Handy Hints 2020

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January 07, 2020
Hey Everyone!
Every month or two, keep the pipes clear of grease, oil, and hair clogs. Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, followed by 1/2 cup white vinegar. The mixture will foam up. Let stand for a few minutes then pour boiling water down the
drain to wash out any clogs.

Handy Hints Holly
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Hint 1:
Love burning votive candles, but hate struggling to get the remaining wax out of the holder? Me too! The trick I use is after burning the candle I stick the candle (with holder) inside the freezer for an hour, and when I take it out the candle easily slides out. But now I'm going to try this new trick below! And who knows I still may do the tip below and still pop them in the freezer.

Or another trick...Spray the inside of a votive holder with a thin coating before dropping in a light. After the handle has burned down, the remaining wax will slip out.


Hint 2:
Here's an idea for all those eggs you hard-boiled: Use their broken eggshells to clean the hard-to-reach places in bottles and vases.

Drop some crushed shells in the bottle, add warm water and a drop of dishwashing liquid, and give it a good swirl. The shells will scrape off the gunk you can�t get to, so you can save your elbow grease for the dinner dishes.



'Go Green' Hint: Lower settings on water heater
Experiment within the 120-140 range to find the lowest setting which supplies you with enough hot water. If you're ready for a new water heater, consider a tankless water heater. These models can save as much as fifty percent of the cost of heating water.

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January 14, 2020
Hey Everyone!
If you have ever had to deal with a squeaky hinge, then chances are you've used WD-40. But if that's all you are using this amazing product for, then you are missing out.

WD-40 actually has dozens of uses that might be a surprise to you. If you have a can of WD-40 lying around the house, here are some neat tricks to save you time, money and frustration.

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WD-40
1. Polishing silver: If you have a collection of silver that always seems to tarnish over time, WD-40 can help you with that. Spray down your silver and wipe it clean. It's just that easy to keep it looking sparkly and new. Just don't use it on eating utensils without washing them carefully first.

2. Cleaning shoes: When it comes to sneakers, WD-40 is a person's best friend. In the winter, you can remove stubborn rock salt spots that build up by spraying them and wiping them down. If you want to make your whole shoe waterproof,
spray the entire surface with the stuff.

3. Cleaning toilets: Depending on the type of water in your house, cleaning your toilet can feel like a pointless task. If you use WD-40 the same way you would use your regular toilet bowl cleaner, you'll notice that it gets clean quickly and stays clean longer.

4. Unsticking gum: Chewing gum can get stuck on shoes and other surfaces and never come off. Spray it down with WD-40. That will help it come right off.

5. Defrosting ice: Whether you live in a cold climate year-round or you're gearing up for the winter season, spray your windows down with WD-40 and then wipe the excess away. Believe it or not, this will keep the ice from sticking to your windows and save you time getting out of the driveway in the morning.


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'Go Green' Hint:
While WD-40 is really a miracle product, it is not completely environmentally friendly, made largely with petroleum byproducts. But you can made a homemade version that will serve many of the same purposes.

Combine 90 percent vegetable oil with 10 percent acetone. Acetone, commonly found in nail polish remover, is an organic compound with the formula (CH3)2CO that is a colorless and flammable liquid.

Try experimenting with this formula on rusty nuts and screws, tools, lawn mower blades, barbecue grills, and problems like old chewing gum, scuffed floors, and crayon and lipstick stains on lothing before laundering.

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My go-to use for WD-40 is spraying it in a stubborn lock. It always works like magic. Especially in the winter when my garage door or my car door tend to freeze up. WD-40 will not only de-ice the lock but lubricate it as well. It's important to remember that the WD stands for 'water displacement'.

But researching WD-40 yesterday revealed so many hints I decided to include another batch in today's issue.

Handy Hints Holly
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More Uses For WD-40
6. Banishing tar stains: If your car gets covered in tar, just spray down the surfaces and even the most stubborn patches should melt away.

7. Removing water stains (on glass shower doors): It's so frustrating that the same shower you step into to get clean tends to collect a crazy amount of water stains. Follow up your usual cleaning routine with a spritz of WD-40 and watch the water stains disappear.

