November is here, and that means Thanksgiving is right around the corner. For most of us, Thanksgiving is a holiday of getting
together with friends and family, and sometimes, that means bringing along a
dish or two for the holiday table. While most of us love getting to share some of Aunt Mary’s famous pumpkin pie, what we don’t love is sharing bacteria that can make us sick. So play it safe in the kitchen, and be sure to follow these simple tips. Your family, and your tummy, will thank you!

Clean enough to cook on?

Kitchen safety starts before the first ingredients are mixed. Use hot water and soap, or even steam, to disinfect all food preparation surfaces. Starting with a clean counter is a great foundation for safe cooking. In addition to cleaning your counters, be sure that cutting boards, dishes and utensils are also cleaned thoroughly before you start preparing your meal. It sounds obvious, but many people just grab a cutting board out of their cabinet and don’t wash it before using!

Keep ‘em separated!

The biggest danger during holiday cooking (after deep fried turkey fires, that is!) is cross contamination.  Use only one knife and cutting board set for meats, and another one for veggies, and always wash your hands before moving from one to the other. Some cooks keep color coded cutting boards just to help keep this straight. Be sure to ALWAYS wash your hands in soap and water after touching raw meats, poultry, fish or eggs. If you don’t, you can transfer dangerous bacteria from uncooked foods to other parts of your meal.

Never use the same platter to hold foods after they’ve been cooked as you used to hold them beforehand without washing it first. The meat that you just cooked to kill the bacteria will just pick it right up again from a dirty plate.

After you’re done with all of the prep work and you’ve gotten your dishes in the oven, be sure to wash your hands, utensils, and cutting boards with hot, soapy water again. Finally, disinfect your counters after cooking as well, to minimize the risk of bacterial illness. Taking the time to keep it clean this holiday can mean a much more enjoyable meal for you, and your entire family.

If you’re like me, you get your holiday decorations arranged just the way you want them, a year passes, and then you have no memory of where that wreath went or what shelf you used for your favorite candle. Problem solved! Prior to taking down your decorations this year, take photos of them all. You have a couple of different options with your photos: print them and store with each specific decoration or box that it is stored in or create a folder on your computer to house the images and number the photo in the album to match the box that it is stored in with the same number. Either way, next year’s decorating will go that much quicker!

Tip #2 – Holiday Lights

Who enjoys untangling their Holiday lights each year? NOT ME! Now that all the presents are unwrapped, you probably find yourself with a few extra cardboard boxes lying around your house. (And if you’re lucky, you got a gift from Crate & Barrel so you have a good quality cardboard box.) The amount of lights you have will determine how many “pieces” of your box you will need…you may want or need to use the top flaps, sides and bottom flaps. After you have carefully cut apart your box, make a small slit in either the top or bottom of one cardboard piece. As you begin to take down your lights, first tuck the end of the cord into the slit you made and wrap the string of lights around the cardboard. Continue to wrap the lights until you have filled the piece of cardboard. You can either make a second slit for the other end of your lights, or simply tuck the cord underneath the wrapped lights. Depending on how much of your box is left, you can even drop your wrapped cords into the box for easy storage.

This same strategy can be used for any seasonal lights that you use.

Tip #3 – Dusty Holiday Decorations?

Use a vacuum to clean larger decorations.

Did your holiday decorations collect a little dust while on display? No problem. Use either an air compressor or a can of compressed air (great for those small, delicate pieces). For some of your larger items, like your tree or wreaths, you may need to use a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment and use the bristled nozzle. Whichever method you use, hold the item far enough away to prevent any damage and keep an eye on small and delicate pieces attached to your decorations. If you do the cleaning now, everything will be ready to go for your next holiday and decorating will be that much more enjoyable.

Tip #4 – Organize Your Decorations By Theme.

As you build your collection of Holiday decorations,  take care to organize them in a way that makes it easy to find when the next holiday season rolls around.

Practically all large department and/or home hardware stores sell a multitude of storage options. Look for durable and heavy plastic containers that have different compartments or at least enough room to store your  decorations without squishing them.

