Spring Cleaning Tips for a Healthier Home

The following spring cleaning activities will help you create a healthier home:

• Thoroughly dust your home and clean or replace air conditioning and heating filters. Clean all ducts and vents to decrease your exposure to pollens and other airborne allergens.
• Organize your medicine cabinet, discarding expired medications and old prescription medications no longer in use. You’ll reduce your chances of becoming victim of a medication error and gain some storage space.
• Check the garage and basement for old cans of paint, thinners, oils, solvents, stains, and other forms of “toxic” trash. Call your city or county sanitation department to find the location of the hazardous waste drop-off center, and get rid of anything you’re not going to use.
• In addition to getting rid of clothes from last season that you’re no longer going to wear, take some time to purge all of that old makeup. Many types of makeup don’t have long shelf lives.
• Inspect outdoor playground equipment and be sure that it remains sturdy and in good repair. Pay particular attention to guardrails, protruding bolts, and other potential sources of injury.
• Don’t forget about the pantry. Get rid of all that old, expired food, but also take a minute to ask yourself which foods you are actually going to eat. Donate unwanted (non-expired) food to a local food pantry.