Sydney Henderson, Author at AHAM Consumer Blog

Healthier Living Through Appliances

Whether it’s healthier home cooking, improving indoor air quality or reducing clutter and creating a more functional home space, the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have more people focusing on adapting their homes to meet their needs and preferences.

The changes they are making range from the relatively simple like redecorating or adding new furniture to home renovations, according to a recent AHAM survey of U.S. and Canadian homeowners. Some of the changes people are making include:

Purchasing new electronics (TV, computer, etc.)
Upgrading major kitchen appliances
Renovating or upgrading outdoor living space
Upgrading home laundry appliances
Renovating or creating a home office
Purchasing or replacing countertop appliances
Adding an exercise room/home gym

AHAM’s research found that many expect to continue their new habits after the pandemic, including cooking more meals at home, spending more time cleaning and tidying, shopping online and using major appliances more often.

The pandemic has people thinking about their health as well. A national survey by Parade and The Cleveland Clinic found that 62% of respondents reported adopting a healthy lifestyle change since the start of the pandemic. The percentage (78%) was even higher among 18-34-year-olds. It is one of the positive outcomes of a challenging time, and hopefully, one that continues.

If you are among those who are rethinking their home’s function in light of the events of the past year, why not do it with your health in mind? If you look around your house, you might find that you already have many of the appliances you need to help you cook that healthier meal, ease allergy symptoms, reduce indoor pollutants or give you a few minutes to de-stress. This list might inspire you to try a new feature or add an appliance to your repertoire.

In the Kitchen

Steam oven: Multi-cooking and healthy cooking options are a popular request by those remodeling their homes. Steam cooking is a popular feature of new kitchens, whether as a stand-alone steam oven or as a function on a combination oven.

Air fryer: Despite its name, an air fryer does not fry foods. It is a compact convection cooker that you can use to turn out a steady supply of healthy snacks and sides. You’ll get the satisfying crisp or crunch without the extra calories that come with frying. Try air fryer beef jerky for protein or banana bread for a sweet treat on the healthy side.

Juicer: Whether you are partial to vegetable juices or sweeter fruit-based drinks, a juicer is a fun and interesting way to add more of both to your diet. There are three types of juicers (centrifugal, masticating and triturating), and each works a little differently. Choose your juicer based on the type of juice you prefer.

Water filtration: If your refrigerator has a water dispenser, you probably don’t think much about the filter other than when you have to replace it. But while it might be out of sight, your refrigerator water filter keeps harmful contaminants like lead and harmful microorganisms out of your water. You can make sure your filter is doing its job (and avoid ending up with a counterfeit filter) by purchasing replacements from reputable sources.

In the features

Sanitizing cycles for laundry and dishes: COVID-19 caused many to take their cleaning routine a step further and make sure they’re also disinfecting surfaces and sanitizing items to kill potentially harmful viruses and bacteria. Clothes washers and dishwashers that have earned the NSF Mark have been tested to show that their sanitizing cycles remove 99.9% of microorganisms. This is an important tool for anyone going the extra mile to cut down on the risk of getting sick this winter.

In the Air

Room air cleaner: Physicians often recommend air cleaners to help allergy sufferers reduce their symptoms. More time at home and a desire to reduce the chance of virus transmission are driving interest in improving indoor air quality. While an air cleaner isn’t enough on its own to prevent catching the virus, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says an air cleaner can be part of your plan to reduce risk.

Central vacuums: Those fortunate enough to live in homes with a central vacuum have a way to remove dust, pollen, animal dander or other allergy triggers. Dirt and contaminants vacuumed away by a central vacuum, through either retractable or detachable hoses, is vented outside the home or to a canister located in the basement, garage or closet. They can be installed in most homes in less than a day.

Vacuums: Whether you prefer upright, canister, stick or robotic, vacuums are an indispensable part of your cleaning toolbox. Models with HEPA filters will offer the greatest benefit for removing allergens and smaller contaminants.

