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The American Cleaning Institute suggests these tips for more sustainable and better living:
Simply Sustainable
Avoid Wasting Product:
Read labels and use the recommended amount of cleaning product.
Use cleaning products until they are finished, to reduce unnecessary waste.
Reduce Water and Energy Used:
Turn off the water tap between tasks.
When doing your laundry or running the dish washer, wash full loads.
Choose a lower water temperature…
Q: I’ve done a good job keeping my skin protected from the sun, and my kids protected from mosquitoes. But now I have bug spray and sunscreen on my clothes. What do I do?
While that’s definitely good news for you and your kids, it sounds like the family wardrobe didn’t make out as well. But don’t fear; most commercially available bug sprays and sunscreens do wash out relatively easily. First, pretreat the stains with a prewash stain remover, then launder, using the hottest…
I’ve read some headlines that say laundry detergents are being banned because of an ingredient called 1,4-dioxane. What’s this all about?
There has been some misleading news coverage reporting on the potential impacts of a law that went into effect in New York State on detergents that consumers use safely and effectively every day.
What is this law about? New York State enacted a law in 2019 requiring extremely low levels of 1,4-dioxane in detergents, cleaning products and…
There's lots to teach about cleaning! The origins of personal cleanliness date back to prehistoric times. Since water is essential for life, the earliest people lived near water and knew something about its cleansing properties - at least that it rinsed mud off their hands. And clean hands keep you from sharing germs. Browse ACI's publications for teacher resources.
STEM Education…
Q. What can we do, as a family, to prepare for the fall season without adding to the clutter in our home?
Before you buy, inventory what you already have. Then think does this make my life better, more enjoyable, more beautiful. If not, leave it at the store. In addition to minimizing clutter in your home, you and your family can do your part to make less impact on the environment by choosing not to buy everything new.
There’s no doubt about it: not only can clutter accumulate in your home, but it can seem to build up in your brain too. The more "stuff" that accumulates, the more daunting it can be to clean around it. And what’s more, the idea of purging your possessions can sometimes feel insurmountable. But reducing general clutter can be liberating and bring a breath of fresh air wafting through your living space. Here are some tips for paring down – which not only leave you with a cleaner house…
Summer’s here, and with it, the increased awareness of, and need for, sunscreen. We need the protection, but our tile floors? Not so much. Fortunately, there are easy ways to clean up when we accidentally slather and spray SPF on surfaces other than our skin.
Clothes
While that’s definitely good news for you and your kids, it sounds like the family wardrobe didn’t make out as well. But don’t fear; most commercially available bug sprays and sunscreens do wash out relatively…
Q: This year my resolution is to do a better job keeping my home clean and organized. Things always get so cluttered once the kids go back to school after the holidays. Do you have tips for how to start the year off on the right foot?
The New Year is a great time to reset your cleaning routines and put some new organizational systems in place. Here are my top five cleaning resolutions:
Make It a Family Project. Assign different family members specific areas that they’re in charge of tidying…
Q: This holiday season, I’ll be hosting several overnight guests from out of town. Do you have any tips for getting my home and guest room ready?
Having guests for the holidays is a great excuse to spruce up your home. Focus first on the bedrooms, bathrooms, and other shared spaces. Here are my top ten tips for preparing your home for guests.
Put mats and throw rugs in all entryways. This will help prevent dirt from being tracked into your home.
Keep a boot tray near the door for rain or…
Q. Several family members just took up biking. We love the health benefits, but not the bicycle grease on our clothes. What’s the best way to remove it?
A. The easiest way is to pretreat the stain with a prewash stain remover and then launder, using the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric. Check to make sure the stain is gone before putting the clothing in the dryer. If the stain remains, apply a concentrated heavy-duty cleaner (one that’s labeled for use on grease stains) directly on the…