Miami Herald (Sunday)

10 CLEAN DESIGN TIPS

for staying healthy at home

- BY CATHY HOBBS Tribune News Service

For so many, the desire is for home to feel like a haven, a place where you feel warm, cozy and safe. Health is also top of mind, creating a clean and healthy environmen­t.

As you look for ways to beautify your environmen­t, why not include ways to ensure clean design?

Here are some Design Recipes tips.

1. Remove shoes upon entry into your home to prevent tracking outdoor pollutants indoors.

2. Wash and/or launder your clothing as much as possible to help keep your environmen­t clean and fresh.

3. If possible, switch from carpet to hardwood, especially in key areas such as entryways. Carpeting traps odors and dust mites.

4. Consider making your own cleaners. Lemon juice and water is a fantastic cleaner, as is baking soda and vinegar.

5. In bathrooms, consider using a nylon shower curtain instead of vinyl. Nylon is not only a greener choice, but in many cases feels like fabric and is washable.

6. In bathrooms, be sure to close the toilet seat. Microparti­cles are released into the air during the flushing process.

7. For kitchen and bathroom surfaces, whenever possible select materials that are nonporous. Nonporous surfaces such as quartz and porcelain are the easiest to clean and maintain.

8. Wash sponges or replace frequently. Place sponges in the dishwasher to clean, or replace them. This will help reduce the spread of germs.

9. Deep clean. Deep cleaning on a regular and consistent basis will help maintain a healthy environmen­t.

10. Open the windows. There are so many benefits for allowing fresh, clean air to help ventilate your home from time to time. Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at www.cathyhobbs.com.

 ??  ?? Laundered clothing neatly placed into an organized closet. Hardwood floors, especially in entry areas, help to reduce the spread of dirt and dust.
Laundered clothing neatly placed into an organized closet. Hardwood floors, especially in entry areas, help to reduce the spread of dirt and dust.
 ??  ?? Bathrooms are ideal for clean, fresh, spa-like experience­s. Freshly washed dishes line the shelves of glass front kitchen cabinets.
Bathrooms are ideal for clean, fresh, spa-like experience­s. Freshly washed dishes line the shelves of glass front kitchen cabinets.
 ?? PHOTOS BY Design Recipes/TNS ??
PHOTOS BY Design Recipes/TNS
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