8. Removing stickers and price tags: If you have ever tried to peel off a sticker on a window or a bumper sticker on your car, you know what a hassle it can be. Using WD-40 makes it a breeze. Just coat the sticker and gently peel it away.

9. Removing and coffee stains: If you have ever spilled a coffee or on a table you know how hard it can be to ever get it out again. Combining your regular cleaning routine with a squirt of WD-40 will banish it in no time.

10. Remove lipstick: WD-40 as a pre-wash stain treatment will help remove lipstick from clothing easily.

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'Go Green' Hint:
Store bought disinfectants used in cleaning can contain all sorts of nasty chemicals, some of which should really only be used in controlled settings such as hospitals. When used around the home inappropriately these substances can actually help bacteria become resistant to the chemicals, creating 'superbugs'.

While there a number of 'environmentally friendly' products on the market, making your own disinfectant is very cheap and easy. Simply mix a couple ounces of eucalyptus oil in a quart of water. Use an old spray bottle and you will keep that much more trash from ending up in a landfill. Be sure to shake well before use and use like you would a store bought disinfectant. Just remember to store is out of direct sunlight.

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Hey Everyone!
Your refrigerator/freezer combo is the biggest energy consumer among all of your appliances, and it expends most of its energy cooling the warm air that flows in when you open the door. That means your freezer functions best when it's really full, as the cold items help keep other items cold and maintain the low temperature.

But how can you keep it full without stocking it with a bunch of food that you may or may not eat? If you're not filling your freezer with food, fill it with water.

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You'll love this $3 knife! Handy Hints Holly Approved!

Fill your empty water bottles, milk or juice jugs with tap water, then stick them in the freezer.

It's simple. Reuse water bottles, milk jugs or juice jugs. Rinse them out, then fill it about 75% full with tap water (water expands when it freezes). Stick that jug in the freezer and just leave it there. It'll freeze, then it will help keep the temperature of your freezer low over the long haul, causing your freezer to kick on a bit less often to keep your items cool.

Even better, you can directly use these bottles when you need a lot of ice. You can either stick the jug entirely in a cooler or smash it open and use the broken ice pieces to your desire. Works like a charm!

Plus, if your power ever goes out, all of that frozen water will dramatically extend the amount of time your food will stay cold.

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'Go Green' Hint:
Yesterday I introduced you to an environmentally-friendly, homemade disinfectant using eucalyptus oil. But if you don't like the smell of eucalyptus and prefer something a little more citrusy, try grapefruit seed extract. Just mix 10 or 12 drops of grapefruit seed extract in a half gallon of water and pour it in a spray bottle.

Grapefruit Seed Extract can be used to sterilize fruit and vegetables, sanitize dishes, countertops and cutting boards and inhibit bacteria growth in pools and spas. You can even use it to disinfect superficial wounds.

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January 28, 2020
Hey Everyone!
Hydrogen peroxide (formula H2O2) is a chemical compound that's a combination of hydrogen and water. For household use it comes in a 3 percent solution, that familiar brown bottle you see in the pharmacy aisle.

But your bottle of hydrogen peroxide is too valuable to just sit in your medicine cabinet. While the inexpensive liquid is known for its antiseptic uses, it's also a versatile substance that can be used in a host of other
ways.

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1. Remove Pit Stains

Erase yellow armpit stains on garments by creating a solution of one part dishwashing liquid and two parts hydrogen peroxide, then applying it to the stain for about an hour. Wash in cold water, then dry and wear. Note: A tough stain may also require scrubbing with baking soda.

2. Clean the Dishwasher

Use hydrogen peroxide to clean out your dishwasher. You can spray hydrogen peroxide directly into the appliance, let sit a few minutes, then wipe out. Or you can create a cleaning "bomb" with hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and an essential oil. Mix them and use an ice cream scoop to scoop out round balls. Let them dry overnight. To use, place the bomb at the bottom of the dishwasher. Then mix white vinegar and liquid dish-washing detergent in a glass or ceramic bowl and place in the top of the dishwasher. When you run a cycle with the bomb (along with vinegar and detergent), the peroxide will whiten and clean the appliance while the baking soda scrubs it and the oil provides a fresh scent.

