Baby Equipment
As any new parent can attest, that little bundle of joy is a big bundle of work. Babies require a lot of equipment, and equipment that is properly cleaned places fewer demands on their fledgling immune systems.
Yet it's important to find the right balance between cleanliness and germ phobia. Although careful cleaning is indeed necessary while a baby is building immunity during its first six months of life, it's not necessary to scrub down and sterilize everything in sight. But do be especially meticulous in cleaning any item that ends up in a baby's mouth--bottles, nipples, pacifiers, and utensils used to feed your baby.
Cleaning baby bottles is not as arduous as it used to be. Once upon a time, nervous new parents were told they had to sterlize their newborn's bottles by boiling them in water on the stove. That regimen has relaxed. As soon as Junior has downed his bottle, rinse it out under running water so that bacteria are less likely to develop and the bottle will come clean more readily. Wash the bottle and nipple in hot water with dishwashing liquid, taking special care to remove any caked-on milk in the interior corners and the underside of the nipple. (A bottle brush will help a lot.) Force soapy water through the hole in the nipple. Rinse thoroughly with running water. Position bottle and nipple in a clean dish rack or on paper towels to drain and air-dry.
An alternative: Put the separated bottles and nipples in the dishwasher, positioning the bottles upside down and the nipples pointing up so that water does not collect inside: Use high heat and the drying cycle.
The Hands That Rock the Cradle
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When it comes to baby hygiene, the pediatrician's clarion call is simple and straightforward: "Wash your hands!"
"That is a very important factor in how disease spreads," says Dr. Marianne Neifert, a board certified pediatrician and mother of five who's popularly known as Dr. Mom in her parenting books and magazine columns. "I always wash my hands before I handle a baby."
A newborn's immune system starts working on its own at about six weeks. Before that, the sum of a baby's immunity consists of whatever the mother supplied during pregnancy and through breast-feeding. To fend off bacteria, train the entire family to wash their hands before holding the baby, and don't be afraid to ask guests to do the same.
Frequent hand washing with soap and water will stop of spread of most common germs. No special antibacterial products are required. And don't forget, Dr.Mom cautions, that hand washing is equally important before preparing a meal and after changing a diaper.
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You can store the clean bottles in a cupboard. But in most households with babies, the bottles don't sit still long enough to gather dust.
To keep a changing table clean, place a couple of clean paper towels on it before each diaper change to protect the pad from germs. If the mess saturates the paper towels or extends beyond them, clean up with detergent or liquid soap and water. Rinse off the area with water, then pour a little rubbing alochol on a clean cloth and wipe down the pad and table.
To clean a diaper pail, use a freshly prepared solution of 1/4 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water. Wear rubber gloves and rinse well with running water. A diaper pail should be a tightly lidded can Line it with a plastic bag. When it's full, tie the top tightly and haul it out to a garbage can.
To clean strollers and high chairs, sprinkle baking soda on a damp paper towel or clean cloth and wipe down the item, then rinse with warmwater. (Baking soda is a mild alkali that can make dirt dissolve in water. It actsas a mild abrasive when not totally dissoloved.) A spong is a bad idea for washing the surfaces of baby equipment, because bacteria can become trapped in the sponge and spread to other surfaces the next time it's used.To clean a crib, use baking soda (as described above) to wipe cribrails. Wash baby bed linens in a washing machine, using hot water to kill bacteria.
To clean a crib, use baking soda (as described above) to wipe crib rails. Wash baby bed linens in a washing machine, using hot water to kill bacteria.
To clean baby toys, remember that a lot of plastic and rubber toys will stand up to the rigors for the dishwasher. Toss them in regularly to keep microbes or organic material on the toys to a minimum. Wash stuffed animals in a washing machine, using hot water to kill dust mites.
OOPS!
You Snooze, You Lose Groggy Parents >
This news may save you from a serious meltdown. Baby bottles that are used and cleaned scrupulously day in and day out need not be boiled on the stove, notes. Dr. Mark Wiseman, chief of general pediatrics and community health at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. And a good thing that is. He tells the story of one patient who-weary from the late nights that new parents know so well-dozed off during a bottle-boiling session. The patient awoke to find that the plastic bottle had melted!
Backpacks
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A little bag of tricks is all you'll need to keep your backpack looking good and staying strong.
Cleaning a book bag or keeping a nylon daypack looking presentable is an uncomplicated task. Just toss it into the washing machine on the gentle cycle with your regular laundry detergent.