Organize each box using all of the decorations you would use for that particular theme and make sure to write in permanent marker (on the side of the box where it’s clearly visible) exactly what is in the container, including the colors and objects (i.e. a wreath, beaded garland, tinsel, etc.). Next year, instead of having to sift through a pile of mismatched  decorations, you’ll only have to pull your desired theme off the shelf.

Tip #5 How to Pack Away Decorations

As you pack away decorations, keep an eye out for broken items. Either repair them or throw them out before storing them for the year.

If you have similar decorations in various parts of the house – lighted garland for the mantle and stairways, for example – label each strand with its location. Knowing whether it belongs on the front door or the back stairs can make your life much easier next year.

Tip #6 Protect Your Decorations From Damage

Ensure that decorations are clean and dry before you put them in storage. You’ll avoid a big mess by making sure items are in good condition as you put them away. Pay particular attention to items that have been exposed to the elements outdoors.

If you store items in a shed or basement, don’t put them directly on the ground – especially if these locations are prone to flooding. Keeping them even six inches off the ground will help them last longer, and it’s an essential step if you’re storing in cardboard boxes.

Tip#7  Preparing For Next Year

Make a note of any damaged or missing items or anything you’d simply like to replace or add for the next year. An easy-to-see reminder will be much better than discovering you need to run to the store when you’re knee deep in decorations the following year!

If you like to hit the post-holiday bargains, make your purchases before putting away your decorations. This will allow you to place the items in with the existing items so they will be easy to locate and use the following year.

© 2011 Teresa’s Family Cleaning — All Rights Reserved.

Want to use this article in your newsletter, blog or web site? You have my blessing so long as you include the following complete blurb with it (including links).

When you purchased your vacuum cleaner you like everyone else just looked at the basics on how to operate it.  Within those instructions there were tips on how to maintain it and trouble shoot when it fails to do its job at “sucking up”! You probably don’t even have the original instructions so here are a few links to some top manufacturers websites that can guide you on the proper maintenance of your vacuum cleaner.

HOOVER

ORECK

ELECTROLUX

DYSON

EUREKA

BISSELL

Here are our basic tips on simple things you can do to keep your vacuum working properly:

Before you start any maintenance on your vacuum cleaner PLEASE UNPLUG it.

1) Don’t let the bag or canister fill up completely – if you change or empty when it reaches that FILL LINE you eliminate the possibility that it could overfill and “explode” dirt that could reach parts of the vacuum it shouldn’t and cause it to malfunction.

2) Some vacuums have additional filters that need to be cleaned or replaced as well-and if you keep up on this maintenance you’ll eliminate that “stale sometimes pet smelly” air that spews out of your vacuum when you’re lax on this task.  HINT: put a small amount of baking soda in the canister or bag to absorb stinky odors that may linger if you don’t use your vacuums frequently.

3) Belt driven vacuums.  Belts should be changed every 6 months to a year depending on how much you use it.  I had a belt break once and that burning rubber smell stayed in my house for hours! Hint:  buy Two when you replace One!

4) Check and clean the carpet roller or beater brush.  String, hair, pieces of your carpet etc.  tend to “wrap” themselves around it so the brush can’t help in loosening up the dirt in deep piled carpets if it’s dirty.  It also could get stuck and not roll and seize up your machine and then you’re definetly going to smell some burning rubber in your home!

5) Check your hoses for cracks and clogs.  Take a broom handle and push through the hose to check for clogs and loosen them up if they are there.  Cracks usually can be found while your vacuuming so just take your hand and feel for any escaping air.  Replacing the hose is the best option, but for a quick fix you can use duct tape (they come in decorative colors now!)

Have any tips on vacuum maintenance you want to share?  Feel free to comment!

TIPS on how to clean up those messy kitchen spills WHEN they happen!

1) YOU accidently knock over the oily frying pan you used to cook dinner and it lands on the floor! Yuck!  Do what your mechanic does…grab some plain clay (non-clumping) cat litter and pour it over the oil mess..let it sit for a few minutes, then make sure to sweep it up before you let Miss Kitty back into the kitchen!

