Sydney Henderson, Author at AHAM Consumer Blog

6 Ways to Reduce Spring Allergens in Your Home

The warm spring weather is usually a welcome change. The allergies that come with it? Not so much. Seasonal allergens like pollen and other triggers like dust and mites are unwanted guests that can take up residence in the air and on your furniture and floors, and even on your clothing. But the threat of seasonal sneezes shouldn’t cool your springtime enthusiasm. Here are six ways you can use your appliances to reduce allergens in your home:

Wash it out: Pollen isn’t just spread by air. It also attaches to your clothing, and your clothes washer can remove it before it becomes airborne again. Washing your bed linens regularly in hot water can also kill dust mites, another common source of allergies. Also, don’t underestimate the build-up of allergens in your hair from spending time outdoors. Wash your hair frequently during allergy season.

Dry your laundry indoors: Now that you have washed the pollen out of your clothes. Using a clothes dryer instead of an outdoor clothesline will help keep it off. Line-dried laundry and linens can pick up pollen or other allergens while outdoors and bring them back into your home.

Vacuum everything: Pollen and allergens can end up just about everywhere—carpets, rugs, hard surfaces, furniture, drapes, and mattresses. Vacuum all of them to remove as much of the allergens as possible. A vacuum with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter has the capability to remove more than 99 percent of allergens with particles larger than .3 microns. That includes pollen and dust mites. If you are using a portable vacuum that requires a bag, use micro-lined, two-ply vacuum bags to stop the allergens from being kicked back into the air while vacuuming. Central vacuums capture dirt and pollutants that are carried through a home’s exhaust system to a central container. In most cases, they are installed in a garage or basement and don’t require a HEPA filter to remove allergens.

Clear the air: Like vacuums, many models of room air cleaners also use HEPA filters to filter allergens and other pollutants from the air. In fact, a HEPA filter can help reduce pollutants in the air by up to 50 percent, though that depends on how the unit operates. Look for the unit’s Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR), which notes the suggested room size for an air cleaner and is the most helpful metric for comparing air cleaner performance. CADR provides ratings for the air cleaner’s ability to remove smoke, dust and pollen. And CADR is evolving. Soon, consumers will also be able to compare air cleaners for their ability to remove microbiological pollutants like viruses, bacteria and mold, and household chemicals. Not sure where to start? Visit AHAMVerifide.org for more about how to choose the proper air cleaner for your room. Change the air cleaner’s filter regularly and position your air cleaner near the center of the room, away from walls, to maximize airflow and performance.

Cool the air: When the temperatures warm up, keep the windows closed and the AC on. Air conditioners don’t just cool the air, they contain filters that can help remove allergens.

Keep the indoor humidity in check: Dust mites tend to thrive in humidity. A dehumidifier may make it tougher for the mites to survive.

Get the Most Out of Your Freezer

Freezers have long been a cornerstone of food storage, and a second freezer is an easy way to expand your storage capacity. All freezers will keep your food frozen. However, they are not all alike. The most obvious difference in models is size, but both chest and upright freezers also distinguish themselves through a number of features. Depending on the model and type of freezer, those might include:

Auto defrost
Temperature control
Interior LED lighting
Adjustable shelves, baskets and dividers
Compartments for specific types of foods
Safety lock
Power-on indicator
Defrost drain with hose adapter
Alarm to signal when the door is open
Ice maker
ENERGY STAR designation
Quick-freeze
Reversible doors
Adjustable leveling legs

Freezer organization

Organizing your freezer lets you maximize the use of your freezer space, cut down on wasted food and reduce stress during meal times. These organization tips will help you keep your kitchen functioning smoothly and help you get the most out of your freezer:

Label everything you put in the freezer with both the name of the food or ingredient and the date that you put in the freezer.

Create “zones” that reserve parts of the freezer for certain types of foods (Meat, bread, fruit, vegetables, desserts, etc.)

If you are using freezer bags, freeze foods as flat as possible for easy storage.

Cool any hot foods before freezing.

Freeze serving-sized portions for easy defrosting and serving.

