Recently, I stayed with my daughter and her family at an Airbnb in Seattle. After we were there a while, I saw a big safety hazard: dishwasher pods were stored in an attractive glass container and placed on the kitchen counter. Dishwasher pods are dangerous for children and seniors who may think that they’re candy or some treat to eat. Read more →

Proctor & Gamble is recalling about 8.2 million Tide Pods, Gain Flings, Ace Pods, and Ariel Pods liquid laundry detergent packets packaged in plastic bags. The outer packaging can split open near the zipper track, posing a risk of serious injury to children and other vulnerable people if the contents of the packets are eaten, as well as posing a risk of skin or eye injuries. Read more →

One of the most tragic things I learned in my journalism career is about a child whose esophagus was destroyed when they swallowed lye that was being used to make soap. So every year, I write about National Poison Prevention Week, which is the third full week in March. More than 2 million poisonings are reported each year to the nation’s poison control centers. Read more →

March isn’t one of the hottest months for finding deals, but you may be able to score great savings on several items in March as long as you know what to shop for. DealNews.com offers the following suggestions: Pi Day – March 14 is Pi Day because it’s 3-14 and it celebrates the mathematical constant pi, 3.14159. Look for restaurants that offer deals for $3.14. Read more →

Although I’ve written a number of times about how to eat less plastic, it’s time to take a look at it again. Recent research offers more information for your consideration. Consumer Reports recent research showed that in addition to plastic leaching from containers into food, there’s actually chemicals from plastic in food. Read more →

On Saturday, I wrote about One Health Day. I hadn’t heard of it before, but it’s a global campaign that recognizes the close connection between the health of people, animals, and the environment and the role this connection plays in the spread of diseases. Several times, I’ve written that people shouldn’t allow pets to sleep in bed with them. Read more →

After one of my yard work helpers scolded me for having dirty yard waste, garbage, and recycling containers, because there were ants on the lids of a couple of them, I decided I’d clean them. Here are my tips: Use the jet function on your hose nozzle to clean the inside and outside of the containers. Tip the containers over on the grass. Read more →

Earth Day is a good reminder of what to do every day and throughout the year for the health of the planet. I spend a lot of time on it. I know many people do, too. The theme for this year’s Earth Day is Invest in Our Planet. Three-quarters of Americans say that they’re particularly concerned with helping the environment as they go about their daily lives. Read more →

As a researcher, I was surprised several years ago when I ran across a study on pets that are allowed to sleep in their owners’ beds. It found E.coli, a bacteria that can cause illness, on the pillows, sheets, and blankets. The CDC recommends taking precautions to help reduce the risk of getting sick from germs pet can carry. Read more →

Since I avoid the use of harsh, toxic chemicals in cleaning, I often use vinegar in cleaning. However, Consumer Reports says it shouldn’t be used in nine cases: Clothes irons. Vinegar could damage the inside of the iron. Countertops: Vinegar is an acid, and it can etch and dull natural stone such as marble and limestone. For granite, it can break down sealers. Read more →