Tag: Home Care

Does “Green” Mean Clean?

Regular use of cloth bags is considered important to “save the environment,” but isn’t personal and family health just as important? The inside and outside of reusable grocery bags can be a breeding ground for dangerous foodborne bacteria which can pose a serious risk to our health.

Reusable bags if not properly washed between uses, create the potential for cross contamination of foods.

When transporting foods, keep food safety in mind. Juices from meats can leak from packaging and contaminate ready-to-eat foods like fruits and vegetables in the cloth bag. A good rule-of-thumb is to put raw meat in a separate plastic bag before packing in reusable bags, or use a separate cloth bag for meats.

Where do you place your reusable bags while putting groceries away? The outside of the bag may be contaminated from the grocery cart, the store counter, or from the floor of your vehicle. If you set bags on the counter when you get home, the germs on the outside of the bag are now on your countertops. Remember to wash and sanitize your countertops before preparing food.

When shopping for reusable cloth bags, look for ones that are washable and remember to launder bags often. Simply washing reusable cloth bags between uses in the washing machine, or by hand, with soap is effective at reducing bacteria by 99.9%.

By: Jamie Rathbun

Happy and Safe Holidays

Ghosts and goblins aren’t the only thing that can be scary now that Halloween has kicked off the fall holiday season. From fire hazards to online scams, following these tips can help you stay safe during the eventful time of year between Halloween and New Year’s Day.

  • Rather than a traditional candle, consider lighting up your décor with a small, battery operated flameless one. If you do choose to use traditional candles, remember to blow it out before going to bed or leaving home.
  • Use only non-flammable indoor decorations.
  • Whether you’re making Thanksgiving turkey or holiday cookies, practice cooking safely to avoid fires at home. Stay alert in the kitchen and turn off the stove when you leave the kitchen.
  • Water your Christmas tree regularly. Dry branches are a fire hazard. Turn off the tree’s lights overnight or when you are not at home.
  • Place your menorah on a sturdy, non-flammable surface out of the reach of small children and pets. Never leave lit candles unattended.
  • When you shop online for holiday gifts, be cautious and avoid scams by shopping with trusted retailers. Be on the look out for emails that seem too good to be true. Don’t click on suspicious links!
  • Learn the weather and climate risks for the area to which you are traveling.
  • Be sure to consider how COVID-19 may affect your holiday plans.

Have a wonderful holiday season!

By: Jamie Rathbun

Up and Away and Out of Sight — Safe Medicine Storage

You love the children in your life and would do anything for them. Are all of your medicines stored safely?

Approximately 60,000 young children are brought to the emergency room each year because they got into medicines that were left within reach.

Learn simple strategies to safely store your medicine at <https://www.upandaway.org/>.

By:  Nora Rhoades