Plan your meals in advance and keep what you will be eating next in an easily accessible part of the freezer.

Keep a running inventory to make sure you are using what is in your freezer.

Freezer safety

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the temperature inside your freezer should be kept at 0 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure the food remains safe. Keep a thermometer in an easily accessible area of the freezer and check it periodically. Allow foods to cool before freezing them.

If your home loses electricity, avoid opening the freezer when possible. The temperature inside a full freezer should remain safe for up to 48 hours, even without electricity.

Check the door gaskets on your freezer periodically to confirm a tight seal is keeping the cold air in and the warm air out. This will also help prevent frost from forming inside the freezer.

Why you should stop pre-rinsing your dishes today

Are you looking for ways to make your home more sustainable? Here’s one: Stop pre-rinsing your dishes before you load your dishwasher.

It may sound too simple, but if you consider the number of dishes and utensils that go into an average-sized dishwasher load, those quick rinses can add up to serious water savings, even gallons a day.

But habits can be hard to break, and a few questions might be running through the minds of habitual pre-rinsers right now, like…

Is my dish too dirty for the dishwasher?

Scrape the excess food off your dishes, ideally into a food waste disposer. A dish is rarely “too dirty” for a dishwasher. When dishwashers are tested under AHAM’s test procedure, testers apply a mixture of egg yolk, creamed corn, oatmeal, instant mashed potatoes, ground beef, coffee, raspberry preserves, peanut butter and tomato juice. That’s almost certainly a bigger mess than anything served at your holiday party. Trust that your dishwasher to do the job for which it was designed.

Doesn’t hand-washing save water?

In the vast majority of cases, no. Washing a full load of dishes in the sink can use 10 or more gallons of water, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A kitchen faucet runs at a rate of about 2.2 gallons a minute. Compare that to newer ENERGY STAR dishwashers, which use a maximum of only 3.5 gallons of water per cycle. Even newer non-ENERGY STAR models max out at 5 gallons of water per cycle.

Should I still run my dishwasher if it isn’t full?

Yes. Some models include “half-rack” or “half-load” settings for smaller loads of dishes. The dishwasher will still save water, even if it isn’t full.

Do I have to hand-wash pots and pans?

No. Place them face down on the bottom rack, where they are close to the full force of the water. Just make sure they are not blocking the spray arms.

I have four dishes left over and my dishwasher is full. Should I try to cram them in?

Put them aside until your next load of dishes. Overloading your dishwasher can interfere with the cleaning cycle. Remember, any water you use by hand-washing dishes will be in addition to the water used during the dishwasher cycle. Save yourself the water and the work.

I heard you can cook in a dishwasher. Since I’m saving water, should I try that to save energy?

No. It’s unsafe and is a bad idea for a number of reasons.

AHAM’s Top Spring Cleaning Tips

Spring is here, and prime cleaning season for many households. According to a survey by the American Cleaning Institute, 80% or Americans spring clean every year! Whether you’re doing a deep clean of the house or just tackling a few projects, these spring cleaning tips are sure to make your job a little bit easier.

Easy oven and range-cleaning tips: A dirty range can affect your oven and range performance and even how food tastes. Follow AHAM’s tips to make it quick and easy.

Expert tips on refrigerator organization: Experience the benefits of a clean fridge – including keeping healthy foods front and center and maximizing space.

Give the air in your home a spring cleaning: Your room air cleaner, vacuum and clothes washer can all play a role in reducing allergens and other indoor pollutants.

A deeper dive into floor care: Do you know the difference between a deep cleaner and a vacuum? Brush up on your floor care knowledge to ensure you’re using the right tools for the cleaning job.

Your appliance cleaning checklist: When is the last time you cleaned your refrigerator coils? How about your dryer vent? Follow AHAM’s appliance cleaning checklist to keep your appliances performing at their best and looking great.

Give the air in your home a spring cleaning

With memories of massive snowfalls still fresh in the minds of many, it’s easy to forget that spring allergy season is just about here. When the first sniffles of spring strike, allergy sufferers may be tempted to hole up and avoid the outdoors. But the air inside may be just as bad or even worse, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA estimates that indoor air may contain double to five times as many pollutants as the air outside.

