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Work through this checklist a few items idea, tackling a room at a time, and your home will be clean and ready for the holidays in no time!
Kitchen
If you plan on doing a lot of holiday cooking and entertaining, check your stockpile of aprons, potholders, dish clothes and dish towels. Make sure they’re clean and in usable condition.
Clean out the refrigerator to make room for holiday goodies. Remove the contents, checking expiration dates,…
December 5, 2018
Q. I’m motivated this year to do a massive spring cleaning but with little kids running around my home, I'm concerned about cleaning product safety. How should I be planning to clean safely?
A. We encourage parents to do spring cleaning in the absence of young children so that you can give it your full attention without distractions. Here are some additional safety tips —
Children are usually curious and explore all the new things they find around a household. Take…
March 11, 2019
Surfactants (yellow) cause water to lose surface tension, which is what keeps water separate from other materialsHave you ever seen a bead of water sitting on a surface? This is because water has a property called surface tension. This tension causes water to form a bead on the surface of things like glass or fabric. You can see surface tension at work by placing a drop of water onto a counter top. The drop will hold its shape and will not spread.
In order to clean the dirt on…
December 5, 2018
How To Clean to Get Your House Ready for Sale!
Tips for Getting It Buyer-Ready
When a house is for sale, the goal is to make it as attractive as possible to potential buyers. The most cost-efficient way to spruce up the home is to clean it thoroughly. Here's how to clean your house from top to bottom fast.
Getting Rid of Clutter
Many potential buyers may not see past dirt and clutter. If the house is crowded with the owner's…
December 5, 2018
Cleaning products play an essential role in daily life. They can remove dirt and stains from our clothes, dried on food from our dishes, and even germs from our hands! Let’s learn more about the chemistry that makes this happen.
What Is Cleaning?
Cleaning is the process of taking something dirty—like your kitchen counter—and removing dirt, grease, and grime found on it. When we clean, we leave things better than they were when we found them. Cleaning helps remove dirt,…
December 5, 2018
Practicing good hygiene is an important part of defending ourselves against the coronavirus. By and large, we have been cleaning and disinfecting more than usual during the pandemic, a habit which we will likely continue as we enter a “new normal” following the height of the pandemic. There may be different reasons why you worry about “cleaning too much.” It could be that you’re worried about cost, the amount of product you’re using in your home, or the use of disinfectants. Whatever your…
May 3, 2021
Ingredient labels contain a lot of information. They have a list of ingredients, but they also need room for directions and important safety messages. Smart consumers can get additional information from company websites to find out more about those ingredients, including where they are sourced and the role they play in making that product effective. Learn more about the formulations in your favorite soaps and home cleaning products with these resources from the companies that make them…
December 14, 2020
What is Monkeypox?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), monkeypox is a viral disease in the same family of viruses as the one that causes smallpox, although milder. It can be spread through close contact with a person with monkeypox or touching objects, fabrics, and surfaces that have been used by someone with monkeypox. There is currently an outbreak that has reached several countries and most U.S. states, which is being closely monitored by public…
August 3, 2022
What is RSV?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), RSV, or Respiratory syncytial virus, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. It can be serious for some, causing bronchiolitis or pneumonia.
Cleaning for RSV
RSV spreads primarily through virus droplets, either through close contact with an infected person who is contagious or touching a surface with the virus on it. Prevention is particularly important if you or…
November 23, 2022
How to keep your favorite sweaters in tip-top shape
When it's time to put away sweaters for the season, say goodbye to losing a favorite sweater before its prime with these tips from the American Cleaning Institute:
Shop Talk
When choosing a sweater, price is just one consideration.
Construction. Harder, tighter yarns are more durable than soft, loose ones, which tend to stretch easily. That's why a fisherman's sweater is more suited to rugged, outdoor activity and a cashmere…
December 6, 2018