Cleaning a hiking backpack is simple too. But with its stiff frame, a hiking backpack obviously won't fit into a washing machine. Instead, use a vacuum cleaner to remove dirt from the zippers and
Simple Solutions
Keep It Dry
Whether a backpack is wet from rain or washing, mildew can destroy the fabric. Before you store it, leave it out in the sun or in a dry room until it's completley dry.
seams. Applying water will work too, but it's messier The important thing is not to let the grit build up, because it will damage the zippers and weaken the seams. Always tend to the backpack soon after a hike. Remove the items inside. If there is a food spill or crusted mud, wipe it off with a damp sponge dipped in a bowl of warm water with a little dishwashing liquid. Remove stubborn stains with spot remover made for clothing. But there's no need to get carried away: Most hikers veiw a well-worn backpack as a badge of honor, proving they've walked the walk.
expert advice
Stairway to Heaven >
Before Elvis moved into Graceland in 1957, he had the banisters of the main staircase painted. Today, decades later, the painted banisters are still gleaming, ministered to daily by a staff trained to sweat the details for Graceland's 600,000 annual visitors.
"We wipeit down with a clean, soft rag every night," says Angie Marchese of archives department. "We do a detailed cleaning of the banisters weekly." They use soft cotton cloths and a cleaner called Zinolin, which is important from Denmark. "We use Q-Tips with the cleaner on it to get into the small areas."
Banisters
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A beautiful staircase and banister can be the centerpieces of a home's entrance, so don't let everyday grime diminish its wow factor. It's worth the extra effort to keep it shining.
Dust a painted banister with a soft, water-dampened cloth. If it's especially dirty, add a couple of drops of mild dishwashing liquid to warm water. Then wash and rinse a small section at a time, keeping the cloth well wrung out, and wipe with a dry cloth. Oil polish is best avoided on painted wood, since it can cause discoloration. Wax is rarely needed, but if you use it, choose a light-colored wax for light-colored paint.
Dust a wooden banister with a soft cloth and furniture polish. That'll restore moisture to the wood and keep the dust collected spindles that support the banister). When dust collects in the intricacies of the balusters, use a cotton swab to clean out the realy tight spaces.
To make your own cleaner for banisters or any other woodwork. Mix equal parts of white vinegar, pure turpentine, and boiled linseed oil in a jar. Shake the solution well (or it will separate) and wipe it onto the wood with a cloth. Rub the cleaner in and be sure to wipe it off (Otherwise, it will dry sticky.) Leave the cloth to dry outside to avoid the risk of spontaneous combustion.
As any new parent can attest, that little bundle of joy is a big bundle of work. Babies require a lot of equipment, and equipment that is properly cleaned places fewer demands on their fledgling immune systems.
Yet it's important to find the right balance between cleanliness and germ phobia. Although careful cleaning is indeed necessary while a baby is building immunity during its first six months of life, it's not necessary to scrub down and sterilize everything in sight. But do be especially meticulous in cleaning any item that ends up in a baby's mouth--bottles, nipples, pacifiers, and utensils used to feed your baby.
Cleaning baby bottles is not as arduous as it used to be. Once upon a time, nervous new parents were told they had to sterlize their newborn's bottles by boiling them in water on the stove. That regimen has relaxed. As soon as Junior has downed his bottle, rinse it out under running water so that bacteria are less likely to develop and the bottle will come clean more readily. Wash the bottle and nipple in hot water with dishwashing liquid, taking special care to remove any caked-on milk in the interior corners and the underside of the nipple. (A bottle brush will help a lot.) Force soapy water through the hole in the nipple. Rinse thoroughly with running water. Position bottle and nipple in a clean dish rack or on paper towels to drain and air-dry.
An alternative: Put the separated bottles and nipples in the dishwasher, positioning the bottles upside down and the nipples pointing up so that water does not collect inside: Use high heat and the drying cycle.
The Hands That Rock the Cradle
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When it comes to baby hygiene, the pediatrician's clarion call is simple and straightforward: "Wash your hands!"
"That is a very important factor in how disease spreads," says Dr. Marianne Neifert, a board certified pediatrician and mother of five who's popularly known as Dr. Mom in her parenting books and magazine columns. "I always wash my hands before I handle a baby."
Frequent hand washing with soap and water will stop of spread of most common germs. No special antibacterial products are required. And don't forget, Dr.Mom cautions, that hand washing is equally important before preparing a meal and after changing a diaper.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can store the clean bottles in a cupboard. But in most households with babies, the bottles don't sit still long enough to gather dust.