There are four main sources of indoor air pollution: pollen tracked in or blown in from outside; animal dander; mold and mildew; and tobacco smoke. All of those can make your allergies worse. Fortunately, your appliances can help you get the upper hand on allergens:

Invest in a room air cleaner: If you decide to buy a room air cleaner, look on the packaging for the AHAM Verifide Label, which will list Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) numbers for tobacco smoke, dust and pollen. The higher the numbers, the faster the air cleaner will clean the air. Buy a room air cleaner appropriate for the size of the room in which it will be used.

Suck it up: Your vacuum is one of your best tools in the quest to rid your home of allergens. Vacuum your carpet and rugs at least once a week, and twice a week in high-traffic areas. Vacuum your upholstered furniture, mattresses and drapes regularly. Consider doing a deep clean with solutions made to loosen and extract allergens.

Wash it away: Wash your bedding in hot water—at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit—to remove allergens from sheets and blankets and the kids’ stuffed animals.

Learn more about how AHAM’s Clean Air Delivery Rate program for room air cleaners, and how you can find AHAM Verifide room air cleaners.

Holiday Cooking: What to Freeze and What to Prepare Fresh

If you are getting ready to host a big holiday meal, your freezer can make the job a lot easier. Beyond their obvious advantage for food storage, freezers can help you stay ahead of the clock as you prepare for the big feast. Preparing certain dishes and freezing them in advance can be great for keeping your kitchen less busy and your stress level low as Thanksgiving and other major holidays draw closer. And your guests will never know the difference.

What to freeze is up to you, but you can freeze just about any foods you tend to find at a traditional holiday meal. We spoke with an expert, Lan Lam, senior editor of Cook’s Illustrated and a regular on America’s Test Kitchen to get her advice on what holiday favorites are best to freeze, and which are better to prepare fresh.

Turkey: We’ll start with the main course. Most people won’t be reheating frozen cooked turkey, but thawing a turkey is practically a holiday tradition in itself. Defrost it in the refrigerator, especially for larger roasts, Lam says. Give it enough time to thaw. “If they’re partially frozen, you’re going to run into food safety issues,” she says.

Mashed potatoes: Save time by preparing this beloved comfort food in advance. “Mashed potatoes are great for freezing,” Lam says. They might look a bit soupy during the reheating process, but don’t worry. “When you first defrost them, they’ll look like a soupy mess,” Lam says. Frequent stirring as you warm them up should take care of the problem.

If you opt for scalloped potatoes, consider making them the day of instead of freezing, as freezing can dry out the dish.

Sweet potatoes: The same rules apply. “If they are mashed or pureed, go for it,” Lam says. “If you’re scalloping them or putting them in a casserole, it’s not a great candidate for freezing.”

Stuffing: Whether stuffing should be frozen depends on the recipe and consistency. “If you have a stuffing that doesn’t contain a ton of cubed vegetables, you could fix that in advance” and freeze it,” Lam says. “If there are huge chunks of vegetables, you might end up with something that’s a little soggy.”

Dinner rolls: These comforting carbs store well in the freezer. Lam recommends warming them in a 300-degree oven and wrapping them in foil to maintain moisture and avoid charring. (Accept right now that you probably are going to eat one too many.)

Gravy: This one gets an enthusiastic “yes” on freezing. “Make it two or three weeks in advance if you can. It holds really well and saves you so much time,” Lam says. Need a recipe? Try Lam’s “Game-Changing Gravy.”

Fruit pies: “If you are going to make pies, you can prepare the dough, even up to six weeks in advance,” Lam says. “Make sure it is tightly wrapped so it doesn’t dry out in the freezer. Pull it out two days before you make your pie and put it at fridge temp.” Fruit pies also freeze well. “You can make your entire pie, start to finish, and pop it into the freezer raw,” Lam says, though she advises against egg washing a pie that will be frozen. “You can bake them frozen. Just follow the recipe.” Lam suggests adding 10-15 minutes cooking time and keeping a close eye on the pie as it bakes. “Cover the rim or entire crust with aluminum foil if it happens to be browning quickly.”