3. Whiten Almost Anything, From Fingernails to Grout

Hydrogen peroxide is great at whitening and brightening many items, such as stained tiles, dirty grout and even fingernails. For the latter, combine one part hydrogen peroxide with two parts baking soda and rub the paste on your nails. Let sit for two or three minutes, then rinse away. For whitening grout, either pour the hydrogen peroxide straight on to the tile or make a paste with baking soda and scrub.


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4. Make a Mouthwash

Hydrogen peroxide is especially great for dental hygiene. Use it as a mouthwash to kill germs, making sure to dilute first (half water, half hydrogen peroxide), then swish in your mouth for one minute and spit out. Never swallow! An added benefit of this mouthwash: It'll whiten your teeth. You can also use it to disinfect and clean your toothbrush and any dental appliances, such as retainers and mouth guards.

5. Boost Your Laundry

No need to buy those expensive commercial laundry products that have the words "oxy" in them and promise to whiten your clothes. Simply add a cup of hydrogen peroxide to your washing machine when doing a load of whites. The hydrogen peroxide will also deodorize clothes and remove stains. You can pour it directly on stains but do a color-fast test first if you're applying to darker clothes.

6. Kill Mold and Mildew

As we noted earlier, hydrogen peroxide kills bacteria, but it also dispatches fungi such as mold and mildew. So grab a spray bottle of hydrogen and spray your bathroom fixtures, floors, walls, humidifier, dehumidifier, even your shower curtain. That fizzy sound will tell you it's working.

7. Grow Your Garden

Gardeners know one of the best substances for their plants is hydrogen peroxide. The all-purpose liquid can help with pest control, prevent infection on damaged trees, kill foliage fungus and combat root rot, as well as improve plant growth. That extra oxygen causes the roots to absorb more nutrients. For pest control or growth, add one teaspoon to one cup of water in a spray bottle and mist the plant. To combat root rot or fungal infections, use one tablespoon per cup of water.

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'Go Green' Hint: Use hydrogen peroxide to waste less food!
Spraying salad greens with a little H2O2, then returning them to the fridge, will thwart sogginess for several days.

Fruits and veggies also can be spritzed or bathed in a hydrogen peroxide solution to keep them fresher longer. Just be sure to rinse them thoroughly before eating.

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How Often Should You Wash Your Pillow?

Although most pillows have a tag giving laundering instructions, few people bother to wash them. We think they're shielded from the day-to-day grit and grime thanks to the pillowcase. Or else, that washing them may ruin them.

The good news is that laundering pillows is a surprisingly easy task. If you use a zippered pillow protector you'll only need to wash the pillows once or twice per year, although the protectors themselves require monthly laundering.

Check the care directions on the tag. Most pillows are machine washable; however, there are some pillows like memory foam that are not. Use a mild liquid detergent, rather than residue-inducing powder and set your the machine on the gentle cycle. An extra rinse cycle is also a good idea to make sure all the soap is gone. When it's time to dry, use a low-heat drying cycle for as long as is necessary to get all the moisture out.


How Often Should You Wash Your Bed sheets?

Surveys have repeatedly shown that people don't wash their bed sheets enough. More than half in surveys wash their sheets just once or twice a month. Dust mites, in particular, can wreak microscopic havoc because they feed on dead skin cells.

Most experts agree that a weekly washing will suffice to maximize cleanliness, especially if you have pets. If you have been sick, then sheets should be washed more frequently.


How Often Should You Wash Your Bath Towels?

For many people, a weekly bath towel change is the norm, but the average towel collects tens of millions of dead skin cells as well as any fungi or bacteria. Plus, most toilets aren't all that far away from the shower, and droplets of toilet water have been known to reach your damp, hanging towel.

Experts recommend you don't go more than three uses without washing your bath towel thoroughly, and make sure to use warm or hot water with detergent, preferably along with color-appropriate bleach, for good measure.


How Often Should You Wash Your Bra?

