Ask Yourself The Following:
Are you using a sponge to wipe up everything? Did you know that the kitchen is the dirtiest room in the house? It’s easy to grab a sponge and mop up messes as you go along, but wait. You may be cross contaminating everything with the sponge.
Here are some helpful tips from Phillip Tierno, author of The Secret Life Of Germs.
* Dip sponges in a solution of bleach and water before using with a different surface. This prevents cross-contamination with each surface (counter tops, refrigerator, appliance cutting board, sink, etc.). Here are safer alternatives to bleach and water. Click here
*Be sure to let sponge air-dry. Dryness kills off organisms.
*Prevent bacteria build-up by putting a little water in a dish, and then, put sponge on top. Microwave for 1-2 minutes to boil water. The heat will distribute throughout the sponge and kill the bacteria. Recommended each week.
Where are your gloves? Look at your hands are they dry and cracked? It may be time to invest in some work gloves. One for the kitchen, bathroom, and outdoors. You only have one set of hands, protect them.
When cleaning- Are you overwhelmed by fumes? You may want to check the label on the cleaner, and choose a safer alternative. Here is a link to health and safety information on household products. Click here. Did you know that vinegar and water works just as well as ammonia and water?
Do you see a blast of dust every time you turn on the vacuum? It may be time for a new vacuum cleaner. Look for a vacuum cleaner with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Unlike those in conventional vacuums, HEPA filters are able to retain the small particles and prevent them from passing through and contaminating the air that you breathe in your home.
Are you planning on barbecuing the same way you grew up to love? Unfortunately, barbecuing meat creates the cancer-causing compounds polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic amines (HCAs). PAH forms when fat drips from the meat onto the hot grill, catches fire, and produces smoke. HCAs form when meat is cooked at a high temperature.
Michael Thun, MD, who is the vice president for epidemiology and surveillance research with the American Cancer Society has the answer. He says, “Limiting your outdoor cooking, using tin foil, or microwaving the meat first is a sensible precaution. Wrapping meat in foil with holes poked in it allows fat to drip off, but limits the amount of fat that hits the flames and comes back onto the meat. Also, some of the excess fat can be eliminated by first microwaving meat and choosing cuts of meat that are leaner.”
Are your windows open? Sounds good, but it may be best, left shut. It is due to the combination of seasonal allergies and poor air quality of many cities throughout the U.S. According to a recent report by the American Lung Association, 60% of Americans are breathing unhealthy air. It was also found that the pollution inside our homes may be worse than outdoors. The Environmental Protection Agency lists poor indoor air quality as the fourth largest environmental threat to our country. Bacteria, molds, mildew, tobacco smoke, viruses, animal dander, house dust mites, and pollen are among the most common household pollutants.
What to do -Shut the windows and run the air conditioner. All air-conditioning systems have a filter that protects the mechanical equipment and keeps them clean of debris. Pollen and mold spores that have made their way indoors will be run through the air-conditioning system and taken out of the air as they go through the duct work, but unfortunately much like with the vacuum cleaner, these filters can only capture the largest particles. Air purification systems intended to remove the inhalible particles, which are very small, exist on the market and some are very effective. They may also be worth the investment. A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that cleaner air might add as much as five months to a person's life.
Are there things that you could change? Jot down the changes you plan on making, and how you will do them. Share what you learned with others. The more we share, the healthier we will be together.
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