Pumpkin pie: Keep these out of the freezer. “I wouldn’t try to make that frozen,” Lam says. “When you freeze a custard pie, pureed in that way, the ice crystals kind of pull water out. When you defrost, the water isn’t perfectly incorporated. You end up with a curdled pie instead of something creamy and luscious.”

Lam stresses that there are recipes for these favorites that are designed to make the food easy to freeze. So, there are ways to freeze pumpkin pie and other dishes that she might choose not to freeze.

Ready for leftovers? They should be refrigerated or frozen within two hours, and generally, eaten or discarded within four days – about the amount of time it will take for many of us to eat what’s left over and swear off eating for the next few weeks.

Keep Your Freezer Organize

Preparing a holiday meal can be hectic, especially if you are serving a large crowd. Staying as organized as possible, so you can find what you need at the right time, will make your life easier. Label the dishes as you freeze them, and create “zones” in your freezer for certain kinds of foods (vegetables, desserts, etc.) Maximize space by freezing foods as flat as possible.

Freeze and Refrigerate the Thanksgiving Leftovers Safely

Leftovers are a treasured holiday tradition in many households. Whether you will be freezing or refrigerating leftovers, allow them to cool first. Freezers should be kept at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, and refrigerators at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Your Recipe for Safer Holiday Cooking

With the holidays in full swing, kitchen appliances, from major appliances like the oven and range to portables like the stand mixer and immersion blender, are being put to good use across the U.S. to turn out holiday favorites from turkey to cookies to pies. Appliances are extremely safe when used properly and are tested for safety long before they make it to your kitchen. However, the holidays are busy times in the kitchen, and it is easy to get distracted and lose sight of kitchen safety, especially if you are hosting a large group.

Unattended cooking is still the leading cause of home fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. In fact, NFPA reports that Thanksgiving is the peak day for cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.

While you’re putting together your menu and planning for the big meal, it’s a good idea to take a step back and review basic cooking and kitchen safety practices. Follow these steps to keep your kitchen safe and your holiday guests happy and well fed:

Always monitor what is cooking: If you have to walk away for a minute, ask a family member or guest to keep an eye on the range.

Wear close-fitting clothing or short sleeves to reduce the risk that clothing will catch fire.

Clean your oven and range before cooking to prevent food and grease buildup.

Turn pan handles inward to keep them out of the reach of children and prevent dangerous spills.

Watch out for dangling cords: Keep portable appliances unplugged when they aren’t being used, but make sure the cord is in a safe place and can’t be pulled or snagged.

Don’t use appliances near the sink to reduce the risk of electric shock.

Use the right microwave cooking times to avoid overcooking food and potentially starting a fire.

What to do if a cooking fire happens

Fires can happen even in the safest kitchens, and it’s important to know how to respond in the event a fire does break out.

Call the fire department, directly if possible. Often, a direct call (rather than calling 911) will allow the fire department to respond more quickly. Keep the number of the local department on hand.

Smother any grease fires by sliding a pan over the flames. Turn off the heat and leave the pan in place until it cools. Don’t try to carry it outside.

Keep a box of baking soda nearby to put out any other fires. Never use water or flour to put out cooking fires.

Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, within easy reach. Make sure it is a type that will work on cooking fires.

Keep oven and microwave doors closed if a fire breaks out to smother the flame.

Stay organized, stay safe and enjoy the process of putting together the biggest meal of the year. And take advantage of appliances like your freezer to get a head start.

10 Appliances that Can Save You Money

With the high gas prices and head-wagging inflation these days, what budget-conscious family isn’t trying to save money wherever they can? While there’s certainly nothing wrong with an occasional indulgence or splurge on things that make you happy, if you find yourself stopping off at the local coffee shop each morning, lugging home cases of bottled water, or eating out for most meals, you might want to consider cutting back where you can.