Although bras don't necessarily fall in the "wash after every use" category, like undies and socks, they do require more maintenance than they might be currently getting.

Washing a bra every three wears is appropriate, but that doesn't mean a bra should be washed every three days. If you wear your bra even more than one day consecutively what happens is the fibers in the elastics don't have a chance to rebound. When you find a bra that fits perfectly you should buy three; one to wash, one to wear and one to swap out. Of course, exercise/workout bras should get washed more frequently depending on activity level.

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'Go Green' Hint:
Cleaning your home can also lead to a massive decluttering of your house. Often after a big cleaning binge, you may find that you've accumulated a small mountain of items that you don't need anymore. If any of it is reusable, you may want to consider joining an online community called Freecycle (www.freecycle.org), which has localized chapters of members who let each other know what stuff they have hanging around that they would like to give away -- anything from kitchen appliances, bicycles, and furniture to magazines, clothing, and diapers (unused, of course!).

The groups are local even though Freecycle is a nation-wide program. It's a great way to declutter the house and provide somebody else with something they need -- all without the hassle of staging your own yard sale.

Plus, moving around possessions already in existence is a way to prevent more goods from being manufactured or being dumped into a landfill.

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Hint 1: Leather furniture
To clean, wash it with warm, soapy water using a soft cloth. Allow to dry, then lightly coat the cleaned area with Vaseline; rub it in with a cloth to get the residue off. This works better than most expensive cleaners.




Hint 2: Soft upholstered furniture
To get stains out of soft upholstered furniture rub a little bit of shaving cream (anything but the gel kind) into the spot. Let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour, and then blot it dry.

Just make sure that you test this method out on a hidden area of your couch before actually putting it to use, as there is always the small chance of damaging the fabric.

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'Speaking of things you love that are hard to clean...
Many people love cooking with cast iron. Once you get a cast iron pot or pan seasoned properly it lasts basically forever. But cast-iron pans can be a pain to scrub thanks to their seasoned coating that can flake off or rust if cleaned improperly. Luckily, all you need is a little salt and a potato - yes, a potato - to get off those messes safely.

Simply pour some coarse salt into your cast-iron pan and use half a potato to rub it in until that mess has broken up and can be rinsed away.

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February 12, 2020
Hey Everyone!
Life is full of little frustrations, and sometimes we make them harder than they need to be. Like when you get that plastic delivery bag tied into a knot so tight you have to rip the bag open! Sometimes, the easiest solutions are right in front of us, with simple tools and uncomplicated methods.


Handy Hints Holly
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Untie the Delivery Bag Knot

So, you probably normally break into the plastic bag from your local delivery joint with scissors, or just tear it open and destroy the bag. It can be hard to muster the patience for fiddling with a tight knot, but with some basic knot-untying knowledge you can do it with your own fingers. The key to the successful knot untying is to twist and push, not to pick. Twist one of the ends of the bag handles into a tight, solid form, then push it through the knot to get to your dinner.


Open Blister Packs

You won't be surprised to learn that you're not the only one who can't open those plastic packages that electronics, toys and so many other things seem to be encased in these days. That hard plastic packaging, also known as blister packs, was introduced to deter shoplifting, but as a consequence of its tamper-proof features, it's also known to cause injuries when consumers try to open their purchases. Put down the scissors and the knife and give your can opener a go instead. Not only is it similar to some of the special tools on the market designed to do open these packages, it actually works. And you probably have at least one in your kitchen right now.


Prevent Blisters

There is an easy way to prevent friction blisters without buying special socks or shoes or whatever else you may have tried: A study conducted with groups of cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point found that applying anti-perspirant to your feet reduces your odds of developing foot blisters. Friction causes blisters, and when your skin is sweaty or moist, you increase that friction and the odds of developing blisters. Antiperspirant fixes this problem because it's made to reduce sweat -- in this case you're using it on feet instead of underarms.

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Let the Decimal System Help You Figure Out How Much to Tip
Figuring out how much to leave for a restaurant tip was a little more difficult before there were apps to calculate it, but there is an easy way to calculate a tip in your head.