Ventilation hoods: A ventilation hood helps reduce pollutants and particulate matter that is released during cooking. Many models vent outside the home. As a bonus, they can provide a striking visual element for your kitchen.

Dehumidifiers: Allergy sufferers who want to use every tool at their disposal should also consider using a dehumidifier. By drying out the air, they make the environment less hospitable for dust mites, a leading cause of allergies.

Humidifiers: Physicians sometimes recommend humidifiers, which add moisture to the air, to those with chronic congestion or postnasal drip. Set it up in your bedroom or the room in which you spend the most time.

In Your Calm Place

Oil diffusers: How’s your stress level? Recent surveys show that both American and Canadian adults are experiencing increased stress levels. Essential oils are widely used as a mood enhancer or a way to establish a home’s character. Use a diffuser to magnify the aroma and spread the therapeutic benefits. Common oils used to de-stress and improve mood include lavender, peppermint and citrus.

Simplify Holiday Cooking With Sous Vide

The holiday cooking season is almost upon us. What appliances are part of your holiday repertoire? Are you partial to holiday baking workhorses like your range and stand mixer, or are you looking to your slow cooker to warm up some holiday cheer after a trying year?

A sous vide immersion circulator might not be traditionally associated with the holidays, but it can make your time in the kitchen much easier this holiday season by giving you another cooking option. That can be a game-changer if you are in charge of preparing a big meal for Christmas, Hanukkah, or another celebration.

“You cook so many things at the holidays, and most homes only have one oven,” says Gerard Bertholon a chef and chief strategy officer for Cuisine Solutions, which supplies ready-to-cook sous vide foods to restaurants and major retailers. Sous vide was once found primarily in restaurants and is still somewhat niche in homes. However, those who want to try their hand at a simple method of cooking that has been called “foolproof,” now have a variety of choices of portable appliances, and sous vide is even offered as a feature on high-end ranges.

While sous vide is most often associated with cooking meats, it is a great options for vegetables, and there are plenty at a typical holiday meal. Since foods are cooked in vacuum-sealed bags, you can cook multiple vegetables at once in the same pot.

“Vegetable sous vide is amazing,” Bertholon says. “If you take a big enough pan or container, you can have five or six vegetables cooking. The vegetables have so much flavor when you cook them in water.

Vegetable cooking tips

The holidays can take your kitchen by storm, even if you are keeping things low-key this year. The sous vide cooker can make your life simpler. Instead of shuffling dishes to and from the range and oven, you could several at once in the same pot. Bertholon has some advice for home cooks who want to do just that.

“Make [the vegetables] really cold,” he says. “If they’re hot, they don’t vacuum seal as well. Peel them, clean them, keep them in your fridge for a couple of hours before you vacuum seal them. You’ll get a better vacuum.”

If you don’t have a vacuum sealer, you can use the water displacement method when cooking sous vide. The temperature at which you set your sous vide appliance will vary depending on the vegetable, but many can be cooked at 180-185 degrees Fahrenheit.

Give those veggies some character, too. “You need some kind of fat,” Bertholon says. “It will add flavor. Nine out of 10 times, we put fat in. Also put .7 to 1 percent of sodium or salt. That means if you have 2.2 pounds of carrots, you put 7-10 grams of salt in.”

Vacuum to freeze: You do not have to cook your foods immediately after vacuum sealing them. Vacuum-sealed meats are ideal for freezing, Bertholon says. “There is no air, no oxidation. Since it is completely sealed, you are going to preserve all of the flavors. You can freeze it in advance.” He recommends freezing it as fast as possible to minimize crystallization.

The unique nature of 2020 likely means that some who were used to contributing a bottle of wine, a pie or dish of mashed potatoes to the holiday meal might be putting the whole thing together themselves. Bertholon, who grew up in Lyon, France (which has long carried the informal title of the World Capital of Gastronomy) and has been cooking since his grandmother gave him his first lessons as a young boy, recommends you run your kitchen like a “military organization.” That means writing a menu, organizing all of your ingredients, and keeping a schedule.

