Search Results for: housekeeping in the news 4

New Uses for Newspapers

Think the Internet killed the newspaper? Not quite. Each year, over 24 billion newspapers are printed. Newspaper can be recycled, but that may not always be a good idea because in some cases, it could have a higher carbon footprint than new paper. What can all that leftover newspaper be used for other than to line the bottom of a bird’s cage? Here are a few suggestions. One that I found fascinating was that you can crumple up newspaper, splash a bit of white vinegar on it and clean windows without streaking. I definitely need to try that one. I … Continue reading →

New Year – New Resolutions

The start of a brand new year is an excellent time to make some New Year’s resolutions. These don’t have to be difficult or unpleasant. Not sure where to start? Good Housekeeping has some excellent ideas about what you might choose to focus on this year. Start a Gratitude Journal Keeping track of things, people and events that you’re grateful for throughout the year can help to improve your mental and physical wellness. “It literally breathes new life into us. It recharges and it rejuvenates.” Dr. Robert Emmons, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis and founder … Continue reading →

The Best Way to Clean Baby and Toddler Toys

Have you ever wondered how sanitary your baby or toddler’s toys are? Most toddlers have the ability to grab toys and put them into their mouths. This is especially true for babies and toddlers that are teething. Keeping toys clean can help prevent illness from spreading. Does your baby or toddler use a teething toy? Good Housekeeping recently reported that a popular toddler teething toy called Sophie the Giraffe has the potential to grow mold inside it. Some parents, who cut apart Sophie the Giraffe, discovered that the inside was coated with black mold. Carolyn Forte, the Director of the … Continue reading →

Pets Might Help With Social Skills

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A small research study done in France indicates that a pet can help a child who has an autism spectrum disorder to develop his or her social skills. It appears that the timing of the pet’s arrival into the family needs to be when the child is younger, rather than older, for best results. According to the Mayo Clinic, kids who have autism tend to have difficulties in three crucial areas of development. They struggle with social interaction, language, and behavior. One of the things that can help a child who has an autism spectrum disorder is called Applied Behavior … Continue reading →

Clearing Clutter and Making A Few Bucks

I have been gathering stuff to have a yard sale. The problem is, it’s not quite enough stuff to make it worth the effort. The pile in my garage is growing, I need to do something about it. I also need to re carpet the living room because the dog has used it as her potty. I planned on having the yard sale to pay for the carpet. Instead, I decided to post all the stuff online through a local news station. This really is a convenient way to get rid of things that are cluttering up your house. I … Continue reading →

Keeping Out the Bugs

In my last blog I talked about preventing bedbugs. There has been a lot in the news about the increase with infestations. So while I am already on the talk of bugs, I thought I would share my opinion on a product we have used the past two years…Ortho Home Defense Max. Like most people, I hate bugs. There are certain ones that I especially would like to ask God about…such as centipedes. Was it really necessary to create them? I have heard the defense. These squiggly little creatures help us by eating other bugs. In all honesty, I think … Continue reading →

Preventing Bedbugs

I have never had bedbugs, nor have I ever known someone personally who has had them (at least I don’t think so). But the recent news surrounding their infestations in homes and hotel rooms certainly has me concerned. I am thinking ahead to when my family will travel to Texas to witness our son’s graduation from the Air Force. We will need to spend several nights in a hotel and already I have the heebie-jeebies. I am happy to tell you that there is actually a bedbug registry in which you can check your hotel to see if there have … Continue reading →

Organizing Your Home Office

Do you have a home office? Whether you work from home or you have a spot where you take care of your bills and other paperwork, you can make this area easier to handle if it is organized. Last weekend I spent most of it putting together a new organizational system in my home office. I first went out and purchased the following: label maker, large box of file folders, notebooks and a binder. I first labeled all of my folders. I have a set labeled 1-31 (for the days of the month) and then another set labeled with the … Continue reading →

Cute Little Mouse or Disease Laden Rodent?

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I shouldn’t read the news, sometimes I read things that scare me half to death, this was one of those things. I was sitting outside on my patio, reading the news on my smart phone when a little mouse came out of my shed and ran into a crack between the patio and fence. Awww, cute little mouse, run and hide. That was precisely when the news story about two people dying in Utah from the hantavirus. What? Isn’t’ that caused my rodents? Suddenly that little mouse didn’t look so cute. I wouldn’t say that I have a mouse problem, … Continue reading →

Cleaning Tools You May Not Have Thought Of

Having the right supplies can make all the difference when it comes to cleaning your home. While most of us know about cleaning products that are available, there are some cleaning tools that you may not have thought of. These can make cleaning your home easier. For instance, when it comes to cleaning windows I would guess that most of us use glass cleaner. Spray a little on and wipe away with newspaper or towels (paper or linen). But a squeegee can do a much better job. It also comes in handy when washing your car. Another idea is to … Continue reading →