For 15 percent; first calculate 10 percent of the bill by moving the decimal point one place to the left, divide that resulting number in half and add the two together. For example 10 percent of a $24.00 bill is $2.40. Divide $2.40 in half to calculate five percent. Add $2.40 and $1.20 for $3.60, a 15 percent tip. If you're feeling
generous figuring a 20 percent tip takes only two steps. First calculate 10 percent of the bill and then double that number.

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Hint 1: Know what you're buying
'Organic' is probably the most generally reliable label for beef, pork, chicken and all of our produce. The USDA organic standards describe how farmers grow crops and raise livestock and which materials they may use, using methods that preserve the environment and avoid most synthetic materials, such as pesticides and antibiotics.

So when you buy 'organic beef' or 'organic chicken' you can be relatively certain that at some point there were federal inspectors making sure it was not raised using bio-products, hormones, steroids and antibiotics.

'Natural' is a different story. While the USDA has defined natural, their definition is so broad that it literally includes every single animal raised in the country, no matter what you feed it.

The term 'grass-fed' is also misleading label. Consumers see '100 percent grass-fed beef' and assume it doesn't have drugs. That's not true at all.

One of the safest and cleanest meat options is bison. So far bison production in this country is all drug-free. It used to be a specialty product, but now, you can buy bison all over the country in grocery stores and many restaurants.

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'Go Green' Hint: Make Knowledgeable Choice...
By staying informed and making knowledgeable choices about the fish you consume, you can enjoy the numerous health benefits of eating sustainable fish and seafood, while ensuring that marine life will flourish and continue to be around for future generations.

The best way to avoid the toxins present in many fish is to drastically decrease your consumption of salmon, tuna, swordfish, and sharks. As some of the longest-living, largest fish in the ocean, these fish tend to accumulate the most toxins in their bodies.

Sustainable tuna and salmon, in particular, come widely recommended as a great source of lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids, purported to lower rates of disease and boost healthy cell function. But there are alternative choices that boast the same health benefits:

Anchovies
Herring
Mackerel
Sardines
Trout

These are all great alternatives, in part because they have shorter life spans and don't accumulate as many toxins as the bigger cold-water fish. They also provide a great alternative because they rank amongst the less endangered species, breed faster, and eat much lower on the marine food chain.

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February 25, 2020
Hey Everyone!
It's an unfortunate reality, but cleaning is a never ending chore. So any tips that make cleaning faster and easier are as good as gold. Whether you are an habitual cleaner or you more of a once-a-month type, this week we will look at some tips you can use to make cleaning your home easier.

Handy Hints Holly
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Hint 1: Pledge...more than just for dusting
Pledge lemon cleaner is a wonderful furniture cleaner. It also can be used to clean other household items like your stainless steel appliances.

Spray some Pledge lemon cleaner on a dry rag, and use to rub stainless steel appliances. After rubbing for a few minutes, use a dry rag to bring it to a shine. You can also spray directly onto surfaces.

You can use this on your refrigerator, stove, oven and even on your stainless steel sink. This will give your stainless steel appliances a nice sheen.


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Hint 2: Pam cooking spray...can be used for more than cooking!
Did you know that Pam cooking spray can be used for cleaning purposes?

You can get your shower and faucets all cleaned up with Pam cooking spray. Just spritz a small amount on the area you are cleaning. Let it sit for a while and the oil in the spray will help to break down lime deposits.
'Go Green' Hint: Coca Cola Removes Rust!
Coca Cola is a favorite drink for a lot of people. So it is quite easy to to use it as a household cleaning agent, as you probably have some bottles of Coca Cola in your kitchen already.

Instead of using petroleum-based solvents you can use Coca Cola to help remove rust from tools and household items. Just let them in Coca Cola overnight, and the acid will help to break down rust and make the tools easier to clean.

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Vinegar, baking soda and salt. If you add rubbing alcohol to that list (and maybe hydrogen peroxide) there is almost no cleaning task in your home that you can't tackle. So let's take a look at a few more cleaning problems that can be solved with these cheap, simple, miracle products.

