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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 HEPA 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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