Create Your Healthiest Home

Master what it takes to make every room of the house safe and clean.

THE KITCHEN

Freezing meat is a great way to reduce food waste and always have protein on hand, but it’s important to defrost it safely to avoid foodborne illness. The ideal method is to thaw it in the fridge overnight. Use ground meat, poultry, and seafood within two days and red meat within five (you can safely refreeze thawed meat if you haven’t removed it from the fridge!).

DIY frozen veggies by blanching and then freezing; freeze fresh fruit on a parchment-lined baking sheet and portion into freezer bags. And try this tip for stretching fresh produce: Pickle it!

THE BATHROOM

Squeegee the shower after each bathing session to prevent mildew.

Hang towels on a rack or an overthe-door towel bar instead of a hook; this helps them dry faster, preventing stink and bacteria buildup.

THE LIVING ROOM

To get rid of stains on carpet or upholstery: Mix 1 cup water and 1/8 tsp dish soap; blot the mess with a clean cloth, then dab with 1 Tbsp white vinegar mixed with 1 cup water.

Lessen sofa odor by slipping dryer sheets into envelopes and tucking them under cushions.

Zap pet fur by spraying furniture with an antistatic spray. Then put on a clean pair of lightly dampened rubber gloves and run your hands over cushions.