A variety of home appliances can help save big money in the long run; whether through energy savings or simply saving money by making and doing things yourself. Here are 10 common appliances that can help you save money. Best of all, you probably have many of them in your home right now!

Coffeemaker: Making your own coffee at home instead of buying it from coffee shops can save a significant amount of money over time. Resisting that daily $3 cup of coffee from a local café can save you more than $1,000 per year!

Slow Cooker: Slow cookers are energy-efficient and can turn inexpensive cuts of meat and vegetables into delicious, budget-friendly meals. You can even prepare large batches and freeze leftovers for future use.

Rice Cooker: Cooking rice at home using a rice cooker is more cost-effective than buying pre-packaged rice dishes. Many rice cookers also have steamer attachments for vegetables, making them versatile appliances.

Toaster Oven: Toaster ovens are more energy-efficient than conventional ovens, and can be used for a wide range of cooking tasks, from toasting bread to reheating leftovers.

Food Processor: A food processor can help you save money since you can buy ingredients in bulk, and then prepare your own sauces, dips, and snacks instead of buying pre-packaged versions.

Blender: Making your own smoothies, soups, and sauces with a blender can be cheaper and healthier than buying pre-made alternatives.

Freezer: Investing in a good-quality freezer allows you to buy food in bulk when it’s on sale, and store it for later use. This can help you take advantage of discounts and reduce food waste.

Dishwasher: Using a dishwasher efficiently can save on water and energy costs compared to handwashing dishes.

Water filter: Using a water filtration system on your refrigerator or installing a water filter on taps can save money on bottled water and reduce the need for expensive water delivery services. As an added benefit, water filters can reduce the number of plastic bottles that eventually clog landfills.

Portable Electric Heaters: Turn down the heat and use portable heaters in rooms that are used frequently. Keeping the thermostat at a lower temperature could save money.

Remember that while these appliances can help you save money over time, it’s also important to consider factors like energy efficiency and proper maintenance to maximize your savings. When it’s time to replace older appliances, opt for energy-efficient models, such as ENERGY STAR-rated appliances, which can reduce your energy and water bills.

Everything You Need to Know About Induction Cooking

Home cooks are fortunate to have three solid options for cooking methods in ranges and cooktops—gas, standard electric and induction. While induction ranges make up less than 5 percent of all electric ranges, according to AHAM factory shipment data, that percentage has grown in recent years. In 2022, induction cooktops made up about one-third of all electric cooktop shipments, a 6% increase over the previous year.

Induction technology is not new—it was introduced publicly at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair—but many consumers still are not as familiar with induction cooking as they are with its gas and electric counterparts. We have put together a primer on what you need to know about induction cooking if you are thinking about making the switch from gas or electric.

How Induction Cooking Works

Induction ranges and cooktops look a lot like typical glass-top electric models, but they generate heat differently. Induction cooking takes place on a flat glass surface that is equipped with heating coils that create electromagnetic energy. This field induces electric currents in the pans. These currents are activated by iron in cookware. Restated another way, induction cooktops use those electromagnetic fields to create heat in the cookware by generating a magnetic field that induces electrical currents in the metal of the cookware, creating heat. In other words, the cookware itself becomes the heat source, rather than the cooktop.

Electric cooktops, on the other hand, use electric resistance coils or heating elements underneath a ceramic or glass surface to generate heat. The cooktop surface gets hot, which in turn conducts heat to the cookware. Some infrared transfer from the elements through the glass also helps increase the heat of the pan on the glass.

Gas cooktops burn natural gas or propane to create a flame, and the heat from the flame is transferred to the cookware via direct contact with the flame.

With induction, when the iron makes contact with the magnetic field, the iron particles of the pot or pan agitate, causing the pan to heat up quickly while the cooktop remains cool. The induction process occurs quickly; partly because there is no waiting time for a burner to heat up first. Plus, because of the direct transfer from the magnetic field to the iron in the pan, there is hardly any loss of heat, so whatever is being cooked heats up quickly! And only the pan, and what is in it, gets hot.

When using the appropriate type and size of pan, induction ranges and cooktops heat faster than their electric and gas counterparts, leading to quicker cooking times.

