Quick Tips
Spring Cleaning
BREATHE CLEAN AIR AT HOME
- Ventilate often—open windows to let polluted air out.
- Maintain the heating and cooling systems in your home.
- Clean the flue and chimney annually.
KILL GERMS THE RIGHT WAY
- Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently with water or alcohol-based sanitizers.
- Scrub surfaces with hot, soapy water. Rinse sponges regularly, and replace often.
- Keep surfaces dry and the humidity in your home low, using humidifiers and dehumidifiers as needed.
- Disinfect selectively—only disinfect objects that come into contact with raw meat, fish, or eggs, such as plastic cutting boards, utensils, and counters.
- Restrict the use of antibacterial products.
LEAVE POLLUTANTS AT THE DOOR
- Wipe your feet on a doormat.
- Vacuum at least twice a week using a filter, and or damp mop floors.
- Replace wall-to-wall carpeting with washable area rugs.
AVOID STRONG FUMES AND TOXIC INGREDIENTS
- Avoid all pesticides and chemical fertilizers in and around your home.
- Use non-toxic, mild, or least-toxic household cleaners, or natural cleaning products, such as lemon juice, borax, baking soda and vinegar.
- Stop using aerosol sprays, which leave chemicals in the air and usually contain toxic solvents.
- Air dry-cleaned clothes outside for a few hours before hanging them in your closet.
- Wet clean your clothes, or buy clothes that are machine or hand washable, as alternatives to dry cleaning.
RECYCLE WITH CARE
- Store recyclables outdoors in a covered container until recycling day.
- Do not allow recycling items such as newspapers, paper bags, bottles and cans to accumulate in your living areas.
START WITH THIS LIST (It is not meant to be all-inclusive.)
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