Month: March 2020

There’s nothing worse than flicking on the kitchen lights and seeing (or hearing) the scuttling legs and antennae of cockroaches on your countertops, cabinets, or floor. Not only are these pests a major eyesore, but they can contaminate your food, transmit dangerous bacteria, and worst of all, survive even the best-intentioned eradication attempts. That’s why we turned to an entomologist and pesticide applicator to find the fastest and most effective way to get rid of roaches. Regardless if you’re tackling one sneaky pest or a whole army of cockroaches, follow this five-step guide to shut down even the most stubborn infestations.

Identify the problem area and seek professional help if needed.

Out of over 4,000 cockroach species in the world, most Americans encounter only one or two types: German cockroaches and American cockroaches.

Getty Images

Getty Images

Since cockroaches can taint your food and countertops with illness-causing E. coli and salmonella, don’t take an infestation lightly.

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