HCE Blog

You clean the sink and the dishwasher, but have you ever thought to wash the dish-drying rack? We know what you’re probably thinking. I put clean dishes in there! Why would I need to wash it? The answer is simple: mold.  You can wash it just like you wash dishes: with soap and hot water. Make sure to keep the dish-drying rack dry to keep mold and other bacteria from growing on its surface. Try...

You know what they say, “A dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s.” Whether that’s true or not, there is one thing, for sure, that is dirtier than both: your pup’s favorite squeaky toy. With the bacteria from your dog’s mouth, the bacteria from the environment around you, and even the bacteria on your hands, those toys are covered in all sorts of germs. Often included in that collection of bacte...

The fridge, home to yummy food and loads of bacteria.  Yep. You read that right. Bacteria. Keep your fridge cleaned out regularly to avoid a buildup. But you need to make sure you clean ALL your fridge. One of the most neglected places in your fridge that you may not think about cleaning is the ice cube maker.  If even the freshest ice cubes come out of your ice machine appear cloudy and smel...

What is one of the most-touched items in your household? We’re sure many of you said the fridge door handle, doorknobs, or even the sink knobs, and while those are accurate, you may not have thought of your remote control. Some studies have shown that a remote control may have up to 70% more bacteria per square inch than your home’s toilet seat!   To clean your remote control, wipe it down wit...

Last week we mentioned the importance of cleaning leaves out of your gutter. While it is an important thing to do, it’s even more important to make sure you do it safely!  When cleaning the gutters of your home, make sure you have a good, sturdy, and extendable ladder. Always place your ladder on a sturdy surface. Make sure it isn’t set on landscaping rocks because those can shift dangerously ...

You may not think that leaves can cause damage to your home, but sadly, you would be wrong. The gutters that line your roof can get easily congested with leaves during the fall and that can lead to damage to your roof and foundational damage. Clogged gutters keep them from doing their job of diverting water away from your home. Don’t have the proper tools to clean the gutters? No worries! You ...

We know it’s hard to get the kids to go outside nowadays, but at least it’s a little easier when the weather starts to cool. We were all kids once and we know just how tempting it is to run through piles of leaves bunched up on the lawn when playing outside. Many of us also experienced quite the tumble when doing so. Our foot slipped on an especially slippery patch of leaves and we went banging...

Autumn can be a bit rainy, and the leafy carpet that covers the ground can get slippery! To avoid slipping and tripping all over the place, be sure to leave home wearing shoes with plenty of traction.  We know everyone likes to leave home looking their best but be sure you go strutting out on the town in shoes with some grip on the bottom. The more lines and grooves in the bottom of your shoes...

Fall is finally here! The temperature is getting cooler. The days are getting shorter. The trees are changing colors. The ground is soon to be covered in a lush carpet of fallen leaves. Sadly, many of these things combine together to form the perfect storm for accidents to happen. Both the shorter days and the leaves on the ground lead to reduced visibility, especially for those working or exer...

If you’re someone who likes to shred leaves after raking them up, you should consider wearing a respirator! Shredding produces a lot of dust, and while you may think leaf dust is harmless it can do some real damage to your lungs.  You don’t have to fork out a lot of money to buy a respirator. Just use an old t-shirt and make your own! Instructions: Lay out the old shirt flat on a flat surf...