2) You hear it…that bubbling over sizzle of molton mess has escaped from the pot and left a giant blob of doom on your stove top.  First thing is to turn off the burner, and try to clean up the mess as soon as it is cool and safe to do so.  If you clean it up before it has a chance to turn into a hard crust, it will be much easier to tackle.

3) BUT if you just got home from your weekend getaway and left your teenagers to tend for themselves, you’ll encounter that crusty mess, and the best way to tackle that is with patience and a rag soaked in hot soapy water that you lay on top of the stain (a facial for your stove) it will loosen up the stain to make it easier for you to clean up. 

4) Invest in a rubber scrapper made specifically for stove tops to scrape off hardened food, it will elimante the chances of scratching and works great!

 We all know that the easiest way to avoid cleaning your teenagers room is to simply keep the door shut, put a “caution do not enter” sign on their door, and walk away.  I know that getting your teenager to do it themselves is a never ending battle of rants: “I LIKE MY ROOM LIKE THIS!” and our passed down from generations reply: “IF YOU DON’T DO IT, I’LL DO IT FOR YOU!”  Well from my own personal experience my Dad DID clean my room for me, but in a not so presently accepted way…let’s just say the front of my house looked like someone got evicted by the local Sheriffs, and that someone was me!  But my room was clean!  In this day and age our only possible saving grace is to wait until that inevitable day when they move out!  College, a great job offer, rooming with their friends, whatever the occasion for them to fly out of the nest and test their independence has arrived, and now you remove the caution sign from their door and prepare to enter a room that would make Oscar Madison look like Mr. Clean.

How to start the “Decon”:

First off be prepared to wear thick rubber gloves, old shoes that you don’t care if they get ruined, old work clothes, plastic eye protection and an inexpensive dust mask.  There is most probably going to be layers of thick dust, cobwebs and science experiments growing amuck, so it does pay to be ready for anything.    Be sure to bring PLENTY of 30 gallon trash bags, large plastic storage bins, and have your all natural cleaning solutions pre mixed and ready for battle. 

1) OPEN the windows and air out the room.  It’s best if weather permits to leave the windows open during the cleaning process if you can, but you can leave them open for at least 15 minutes if it’s cold outside.

2) Take everything that’s not nailed down from the room and put it in one location, if weather permits outside on a back porch or your garage. Remove everything from drawers, the closet, under the bed, the desk, the floor and walls. The only thing that should remain in the room is the actual furniture, but if the room is becoming your new office or a “man cave” then remove that too.

3) Set up your storage containers by labeling as follows: “keep,” “donate” and “mystery.” Trash anything that’s broken, give away anything in fairly good condition that they don’t use or aren’t likely to use, keep things they may want to keep, and put anything that you’re unsure about in the “mystery” box. This should make the process go faster, and decisions should be the responsibility of your teenager when they come back home for their first visit.  After that the “mystery” box becomes a “donate” box.

4) Clean the room while mostly everything is out of the way. Look under the bed, in the closet and dresser drawers for dirty dishes, empty food wrappers and rotting and dried food that may be causing unpleasant odors so you can throw them away. Dust, wash down the walls and the furniture, clean the fixtures, windows, baseboards, and always vacuum last. If the carpets are stained beyond recognition you might want to save that for the professionals and have it steam cleaned, but do that only after you have patched and repainted the walls.

What to do with the “new” space

The realization is that you most probably will not do anything to their room until you know for sure that your young adult will not be coming back home permanently.  When you know this for certain, then you need to make the decision as to what you can do with this new space.  A guest room? Media room? Home office? Ultimately the decision will be yours to make, so enjoy it!

One of the downsides of summer beach activity is keeping the sand out of your car and your home! A few simple “pre” beach going tips can be used to avoid the sand trail of woe.

For your car: take an old flat bed sheet for the back seat and extra large bath/beach towel for the front seats, and use them as seat covers.  You’ll be able to trap the sand on these instead of your cars interior.  Do the same for your trunk or rear storage area of mini vans/SUV’s, this provides a lining between your beach accessories and your interior.   