Handy Hints Holly
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Hint 1: Clean Cloudy Glasses
If you use your dishwasher regularly you have almost certainly noticed the phenomenon of cloudy glassware. There always seems to be a secret when it comes to having sparkly and smear-free drinking glasses. Here is an easy tip to let you in on that secret.

Fill a bowl with water and some white vinegar. Let your drinking glasses soak in the mixture for about fifteen minutes. Remove them and rinse. You should no longer have cloudy glasses in your kitchen.

Hint 2: Cleaning Greasy Kitchenware with Baking Soda
Greasy pots and pans can make doing the dishes a night-mare. But there is always an easy way to get things done.

Sprinkle baking soda on greasy kitchenware. Add some dish soap and rub the grease away. Baking soda is ever so slightly abrasive, but won't damage non-stick surfaces like a scouring pad would. Then you can finish washing and rinsing them as you normally would. Works just as well on plates and flatware.


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'Go Green' Hint: Clean Wood Utensils With Lime
Wood utensils can become easily dried out and splinter when you use a lot of soap on them. That is so because they are made of wood.

It is better to use natural cleaners to sanitize them. Limes and lemons are great options, as the juice will help to eliminate bacteria and won't dry out the wood as much as regular soap would. If you need a little abrasion try adding salt when you scrub them.

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Get a cutting board that fits over top of your sink. Cutting boards come in a wide variety of sizes and you should be able to find one to fit the space. They even make them specifically for this purpose. This frees up counter space; actually, in a sense it extends your counter space! Since you are fitting it over the sink, the sink can also catch anything which falls through, which saves you from making a mess of things when you are cutting.


Make use of your ceiling. There are overhead racks which are popular for people who live in small spaces like RVs. You can use these same types of racks in any kitchen. This is a wonderful way to get your pots and pans out of the way--but also keep them well within reach.


Use tension rods to organize in your cabinets and cupboards. You can place them horizontally and use them to hang cleaning products and other items that can hook around them. Alternately, you can place them vertically and use them to support pans and plates and other dishware. This is an easy way to add functionality to any cabinet space.

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'Go Green' Hint:
Disinfect sponges in the microwave. Where do you think most of the germs in your kitchen call home? Probably your dish sponges. One way you can lengthen the life of your sponges and keep them safe and clean is by zapping the germs in the microwave. Just put them inside on high for two minutes and that should be enough to kill the majority of the germs (just make sure you never do this with a
sponge that contains metal).

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March 04, 2020
Hey Everyone!
Once you have tackled cleaning and organizing in your kitchen, the bathrooms in your house are probably the next big challenge! These quick tips will get your bathrooms looking clean and tidy in no time. Remember, a well-organized bathroom is so much easier to keep sparkly clean.

Handy Hints Holly


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Today's Hints:
Keep your old toothbrushes. They are great for a million purposes in and out of the bathroom. Use them to clean grout in the bathroom or kitchen. They are also handy for cleaning jewelry, and much, much more.


Use kitchen drawer dividers in your bathroom. You know, those same things you use for silverware and other odds and ends. Those dame dividers can be perfect for storing makeup, toothbrushes, floss containers, and other small items in your bathroom drawers. As in the kitchen, they serve the additional function of protecting your drawers from moisture.


A really cool solution to extra storage space in your shower is to install an extra shower curtain rod. Put it in the back of your shower, and you can hook a shower caddy right onto it. In fact, this provides plenty of space, so you can store caddies for your whole families overhead this way. No more arguing about the messes everyone is leaving in the shower!

Try waxing your bathroom tiles with car polish once a month or so. This prevents the buildup of grime.


Got some stubborn lime stains? Pick up some pumice and give it a try. It is seriously amazing stuff, and will lift those stains right off.

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'Go Green' Hint:
Are you constantly throwing away disposable razors? It seems like they should last longer, doesn't it? Try this cool trick to sharpen a dull shower razor and lengthen its lifetime before you have to replace it.

1. Clean and rinse your disposable razors.

When you are done shaving clean between the blades with an old toothbrush to remove hair and residue, and then rinse the blades with a few drops of rubbing alcohol. The blades are steel and the alcohol will keep them from rusting!