To keep a changing table clean, place a couple of clean paper towels on it before each diaper change to protect the pad from germs. If the mess saturates the paper towels or extends beyond them, clean up with detergent or liquid soap and water. Rinse off the area with water, then pour a little rubbing alochol on a clean cloth and wipe down the pad and table.
To clean a diaper pail, use a freshly prepared solution of 1/4 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water. Wear rubber gloves and rinse well with running water. A diaper pail should be a tightly lidded can Line it with a plastic bag. When it's full, tie the top tightly and haul it out to a garbage can.
To clean strollers and high chairs, sprinkle baking soda on a damp paper towel or clean cloth and wipe down the item, then rinse with warmwater. (Baking soda is a mild alkali that can make dirt dissolve in water. It actsas a mild abrasive when not totally dissoloved.) A spong is a bad idea for washing the surfaces of baby equipment, because bacteria can become trapped in the sponge and spread to other surfaces the next time it's used.To clean a crib, use baking soda (as described above) to wipe cribrails. Wash baby bed linens in a washing machine, using hot water to kill bacteria.
To clean a crib, use baking soda (as described above) to wipe crib rails. Wash baby bed linens in a washing machine, using hot water to kill bacteria.
To clean baby toys, remember that a lot of plastic and rubber toys will stand up to the rigors for the dishwasher. Toss them in regularly to keep microbes or organic material on the toys to a minimum. Wash stuffed animals in a washing machine, using hot water to kill dust mites.
OOPS!
You Snooze, You Lose Groggy Parents >
This news may save you from a serious meltdown. Baby bottles that are used and cleaned scrupulously day in and day out need not be boiled on the stove, notes. Dr. Mark Wiseman, chief of general pediatrics and community health at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. And a good thing that is. He tells the story of one patient who-weary from the late nights that new parents know so well-dozed off during a bottle-boiling session. The patient awoke to find that the plastic bottle had melted!
Backpacks
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A little bag of tricks is all you'll need to keep your backpack looking good and staying strong.
Cleaning a book bag or keeping a nylon daypack looking presentable is an uncomplicated task. Just toss it into the washing machine on the gentle cycle with your regular laundry detergent.
Cleaning a hiking backpack is simple too. But with its stiff frame, a hiking backpack obviously won't fit into a washing machine. Instead, use a vacuum cleaner to remove dirt from the zippers and
Simple Solutions
Keep It Dry
Whether a backpack is wet from rain or washing, mildew can destroy the fabric. Before you store it, leave it out in the sun or in a dry room until it's completley dry.
seams. Applying water will work too, but it's messier The important thing is not to let the grit build up, because it will damage the zippers and weaken the seams. Always tend to the backpack soon after a hike. Remove the items inside. If there is a food spill or crusted mud, wipe it off with a damp sponge dipped in a bowl of warm water with a little dishwashing liquid. Remove stubborn stains with spot remover made for clothing. But there's no need to get carried away: Most hikers veiw a well-worn backpack as a badge of honor, proving they've walked the walk.
expert advice
Stairway to Heaven >
Before Elvis moved into Graceland in 1957, he had the banisters of the main staircase painted. Today, decades later, the painted banisters are still gleaming, ministered to daily by a staff trained to sweat the details for Graceland's 600,000 annual visitors.
"We wipeit down with a clean, soft rag every night," says Angie Marchese of archives department. "We do a detailed cleaning of the banisters weekly." They use soft cotton cloths and a cleaner called Zinolin, which is important from Denmark. "We use Q-Tips with the cleaner on it to get into the small areas."
Banisters
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A beautiful staircase and banister can be the centerpieces of a home's entrance, so don't let everyday grime diminish its wow factor. It's worth the extra effort to keep it shining.
Dust a painted banister with a soft, water-dampened cloth. If it's especially dirty, add a couple of drops of mild dishwashing liquid to warm water. Then wash and rinse a small section at a time, keeping the cloth well wrung out, and wipe with a dry cloth. Oil polish is best avoided on painted wood, since it can cause discoloration. Wax is rarely needed, but if you use it, choose a light-colored wax for light-colored paint.
Dust a wooden banister with a soft cloth and furniture polish. That'll restore moisture to the wood and keep the dust collected spindles that support the banister). When dust collects in the intricacies of the balusters, use a cotton swab to clean out the realy tight spaces.
To make your own cleaner for banisters or any other woodwork. Mix equal parts of white vinegar, pure turpentine, and boiled linseed oil in a jar. Shake the solution well (or it will separate) and wipe it onto the wood with a cloth. Rub the cleaner in and be sure to wipe it off (Otherwise, it will dry sticky.) Leave the cloth to dry outside to avoid the risk of spontaneous combustion.
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