• Junk in the trunk:  Keep an unused storage container in your car for beach junk-small pails, beach toys, flip flops etc. 

(Safety tip: it’s best to BRING flip flops with you and wear proper non slip shoes for driving)

•       Store in your trunk a gallon or two of water (tap water is fine in a reused milk container) you’ll be told why in a sentence or two.
•       Bring a change of clothes and a clean towel that will NOT be used on the beach.
•       Bring a re-usable laundry bag.

When you’re done for the day at the beach, gather all your belongings and hit the showers!  Most beaches have available showers (inside or out) so   take advantage of them and rinse yourself off (keep your flip flops on to avoid getting a foot fungus), and rinse some of your waterproof beach things too.   Now you can dry yourself off with that clean towel you brought and change into those spare clothes as well.

By doing just these simple tasks you eliminate almost all of the sand that is clinging to your skin and trapped in those unmentionable areas that cause your ride home to be more than just irritating. You also avoid bringing less sand into your car and your home as well. 

If your beach does not have a shower or changing area then when you get to your car take one of those gallon containers of water I mentioned earlier and rinse the sand off of your feet and other exposed parts that have sand clinging to them.

Shake Shake Shake, your sand away

•  Shake out your beach towels, blankets, chairs, your wet suits, etc. in the parking lot. Put them in the laundry bag.
•  Wipe off the bottom of your cooler and beach bags
•  Clap your “flip flopped” hands together to remove any excess sand, and place all of these in the back or trunk of your vehicle in that unused storage container
• Dust yourself off one last time with the clean towel, then put that in your laundry bag too, put on your driving shoes and head home. 

Before you enter your home, remove the temporary seat covers from inside your car, shake those out and put them in the laundry bag bring them into the house to wash, thereby eliminating any excess sand. 

• You can leave your beach pails and toys in the storage container so they’re handy for the next trip or just pick up the entire container and bring it in. 
•  Empty your cooler outside, rinse it off with a hose, (leave the lid open or off) and flip it over to dry out to prevent those stinky odors from starting. 

Save time by stopping small messes from becoming big ones.  Listed below are some tips from cleaning companies who are members of ARCSI, the Association of Residential Cleaning Services International, and are considered experts in their field! 

By Arricca SanSone Posted February 23, 2011 from www.WomansDay.com

Not everyone likes to clean, but everyone loves a clean house. “The key is maintenance so things don’t get out of control,” says Diana Henley, owner of Naturalcare Cleaning Service in Houston. “Tackling little messes right away prevents them from becoming big messes later on.” Here are nine simple habits the pros recommend to help you keep your home cleaner, longer.

1. Take off your shoes. “Have your family members remove their shoes as soon as they come in the house,” says Maria Skokan, co-owner of Nature’s Essence Green Cleaning, LLC in Aurora, Illinois. “It’s better to prevent dirt from getting in the house in the first place.” At the very least, keep machine washable throw rugs at every entrance to your home—both inside and outside—to capture grit, salt and grass clippings. Photo: Thinkstock

2. Do mini-vacuum sessions. Vacuum high-traffic patterns in carpeted areas and shake out entryway rugs a couple of times a week to stop soil from being ground in. Zip around the kitchen floor, too, to collect crumbs and pet hair. “Keep a lightweight stick vacuum handy so you won’t have to haul out the full-sized vacuum,” says Skokan. “You’ll be more likely to do it if you make it easier on yourself.” Photo: Thinkstock

3. Squeegee down walls after a shower. “Hang a squeegee inside the shower and get everyone in the habit of quickly wiping down the walls after each use,” says Alison Palmer, past president of the Association of Residential Cleaning Services International, and owner of Custom Maid in Virginia Beach. “It prevents soap scum from building up and mold from getting a foothold.” And while you’re at it, switch to body wash, which goes right down the drain, instead of bar soap, which resolidifies and builds up on tub and shower walls. Photo: Thinkstock