The Induction Cooking Experience

Now that you know a little bit about how induction cooking works, here are six ways your cooking experience might change once you make the switch to induction from gas or electric:

Induction cooktops maintain a cool cooking surface. With induction, only the pan and what’s in it get hot. The heating element is not exposed, so there are no fire hazards or risk of burns from the stovetop itself. (Gas and electric ranges and cooktops are also very safe when used as recommended.)
Like other smooth-top electrics, induction surfaces are easy to wipe down right after cooking because the surface remains relatively cool. Due to the cooler temps on the glass surface on an induction unit, any spills will not burn onto it. (Gas and electric ranges and cooktops are also simple to clean with the proper technique.)
 While it is a popular misconception that you will need to buy all new cookware when you switch to induction, the reality is that most cookware, especially stainless steel and cast-iron cookware, is compatible with induction, as it may already contain iron. If you are shopping for cookware for induction cooktops, look for pots and pans marked ‘induction-compatible’ or ‘induction safe.’ Also, cookware with a flat bottom will provide the best cooking results.
Cookware needs to be the correct size and needs to be placed in the center of the heating element in order for it to be properly activated. The pot can’t be too small, off-center, or wobbly, so flat-bottomed pots and pans work best.
While most induction cooktops have a setting that allows you to shake the
pan while cooking, the heating element can cut off prematurely, which can be frustrating until you get the hang of it.
Induction cooktops sometimes cause a rattling, whirring, or humming sound as high energy transfers from the magnetic coil to the pan. This sound usually goes away when you turn down the heat or add food to the pot or pan, but it can be surprising (and annoying) for some users. There can also be a sound from the cooling fan for the electronics.

Safety, security, warranty: Why it’s important to have your appliances repaired by authorized providers

Every day, you rely on your appliances to keep yourself and your family safe, clean, fed and comfortable. It’s a disruption when one of them suddenly stops working. When a refrigerator breaks down, it can mean spoiled or unsafe food. A heater or air conditioner that malfunctions means you can be left to suffer through extreme heat or cold. Laundry appliances breaking down mean the clothes start to pile up. The scenarios are at best inconvenient, and at worst put your health or safety at risk.
Regardless of what went wrong, you probably want to have your appliance repaired as quickly as possible. You may call around to a few repair shops to compare prices, availability and expertise. Most will have staff that can repair a refrigerator, clothes washer, range or other appliances. But you also need to make sure they’ve gone through the necessary training to get the job done.

Does it really matter who fixes my appliance?

It does. Authorized service providers have been trained by the appliance manufacturer to service your appliance. This means they have access to both the knowledge and the necessary parts, technical information and, in some cases, software that’s specific to your appliance. Your choice of service providers can have major implications for your appliance’s safety, security and warranty.

Safety: Authorized service providers are required to make repairs with parts and equipment that have been tested and meet specific safety and reliability requirements. Service providers that are not authorized may use substitutes that don’t meet the same rigorous requirements. That, combined with the fact that the service provider may not have proper training on installation, can create safety risks.

Security: Manufacturers, through the development of smart and connected appliances, are bringing consumers to new levels of comfort and convenience. However, as with any connected device, they’re also requiring consumers to pay careful attention to their electronic security. Servicing smart and connected appliances requires special training and access to information that manufacturers make available to authorized providers only. Anyone servicing a smart or connected appliance could potentially have a gateway to the appliance owner’s electronic network. It’s critical that this work be left to authorized providers, who will take the measures necessary to limit exposure.

Warranty: If you still aren’t convinced of the importance of using authorized repair providers, here’s another reason: If you allow an unauthorized repair provider to work on your appliance, or if you attempt to make the repair yourself, you could void your appliance’s warranty. That means that the cost of any future repairs that might have been covered under your warranty will now be your responsibility.

Your appliance’s use and care manual or manufacturer’s website will likely provide information on how you can locate an authorized service provider. In the long run, authorized repairs will likely save you time, increase your peace of mind, and help keep your appliances in top shape.

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