“What do you need to cook first? What are you serving, and what is the shelf life?” Some dishes, like mashed potatoes, may keep better. Delicate dishes like salads should be prepared the day of the meal.

If you prepared foods in advance, write down what time you will begin reheating it and how long it will take. Start with the dishes that will take the longest to reheat. “If your turkey will take an hour, and the next dish takes 45 minutes, put the second dish in 15 minutes later. Plan to have everything ready at the same time.”

“You have to write it down. Don’t wing it. The more you put in advance, the less stress you have.

COVID-19 Roundup, Winter Edition

As we approach the 2020 winter and holiday season, COVID-19 numbers are once again spiking across the country. While we have learned a lot about how to clean, and how to stay safe, with the upcoming holiday season upon us, it’s worth the reminder of how to best keep your family’s safety and comfort in mind. Here are some of AHAM’s most read content this year:

Sanitizing Cycles and Other Ways to Kill Illness-causing Bugs – Brush up on best practices for keeping the surfaces in your home germ-free, especially if you’re planning on hosting any guests during the holidays.

Spending More Time Inside? How to Make the Air You Breathe Cleaner – For most of us, cooler temperatures mean even more time inside. Learn how air cleaners keep the air in your home healthier, and how to choose one that’s best for you.

Get the Most Out of Your Freezer – No matter the size of your holiday get-together this year, our freezer tips will help you make the most of your storage space.

Your Guide to Appliance Repair During COVID-19 – Don’t panic! Licensed appliance repair technicians take your safety and your appliances seriously.

Quarantined? Using what you have at home – Take a fresh look at your kitchen appliances and have some fun.

How to avoid appliance returns this holiday season – A holiday season trip to the store for a return is even trickier than usual in a pandemic. Here’s how to make sure you’re buying the right appliance.

Holiday Cooking Safety Tips – Make sure your holiday dinner is successful and safe.

Kitchen Appliance Secrets: Pro chefs share top year-round and holiday tips – No matter how your plans have changed this year, this chef-approved advice makes for a memorable and delicious holiday meal.

2 Things to do for Your Refrigerator Drinking Water Today

Are you among the millions who get their drinking water from a refrigerator dispenser? During the busy back-to-school season, you might not be thinking much about your refrigerator water filter. But this year, with millions of students across the country starting their school year at home (and drinking more water there), it’s a good time to do two things:

Check whether you need to replace your refrigerator water filter, and if you have extra replacement filters on hand.
Double-check that the filter you are using came from a legitimate source.

Why the concern about water filters? Counterfeiters have used the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing surge in online shopping to push even more of their fakes to the market. The online sale of counterfeit refrigerator water filters was a problem even before the pandemic hit, with federal agents seizing more than 65,000 counterfeit water filters from U.S. ports last year. More online shopping may increase the chances that consumers will fall victim to those pushing fake filters.

While many counterfeiters put together convincing products that are hard even for experts to spot, here are some signs that a replacement refrigerator water filter may be counterfeit:

An unusually low price: Counterfeiters often attract potential buyers with prices considerably lower than the price of brand-name filters, which are tested to ensure they meet industry and government standards. If the price seems too good to be true, the filter may be counterfeit.
Glossy packaging: The makers of counterfeits may use shiny or glossy packaging to make their product seem high quality, or nicer in design than the genuine product. But, be on the lookout for blurry, distorted or smudged graphics.
Missing certification symbol: A counterfeit product may not include a certification symbol indicating the product has been tested to industry standards.
Lighter weight: Counterfeit filters often weigh less than genuine filters, because they do not contain the materials necessary to filter water.