4. Wipe down bathroom sinks daily. “Keep a box of inexpensive baby wipes under the bathroom sink, and wipe it down in the morning as you’re getting ready or after you brush your teeth at night,” says Henley. “The idea is to get rid of hair and to remove goopy stuff like toothpaste blobs or mascara drips before they dry in place.” Photo: Thinkstock

5. Clean sinks overnight. Fill a porcelain sink with hot water and a scoop of powdered peroxide (such as OxiClean) or a cup of white vinegar. “Swish it around a little, let it sit overnight and drain and rinse in the morning,” says Henley. “You’ll be amazed at how well it gets stains out, and you don’t have to scrub.” Photo: Shutterstock

6. Purge the fridge before unpacking groceries. Before you unload your bags, do a quick inventory and pitch what’s moldy, slimy or past its expiration date. Doing so now frees up space and gets rid of questionable foods (or the leftovers no one ate). A quick squirt of glass cleaner or a swipe with a disinfecting wipe finishes the chore. Photo: Thinkstock

7. Stop stovetop boilovers in their tracks. If you’ve got a boilover in progress on the stovetop, shut off the burner. Remove the pot so the spill doesn’t cook on to the burner, especially if it’s something starchy like rice, potatoes or oatmeal. Place the pot on another burner to resume cooking. Wipe up the spill when it’s cooled. Photo: Shutterstock

8. Head off kitchen smells. “Sprinkle some baking soda in your disposal, then add a cup of white vinegar and half a lemon or orange,” says Skokan. “Let sit for 10 to 20 minutes, then crank on the disposal.” Once that’s done, remove the rubber disposal gasket and rinse; you’ll be amazed at how yucky that thing gets. Don’t forget to wipe down other areas where food particles cling, such as along the edges of your dishwasher door, in kitchen trash and recycling bins, and in refrigerator drawers. Photo: Shutterstock

9. Keep products where you use them. Place a bucket or dishpan under each bathroom and kitchen sink to hold supplies such as glass cleaner, microfiber cleaning cloths and disinfecting wipes. “If your tools are handy, you’re more likely to tackle a chore when you see it needs to be done and before it gets out of hand,” says Palmer. “Having everything nearby saves steps, too.” Photo: Shutterstock

Here’s a list of some toxic products, in no particular order, that you don’t need. And, once you read about them, you probably won’t want them either. Be aware that different homes may have different products that are more toxic than these. This is just a basic list of some of the most commonly purchased products that are almost entirely unnecessary, but pose significant risks.

1. Air fresheners: Most air fresheners mask odors with a synthetic fragrance or numb your sense of smell with chemical anesthetics. But, they do nothing to eliminate the source of the odor. Also, aerosol air fresheners spew out tiny droplets of chemicals that are easily inhaled into the lungs. Instead, ventilate well and choose natural deodorizers, such as zeolite or baking soda, which contain minerals that absorb odors. How to Freshen Indoor Air Naturally includes recipes for other homemade remedies. Plants are also helpful for purifying your indoor air.

2. Drain, oven and toilet bowl cleaners: Yes, three products instead of one, but they all fit under the category of cleaners – and these are the three nastiest. Corrosive or caustic cleaners, such as the lye and acids found in drain cleaners, oven cleaners and acid-based toilet bowl cleaners, are the most dangerous cleaning products because they burn skin, eyes and internal tissue easily.

* To clean extra-greasy ovens, mix together 1 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup of washing soda, then add enough water to make a paste; apply the paste to oven surfaces and let soak overnight. The next morning, lift off soda mixture and grime; and rinse surfaces well.
* Prevent clogged drains by using hair and food traps.
* To de-grease and sweeten sink and tub drains, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down drain followed by 1 cup vinegar; let bubble for 15 minutes; rinse with hot water. You might have to repeat the whole procedure more than once. This same mixture can be used prior to scrubbing your toilet bowl to deodorize and scour away grime.

