
