POLL

What kind of vacuum do you use?

TIP OF THE DAY

ALWAYS
wash your hands with warm water for at least
20 seconds
before, during, and after handling food.

Wash up! The dirty science of bacteria

SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- That soap scum that forms on the shower curtain? It's really a biofilm loaded with more than a billion bacteria per cubic inch.

The moving belt on an escalator? When you put your hand there, you're dipping into a puddle of bacteria left by all those who went before.

How about the potting soil for your petunias? It's the happy home of a pathogen called Microbial Avian Complex, a potentially troublesome bug. READ MORE...

Living with dirty air may boost heart attack risk

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Fatal heart attacks may be more likely among people who spend decades living in heavily polluted areas, Swedish researchers report.

While there was no association between people's exposure to various pollutants over a 30-year period and overall heart attack risk, such exposure did appear to be associated with a greater risk of fatal heart attack, especially heart attacks occurring outside hospitals, Mats Rosenlund of the Stockholm County Council and colleagues report. READ MORE...

KITCHEN

Every Day

__Wipe down the sink after doing the dishes or loading the dishwasher
__Wipe down the stove top
__Wipe down the counters
__Sweep, Swiffer, or vacuum the floor

Every Week

__Mop the floor
__Wipe the cabinets, backsplashes, and appliances
__Wash the dish rack
__Wipe the switch plates and phone
__Wipe the inside of the garbage can

Every Season

__Empty and scrub down the inside of the refrigerator
__Empty and clean the insides of the utensil drawers
__Scrub down the cupboard exteriors
__Clean the stove-hood filter
READ MORE...