Healthy Living

The 4th of July is always the event of the summer, but things are a little different this year. Maybe we can’t go to parades or fireworks celebrations, or have a giant neighborhood block party, but we can still have a good time. Here’s are some ways to celebrate the 4th during a pandemic. Freshen Up Your Flag You may have already been proudly displaying your American flag, but preparing for the Fourth is the perfect reason to freshen it up a bit. Most  dry cleaners  will clean flags for free, so give them a call to ask about their policies. A flag can get a bit grimy and even moldy after swaying in the breeze through all sorts of weather, so you should have it professionally cleaned at least once a year. If it’s a big flag, you should take advantage of a  free dry cleaning delivery service  in your area. Plan a Picnic With Your Family You may not be able to have a giant backyard BBQ this year, but you can still plan a fun picnic with your family. Now would be a perfe...

Everyday household tasks can become a source of anxiety in these times. Do you start worrying about how to get the basics done while keeping yourself and loved ones safe and healthy? Simple hygiene measures can help. Personal Hygiene A piece of advice that is repeatedly stated by the authorities as a top precaution is to wash our hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer. Make sure the soap or sanitizer fully covers your hands, then rub hands together for 20-30 seconds. For hand sanitizers, use those that contain at least 60 per cent alcohol.  Having trouble finding hand sanitizers in the grocery store? Try your  community pharmacy . If they have the ability to provide  compounded medications , they may be able to produce sanitizers themselves. Remember to avoid touching your face because the virus is spread through droplets that may cling to surfaces that you touched. Cleaning Clothes There’s no research as yet on how long the COVID-19 virus ...

With the COVID-19 outbreak surging in Boston, we are all concerned with keeping our home and family safe from germs, bacteria and viruses, especially when you have  seniors living at home . You know how to keep your floors and surfaces disinfected, but what about your clothes and linens? When someone in the household becomes ill, it’s even more important to disinfect laundry to keep the rest of the family safe. Here are some easy ways to disinfect your laundry. Photo by  Annie Spratt  on  Unsplash Tips for Easy Disinfecting When someone in your home is sick, try to have them use 100% cotton sheets and clothes in light colors. This makes them easier to disinfectant in the washing machine using the strongest possible disinfectants. Wash all contaminated items separately from other laundry and wear gloves while handling it if possible. Wash your hands after and avoid touching your face. Safe Laundry Disinfectants to Use at Home Although it’s great for re...

We all love our furry friends, but the truth is they can be quite messy and smelly. Unlike humans, pets keep themselves warm with their soft fuzzy fur. But that fuzzy fur can shed, collect dander and be annoying to clean. Besides the hair, even the best-trained pets have accidents or throw up, usually in the most inconvenient of places. So for my fellow animal lovers, here are some tips on how to remove pet stains and odors from your home. Carpet Stains Pet stains on the carpet are the most frustrating since I can’t pack up my floor and take it to the dry cleaner near me or throw it in the laundry . But before you call a professional carpet cleaner, try this method. After soaking up as much of the fresh stain as possible with a towel, mix two cups of warm water with two cups of vinegar and four tablespoons of baking soda. Pour the mixture into a clean spray bottle and saturate the stain. After letting sit for 10 minutes, blot dry with a towel. For extra odor removal, sprink...

Did you know that studies have shown that decluttering your home can actually reduce anxiety and depression, and ultimately fewer trips to the drug store for medications? It’s more than just appearance, getting rid of clutter and reorganizing storage spaces in your home can make you feel more relaxed and grounded. I know for me, my closets tend to get a little out of control after time. When I begin dreading opening the closet door, I know it’s time to declutter. So here are my favorite tips for organizing closets. Start Trying on Those Clothes The major culprit of bedroom closet clutter is clothing. Look, we all have piles of laundry in various states of cleanliness in our homes at some point, but how much of those clothes do you actually wear? Maybe it’s time for a fashion show! Start trying on those clothes and make piles of “Keep” “Donate” and “Storage”. There’s no shame in keeping clothes that no longer fit, but there’s no point keeping them in your closet. For the clo...

Stains can be extremely frustrating, especially if it’s on something noticeable like the carpet or a favorite piece of clothing. Some items might be able to be saved by taking to a  Boston dry cleaner , but let’s try to salvage them at home first. Read on for ways to remove stains around the house using easy to find ingredients. Baking Soda Baking soda is pretty much a superhero when it comes to stain removal. To make a stain-fighting paste, mix a few tablespoons of baking soda with a little bit of water at a time until it forms a thick paste. For carpet stains, rub the mixture on using an old toothbrush, let dry and then vacuum up. This is a great method for pet stains because it acts as an odor remover as well. For clothing, blankets and comforters, mix a bit of laundry detergent with the baking soda paste and pre-treat stains with a toothbrush or small nailbrush. Let sit for about 20 minutes before washing normally. You may need to repeat the process once or twice more ...

The New Year is right around the corner, so it's time to unclutter your life. When was the last time you cleaned out your closet? Are there clothes that need washing, or even professional cleaning by a dry cleaner ? Put them in a pile and if there are a lot of clothes that need cleaning, it is wise to use a laundry delivery service . It's a great idea to donate the clothes you no longer wear, but what about those pieces that aren't quite in shape to donate? Or the pieces you want to hold onto but aren't sure how to use them? Read on for some ideas on how to repurpose the clothes in your closet. A T-Shirt Quilt Have lots of old band or travel t-shirts sitting around? A t-shirt quilt is a super cute way to preserve your memories while repurposing those old shirts. If you're not the crafty type, don't worry. There are several different companies and services that do this sort of thing for you or, ask around for local artisans. Turn Long Sleeve Shirts i...

Condo prices have gone up again this year in downtown Boston, according to Boston Magazine. For example condos in the South End area cost nearly $1 million while in Back Bay they are over $1.2 million. As more and more businesses in the innovation economy move to Boston, mostly technology and life sciences companies, the demand for residential condo units go up. Most of these condo developments are in the high end category and concentrated in the Seaport District, Back Bay, West End and also across the river in Cambridge. South End is one of the most desirable places to live in the City of Boston. There you'll find interesting upscale specialty shops, coffee shops and restaurants, convenient services like dry cleaners , salons, and friendly community pharmacies . The brownstone lined streets are charming and relaxing with plenty of green public areas. It's also a stone's throw from major shopping centers in Copley where you can find major luxury brands. There is...

Do you want the best results from your  Boston dry cleaner ? Take a few minutes to prepare your clothes before bringing to the dry cleaner. A little preparation before sending your  laundry  to the dry cleaner helps make sure you get satisfactory results.  Here are a few tips for preparing your clothes for the dry cleaner. ​Read the Care Tags Make sure you send the right clothes to the cleaner. Their tags will tell you whether or not an item can be dry cleaned. If the label says “machine wash or dry clean” or “dry clean only,” you’re good to go. Notice whether items have any additional special instructions for handling, and separate them from the rest so the  dry cleaner in Boston  can easily identify clothing that requires special care. Empty the Pockets We all accumulate things in our pockets: pens, gum, makeup, and even small toys.  Things like lipstick, gum, and ink pens can damage clothes if you leave them in the pockets. Cleaners...