2. Strop your razor on your blue jeans.

You might have seen a barber 'stropping' a straight razor on a piece of leather in an old movie or TV show. The exact same kind of thing will work on a disposable razor. Simply rub your razor against the denim AWAY from the cutting edge of the blades 20 or 30 strokes. This takes fine nicks out of the blades and keeps them sharp for much longer.

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Today's Hints:
According to the website www.eatbydate.com, once opened, all milk lasts 4-7 days past its printed date, if refrigerated. If unopened, whole milk lasts 5-7 days, reduced-fat and skim milk last 7 days, and non-fat and lactose-free milk last 7-10 days past its printed date, if refrigerated.

But there is a big difference between milk date labels that say "sell by," "use by," "best if used by," and "expires on." The phrase, "best if used by" is used to indicate quality only - even after this date, food is safe to eat.

Another phrase, "expires on," is used to indicate the day that deterioration begins, after which a product may become unsafe to consume. Sell-by dates tell a milk seller, like a grocery store, when the product should leave the shelves - either in a customer's hand or in the trash.

Usually, 'use by' and 'sell by' are essentially marketing terms. These allow milk producers to tell consumers when the peak freshness of the product is. They do not indicate the exact date the milk will go bad.

And of course, where and how you store your milk is pivotal to its freshness. According to the FDA, if milk is left unrefrigerated for more than two hours, it's considered unsafe to consume.

Believe it or not, there's even a specific location in your fridge where you should be keeping your milk. Milk should be stored at 38 to 40 degrees F in the same container it came in, and far away from the door. When milk is stored on the refrigerator door's shelves, it's being exposed to warm air each time it's opened, which encourages bacterial growth.


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'Go Green' Hint:
A recent study done by Harvard Law School's Food Law and Policy Clinic and the Natural Resources Defense Council exposes the truth behind expiration dates.

"The dates are undefined in law and have nothing to do with safety," said Emily Broad Leib, lead author of the study. "Manufacturers are picking dates that are really protective over their brand, which is fine, it's just important for consumers to know that."

The study looked at rates of waste, finding that 90 percent of consumers throw they food away on the sell by date. Leib said consumers are unaware that these dates are not necessarily linked with food safety. As a result, about 160 billion tons of food are wasted every year.

"Consumers need to take that extra minute to actually look at their food and smell their food and make an assessment," Leib said. "When we just rely on these dates and throw everything away after the date, were leading to really high rates of food waste."

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Today's Hints:
Bleach

Bleach is a great defense against viruses. Don't use it straight from the bottle though as that would be way too strong. Instead, mix a solution of 1/2 cup of bleach to a gallon of water. Use this to disinfect everything in your kitchen from the sink to the floor.

Hydrogen peroxide

Per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common hydrogen peroxide (it should say 3 percent on it) will deactivate the rhinovirus, which is what causes the common cold. Since the rhinovirus is thought to be more difficult to kill than the coronavirus, it's believed that hydrogen peroxide will work for this as well. Simply pop it into a spray bottle and spray it onto a surface. Let it sit for a few minutes before wiping away.

Soap and water

Hopefully, you still have some good old fashioned soap remaining. Wash your hands thoroughly, with warm water and soap for 30 seconds. Soap works to destroy viruses by dissolving the fat membrane so the virus becomes inactive. Just make sure you use a clean towel to dry!

'Go Green' Hint:
Trying to stretch your cleaning supplies? Try these hints:

Spray the cloth, not the surface

You'll use less product - and achieve the same level of sparkle - if you spray cleaner onto a cloth, instead of directly onto the surface you plan to clean.

Use a foaming soap pump

A foaming soap pump can turn any liquid soap into a luxurious foam soap. What's more, you'll only need to fill the bottom of the dispenser about a quarter way with soap. Fill it the rest of the way with water and shake the mixture.

Just add water

Most chemical cleaners are made just a bit too strong. As soon as one of your sprays reaches the three-quarter mark, top it off with tap water.