Let’s face it: Your child’s toys are their most prized possessions, often by his or her side 24/7. That means they get played with, tossed around, slept with, chewed on and who knows what else? Before long, that beautiful, pristine teddy bear looks like a gnarly mess. Besides the visible dirt and grime, toys can harbor germs, allergens or worse, mold.

Different toys require different cleaning methods not only to get them clean, but to keep them looking and working their best. Below, our Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab recommends how — and how often — to clean and kill germs on toys to help keep your children safe.

How often should I clean toys?

How frequently toys need cleaning depends on how loved they are (a.k.a how much they get played with). These are general guidelines for when your child is healthy. It’s always important to clean and sanitize toys more frequently when your child is ill or has the flu and to do it all again once they’ve recovered.

• Hard plastic and bath toys are the easiest to maintain and should be cleaned and sanitized weekly if they are played with daily.
• Plush toys are often machine washable and

Few family responsibilities in life are greater than making sure our parents are comfortable in their golden years — but the options can be daunting. Finding a quality nursing home can feel overwhelming, as can the price tag attached. You might be in the position to share your home with your parent as a solution — or that option might be a nonstarter due to space limitations or other obstacles.

Especially if you’re a member of the sandwich generation, you might recognize yourself in this scenario, and you may be searching for an alternative setup — and a granny pod might just be the answer you’ve been looking for.

What is a granny pod?

So-called granny pods are essentially just guest houses on a residence’s property — only with a special design to accommodate an elderly occupant’s needs. The Washington Post notes that some of these extras might include a lift to help the resident move between the bed and the bathroom; a video camera system for monitoring the space (it might be placed at floor level to provide privacy but also an added measure of security); and smart devices such as a toilet equipped to measure temperature, weight, and

No matter how well you care for your silver jewelry, dishes, and cutlery, they will naturally tarnish over time. But since no one wants to host a dinner party with dingy place settings, it’s important to learn how to clean silver quickly and efficiently a.k.a. before your guests show up at the door. While you can’t necessarily prevent tarnish from air and light exposure, follow this silver cleaning guide from Carolyn Forte, Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab to restore its original gleam. Good news: It doesn’t take much effort to make your silver sparkle again, and you can follow the same methods for all objects, no matter how luxe.

How to Clean Silver

Sure, wiping your object with a microfiber cloth removes dust, but it fails to bring back the silver’s shine. To get rid of tarnish and prevent it from coming back, use a targeted silver polish like Good Housekeeping Seal Star Weiman Silver Polish. If you’re unsure of how to properly polish your silver, follow this step-by-step:

1. Put a small amount of silver polish on a clean cloth, dampened if necessary.
2. Rub the polish on your item in an

It’s never easy deciding how to design a room in your home. There’s so much to consider, from settling on a budget to designating enough time in your already packed schedule to tackle the project from start to finish. While hiring an interior designer to handle the job in person is a luxury many are able to enjoy, others might find it more practical and cost-effective to rely on an online interior design service. One of the most popular (and budget-friendly) sites out there is Havenly. But before you sign up, here’s everything you need to know:

How Havenly works:

Havenly, which launched in 2013, is an online interior design service that was founded by Denver-based entrepreneur Lee Mayer. It’s known for adhering to a straightforward design process, which helps users feel less overwhelmed.

To get started, you simply choose the room you’d like to design (you’ll be invited to share photos or video) and then answer a series of questions about your personal style. Based on your responses, Havenly will pair you with a professional designer, who will arrange a phone call to learn more about your vision for the space. This is the time to share what’s