Topic: cleaning

Your Cleaning Products Are Toxic; Here Are Some Safe, Green Alternatives

Your Cleaning Products Are Toxic; Here Are Some Safe, Green Alternatives

Why do you clean your house? Aside from making it look better, you probably do it to get it free of bacteria and other harmful pathogens that could make you or your family sick. But what if your household cleaning products–the stuff you use to protect yourself from gunk and germs–are also harmful? According to a report by the Environmental Working Group, many of them are. But don’t worry. There are plenty of clean, green alternatives. More »

Reusable Shopping Bags Linked To Outbreak; Here’s How To Clean Them

Reusable Shopping Bags Linked To Outbreak; Here's How To Clean Them

A while back, I wrote an article about how reusable shopping bags are often covered in bacteria, because they come in contact with meat, veggies, and other potentially contaminated items. I got some emails from readers who accused me of being a fear-monger and overly-cautious, because come on! No one gets sick from innocent, adorable, eco-friendly totes! Except they totally do, says a report published today. Time to take a lesson and learn how to clean reusable shopping bags. More »

Screw Lemon—Let’s Clean With Vodka

Screw LemonâLet's Clean With Vodka

I was reading an article on ‘eco-friendly laundry tips’ this morning (yep) when I came across this gem: To quickly freshen clothes in between washings, spray them with a 50/50 mixture of water and vodka. Vodka? I’ve heard of a lot of green-cleaning alternatives in my time, but vodka is a new one. Which got me wondering … what other types of household chores could use a little Popoff or Absolut? Turns out, quite a few. More »

Morning Links: Fight Fatigue With These Science-Backed Fixes

Morning Links: Fight Fatigue With These Science-Backed Fixes

• Running skirts you can actually wear, recommended by readers. (Well + Good)

• The best ways to disinfect a reusable bottle. (Fit Sugar)

• Mantras to live by and why they work. (Organic Authority)

• We can’t help but appreciate a toned man’s behind. (The Frisky)

• Stay energized with these science-backed fixes. (Prevention)

• Bring an urban garden to your balcony. (Shelterpop)

• Get smooth, soft skin with this hypdropeptide cleansing gel. (Truth In Aging)

• Be aware of these factors when selecting a nail salon. (YouBeauty)

• Walking just might be the best exercise. (Third Age)

• Perceive your world in a brighter light with these tips. (Your Tango)

• How to know when anxiety has become a disorder. (HuffPost Fitness)

Afternoon Links: 10 Red-Flag Health Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

Afternoon Links: 10 Red-Flag Health Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore

• Active ingredients: how much is enough? (Truth In Aging)

• Don’t ignore these 10 red-flag health symptoms (Third Age)

• 5 unusual ways to clean your windows (Shelterpop)

• The surprising thing to add mint to (it’s so good) (Vitamin G)

• 5 technology related questions ever couple should answer (Your Tango)

• Best wedding dress for your body type (YouBeauty)

• Keep your fridge and pantry stocked with these 5 new superfoods (Fit Sugar)

• How to apply sunscreen (and how not to) (Well + Good)

• Billions of blueberries pie (Organic Authority)

• Body image: why “perfection” isn’t necessary (That’s Fit)

• Dating don’ts: these 7 romantic gestures need to go (The Frisky)

Afternoon Links: Top 10 Foods To Eat For Healthy, Glowing Skin

Afternoon Links: Top 10 Foods To Eat For Healthy, Glowing Skin

• 25 simple self-care habits for a happier love life (YourTango)

• Gym Etiquette: 11 common faux-pas (Huffington Post)

• Bethenny Frankel’s fun way to drink more water (Vitamin G)

• Top 10 foods to eat for healthy, glowing skin (Betty Confidential)

• The ‘Housewives’ approved 15-minute clean-up (Shelter Pop)

• Yoga helps arthritis sufferers (ThirdAge)

• Dos and don’ts for making your morning cup healthier (FitSugar)

• Arnica: eye cream’s unsung hero (Well + Good)

• 10 tricks for working out if you skip the gym (That’s Fit)

• 10 naughtiest vegetables on Earth (Organic Authority)

• 8 sex injuries to watch out for (and enjoy) (The Frisky)

Good at Life: The OHIO Method for Clutter

Good at Life: The OHIO Method for Clutter

I’m a piler. Piles of books. Piles of magazines. Piles of printouts, mail, and bills. They’re nice, tidy piles — that sit untouched for days, weeks, months until I need something that I know is in one of those piles, if I could only remember which one … Via John Ratey’s “Delivered From Distraction” comes a great tip for pile control: the OHIO method, in which OHIO is an acronym for Only Handle It Once. Here’s how it works: More »

Not Spring Cleaning: 10 Things I’d Rather Do Than Clean Now That Winter’s Over

Not Spring Cleaning: 10 Things I'd Rather Do Than Clean Now That Winter's Over

Keeping a clean house is as important to me as the next guy (or girl), but I’ve never understood why everyone is so hell bent on doing it for Spring. Sure, the season is a good time to turn a new leaf, and all these months with closed windows and high heat have left my apartment feeling stuffy, for sure. But there are so many things to enjoy during Spring that don’t involve a mop and bucket, and some of them are even better for your health than a clean floor.

As a result of my excitement about the possibilities of spring, there’s a pileup of dirty dishes in my sink, and what one might call a “situation” going on with my laundry. I’ll get it all done, eventually, and I certainly won’t let myself live in filth. But now that winter is over, there are just too many things I’d rather do than spring cleaning; here are ten of them More »

Nightmare Before Christmas: Why Holidays Are Neat Freak Hell

Nightmare Before Christmas: Why Holidays Are Neat Freak Hell

Everyone has different decorating styles, especially over the holidays. (Case in point: My festive super might love the plastic Santas in my building lobby, but I would never allow them – or the singing Christmas ornaments – in my actual apartment.) But for neat freaks, or the “hyper-neat,” the season brings a special strain. Thankfully, the New York Times has suggestions for making sure holiday parties don’t turn into the nightmare before Christmas, even if you are OCD about keeping crumbs off the carpets and mulled wine away from the couch More »

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