Healthy Living

As the end of the summer break approaches, it’s natural for students and their parents to start planning for their return to school. Starting a new school year can be exciting, daunting, challenging, and nerve-wracking for children, so as parents, we need to help them get ready for the new school year. Here are a few back-to-school tips. Organize Your Home Over the break, it’s normal for your home to have become somewhat messier than normal. Make a team effort with the whole family to clean up, de-clutter and get organized. Not only does this put everyone back into work mode and set the scene for being back in school, but it also means your kids have no excuse for not being able to find their gym kit or book bag the night before going back in school. If you’ve got lots of junk to get rid of, save time by  renting a dumpster . It’s so much easier to be able to toss things away as you’re sorting, rather than maneuvering around piles in your home and making multiple trips to the local...

Need some spooky season inspiration? Well, then you’ve come to the right place.  It’s that time of year again when the leaves begin to drop, the weather gets crisp, and ghosts roam the streets. And while there are tons of  fall activities  to do this season, it can be extra fun to get into the spooky spirit too.  Keep reading to learn 5 Halloween celebration ideas for 2021.    1. Throw a Costume Party If you want to have a wild Halloween night, invite some friends over for a costume party.  To prepare, put up some Halloween party decorations, put out party food and drinks, and get the spooky music blasting. And if you’re over 21, make some fun Halloween cocktails or get pumpkin beer!   Pro tip: if you want to have the perfect costume,  get it dry cleaned  or altered before the party.   2. Make Spooky Treats If you’re over eating Halloween candy, make some spooky treats instead! Here are some desserts you can make:  Ca...

  Humans depend on the earth for food, safety, and oxygen. It only makes sense that we would want to take better care of this planet. Eco-friendly living starts at home, and it does not have to be that difficult, either. Here are three simple, eco-friendly changes you can make to reduce your carbon footprint and make a positive impact. 1. Change laundry products and habits. Making a few changes to your laundr y  routine can reduce the amount of pollution your household releases. If you don’t already use a natural, eco-friendly laundry detergent, it’s time to make the switch. Also make sure your fabric softener is eco-friendly. You may even want to try reusable, laundry-softening balls rather than a liquid product. If you have clothing that needs to be dry cleaned, go to an  eco-friendly dry cleaner . Look for a business that recycles hangers and uses reusable laundry bags rather than plastic ones. 2. Grill with propane. Sure, grilling over charcoal makes for a tasty meal,...

Laundry is one of those chores that can be resource intensive and a significant polluter, but it doesn’t have to be. Yes, you can go green and get your laundry clean. There are a few simple things you can do to make wash day more eco-friendly. Do Full Loads A full load uses less energy and water than two half loads. Save water, energy, and time. Use Eco-Friendly Detergent Choose a laundry detergent without added dyes, fragrances, and petroleum-based chemical compounds.  Some dry cleaners offer  eco-friendly wash, dry, fold service  that uses custom detergent, formulated to be eco-friendly and boost cleaning power. Use Less Detergent Pay attention to the amount of detergent you use, too. Read and follow the directions on the detergent box. Too much detergent not only dumps more soap into the water, but also reduces the washer’s efficiency. Use Non-Chlorine Bleach Chlorine has many damaging effects on the environment, and you don’t really need it to get your laundry white....

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...

Do you have sensitive skin? Since 70% of Americans describe themselves as having sensitive skin, I'm going to guess that you do. Sensitive skin is defined as skin that gets easily irritated by the use of products with added perfumes, dyes, or chemicals. Irritation can present itself as redness, itchiness, or even rashes. So if you have sensitive skin, you should be careful, otherwise you would end up spending a lot of money on skin products or even need to see a dermatologist for compounded medicine for skin care . Fortunately, there are easy precautions you can take when it comes to doing the laundry or cleaning in your home, to avoid aggravating your skin. Photo by  Sarah Brown  on  Unsplash Always Read Labels Whether it's laundry detergent, cleaning products, or face wash - I always read the labels on any product I buy to look for ingredients that may irritate my skin. Sometimes that can be tricky if you're not sure which ingredients are causing your ...

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...

Essential oils have become very popular in the last few years. These aromatic oils are used to freshen the air in homes, rubbed on the skin to brighten moods and  boost the immune system , and even used in diffusers at night to help bring on a restful night’s sleep. So, are essential oils safe? And if so, what are the best ways to use them? Photo by  Cosiela B.  on  Unsplash Essential Oils are Safe if Used With Caution Essential oils like lemon, eucalyptus, lavender and peppermint are all safe to use topically and diffused in the air. Studies have shown that the scents of these oils, and many others, can be soothing to the brain and can help with anxiety and depression. However, it is NEVER safe to ingest essential oils. Many oils are not regulated by the FDA, and you never know what else may be in that bottle, so save your oils for home use only. Keep Away from Pets Animals are very sensitive to essential oils. Since oils are in a concentrated form, th...

Handmade clothing items, like knitted scarves or crocheted shawls, are some of my favorite things in the world. If you’re into handmade or recycled clothing items like I am, you know that it can get a little tricky to care for them. Besides taking these items to the  Boston dry cleaner  near me, I can also care for my handmade scarves or shawls and other items at home. Here are some tips for how to do that. Photo by  Rebecca Grant  on  Unsplash Items Made From Yarn If you’ve been gifted a homemade item knitted or crocheted from yarn, there are several different materials that yarn can be made from. If it was given to you, be sure to ask whether it should be hand washed or  dry cleaned , as the instructions would have been on the yarn label. But if you’re not sure what kind of yarn it was, always hand wash it. Cotton and acrylic yarn is usually machine washable, however, wool, bamboo and other delicate fibers are just too sensitive to throw in ...

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...