HCE Blog

Going to the doctor is a scary experience for many children, but you can make it less frightening by playing doctor at home! Familiarize your child with the steps and tools used in a pediatric appointment. You can either pretend to be the doctor, or you can let your child try and let them practice on you or one of their toys. Go through all the steps you can at home. Use a toy stethoscope to p...

Need help getting your hubby to go to the doctor?  Many studies show that fewer men go to doctors to seek care than women. Why is that? Are they afraid? Are they afraid it will make them seem less manly to get help? Whatever the case, here’s an easy way to get the man of the house to go to the doctor! If you have children, have your husband take the kids to the doctor, and schedule his checku...

Parents know just how hard it is to get their children to take medicine. You wouldn’t think it would be so hard to get them to take something that would make them feel better, but can you blame them? Medicine tastes bad! But there’s an easy (if not a little mean) way to trick them into taking their medicine. Take an empty juice box of your kiddo’s favorite juice and cut out the back. Place the...

Do you clean out your toothbrush holder? Sure, the bristles never touch the inside, but that doesn’t mean that your toothbrush isn’t covered in bacteria from being stored inside it. Extremely dangerous bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli can grow inside the container.  To keep from spreading and potentially becoming infected with these bacteria, try to clean and disinfect your toothbrush h...

The damp and warm bathroom you step out into after you take a hot shower is the perfect breeding ground for mold and bacteria. You likely notice that when you clean your shower and see the buildup of soap scum and the beginnings of mold starting to grow at the very edge of your shower curtain. One place often missed when many people clean their shower is the shower head. Plastic shower heads ar...

Have you ever washed your window curtains? If you’re like many people, your answer is probably no. Your curtains are an unexpected home to various types of bacteria. If you have pets, your curtains can also collect fur and dander that can irritate any pet allergies you or loved ones may have. To keep your curtains clean you should vacuum them at least once a month! Be sure to check out the car...

You clean the sink and the dishwasher, but have you ever thought to wash the dish-drying rack? We know what you’re probably thinking. I put clean dishes in there! Why would I need to wash it? The answer is simple: mold.  You can wash it just like you wash dishes: with soap and hot water. Make sure to keep the dish-drying rack dry to keep mold and other bacteria from growing on its surface. Try...

You know what they say, “A dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s.” Whether that’s true or not, there is one thing, for sure, that is dirtier than both: your pup’s favorite squeaky toy. With the bacteria from your dog’s mouth, the bacteria from the environment around you, and even the bacteria on your hands, those toys are covered in all sorts of germs. Often included in that collection of bacte...

The fridge, home to yummy food and loads of bacteria.  Yep. You read that right. Bacteria. Keep your fridge cleaned out regularly to avoid a buildup. But you need to make sure you clean ALL your fridge. One of the most neglected places in your fridge that you may not think about cleaning is the ice cube maker.  If even the freshest ice cubes come out of your ice machine appear cloudy and smel...

What is one of the most-touched items in your household? We’re sure many of you said the fridge door handle, doorknobs, or even the sink knobs, and while those are accurate, you may not have thought of your remote control. Some studies have shown that a remote control may have up to 70% more bacteria per square inch than your home’s toilet seat!   To clean your remote control, wipe it down wit...