3. Canned food: It’s probably shocking to find a food item on a toxic product list, but it’s no mistake. Food cans are lined with an epoxy resin that contains bisphenol-A (BPA). Most experts believe this is our main source of exposure to BPA, which has been linked to hormone disruption, obesity, heart disease, and much more. Eden Foods is currently the only company with BPA-free canned foods (other than the canned tomatoes, which they haven’t found an adequate substitute for given the acidity of the tomatoes). Opt for fresh, frozen, dried or jarred foods.

4. Dry-cleaning: Okay, it’s a service and not a product per se, but the chemical used to do it, perchloroethylene, has been linked to cancer as well as nervous system, kidney, liver and reproductive disorders. Even bringing dry-cleaned clothes home is risky. EPA studies have found that people who reported visiting a dry-cleaning shop showed twice as much perc in their breath, on average, as other people. EPA also found that levels of perc remained elevated in a home for as long as one week after placing newly dry-cleaned clothes in a closet. A Consumers Union study found that people who wear freshly dry-cleaned clothes, like a jacket and shirt, every week over a 40-year period, could inhale enough perc “to measurably increase their risk of cancer” – by as much as 150 times what is considered “negligible risk.” Try wet-cleaning, CO2 technology, or even hand-washing.

5.  Bottled water: Most people buy bottled water thinking they’re avoiding any contaminants that may be present in their tap water. For the most part, they’re wrong. Bottled water can be just as, or even more, contaminated than tap water. In fact, some bottled water IS tap water – just packaged (in plastic that can leach chemicals into the water) and over-priced. Also, from manufacture to disposal, bottled water creates an enormous amount of pollution – making our water even less drinkable. Do yourself and the world a favor and invest in a reusable stainless steel water bottle and a water filter.

6. Rubber duckies: How does such a cute toy end up on a toxic product list? When it’s made from PVC – the poison plastic. Banned in over 14 countries and the European Union, PVC, also known as vinyl, is still legally sold by U.S. retailers although it threatens environmental and consumer health at every stage of its product life cycle, according to the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice (CHEJ). When it’s in your home, PVC can leach phthalates (linked to hormone disruption) and lead (a potent neurotoxicant) – contaminating air, dust, and eventually you. Go PVC-free by reading packages and avoiding the #3 in the chasing arrows symbol (usually found on the bottom of a product). If a plastic is not labeled, call the manufacturer. 
7. Couch cushions: No, you needn’t get rid of all your cushions and consign yourself to a future of discomfort. Just avoid cushions, pillows, and anything with foam labeled as meeting California TB 117, as it is likely to contain toxic fire retardants. These chemicals migrate from the foam to dust to people. In animal research, these chemicals are associated with cancer, birth defects, thyroid disruption, reproductive and neurological disorders such as hyperactivity and mental retardation. Don’t worry about increasing your fire risk, data does not show that this standard has resulted in increased fire safety. Look for foam and cushions made with polyester, down, wool, or cotton as they are unlikely to contain toxic fire retardants.

8. Perfume and cologne: Colognes and perfumes may make us more attractive. But mixed in with the colors and scents are a wide variety of unattractive chemicals. Perfumes and fragrances can consist of hundreds of chemicals. Testing of Calvin Klein’s Eternity by an independent lab, commissioned by Environmental Health Network (EHN), revealed that the perfume contained over 800 compounds. Among the chemicals of concern is diethyl phthalate (DEP) that is absorbed through the skin and can accumulate in human fat tissue. Phthalates are suspected carcinogens and hormone disruptors that are increasingly being linked to reproductive disorders.

It’s not so simple to avoid phthalates by switching products because they are rarely listed on product ingredient labels. Phthalates are claimed as a part of trade secret formulas, and are exempt from federal labeling requirements. Find out if products you currently use contain phthalates and find safer ones on Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Searchable Product Guide website.

9. Oil-based paints and finishes: There are 300 toxic chemicals and 150 carcinogens potentially present in oil-based paint, according to a John Hopkins University study. Still interested in coating your walls and furniture with this gunk? I hope not. Look for water-based options – ideally those that are low- or no-VOC. You could also explore natural finishes like milk paint and vegetable or wax based wood finishes.

by HealthyChild.org