A counterfeit filter will not effectively remove contaminants. Some have even been found to contain no more than shredded newspaper or pebbles to simulate the feel of a carbon filter. They also put your health and property at risk in more ways. They can cause costly leaks, may damage your refrigerator, and may even add harmful substances to your drinking water.

In 2020, you have enough things to worry about. Make sure your drinking water isn’t one of them by purchasing replacement refrigerator water filters only from refrigerator manufacturers or other trusted sources.

Late Summer Sweets for Nostalgia and Comfort

Whether it is barbecue (cooked indoors or out), fresh-from-the-garden vegetables, or frozen summertime treats, flavors are part of the summer. That first taste of a popsicle or lick of an ice cream cone can trigger nostalgic feelings as we remember our favorite treats from summers past. You might associate what you are eating not just with food or flavor, but also with good feelings, or experiences that went along with what you’re eating.

With vacation plans sometimes scrambled by COVID-19, many of us have spent summer around the house. The extra time at home is leading to changes in cooking habits. A survey of 1,000 Americans by the food and beverage communications firm Hunter found that people are becoming more confident and adventurous in their cooking, developing new habits and looking for both health and comfort as they cook at home. More than half (54%) said they are cooking at home more than they were during COVID-19, and 46% say they’re baking more.

Survey respondents were split evenly between eating healthy foods (40%) and eating comfort/indulgent foods (40%). If you’re a comfort seeker, this post is for you. It’s time to indulge in some summer sweetness.

The Frozen

Remember coming in from playing outside in the hot summer sun, and rummaging around in the freezer for a cherry, grape or orange popsicle to help you cool off? (Did you prefer single or double stick?) You never outgrow popsicles, and those single fruit flavors are proven staples of summer. You can easily make your own by freezing your favorite fruit juice. But the popsicle is also a dessert that is ripe for experimentation.

These exotic popsicle recipes, prepared and photographed by AHAM staff member Matt Williams, will add a new twist, and perhaps become a new seasonal flavor craving. By the way, you don’t need popsicle molds to try these!

Tahini, Honey Roasted Fig and Banana Popsicles (from Foodal)

To make this Middle East/Mediterranean-inspired popsicle, you’ll need your blender and oven as well as your freezer. Time to bring some new flavor to your summer with this popsicle, which combines figs, honey, kosher salt, ripe bananas, tahini and milk or a dairy-free alternative.

Blackberry, Bourbon and Chevre Popsicles (from Jerry James Stone)

Goat cheese and bourbon in a popsicle? This intriguing frozen treat combines, both, along with milk, thyme, honey, blackberries and brown sugar.

The Decadent

Sous Vide Ultimate Crème Brulee with Flavor Variations (from Anova)

Calorie-laden goodness comes in many forms, not just frozen. While you might not normally associate crème brulee with the dog days of summer, it is a dessert that comes with a healthy dose of comfort, regardless of the time of year. And this recipe from Anova Culinary offers a great opportunity to move your sous vide cooking game beyond steak.

AHAM staff member Meagan Hatch prepared and photographed this recipe, calling it “the perfect sous vide dessert, because you can get your cream to an exact temperature and the custard will set perfectly.”

Beyond your sous vide cooker, you’ll need heavy whipping cream, egg yolks, granulated sugar or xylitol sugar substitute, ground vanilla or vanilla extract, and your choice of flavors. Anova suggests 1 tsp rose water; 1 tsp orange blossom water; 1 Earl Grey tea bag; 1 Tablespoon citrus zest of your choosing; 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger; 2 Tablespoons instant espresso; 1/4 tsp flavor extract such as almond, peppermint, anise, orange, etc; sprig of fresh basil, thyme, rosemary, mint, tarragon; fresh or dried bay leaves; pinch saffron; teaspoon dried lavender or use your imagination.

The Traditional

S’mores around the campfire are a summer tradition. Not going camping? No matter—you can still enjoy them in the comfort of your kitchen, and they’re simple to make. All you need are some graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows and your microwave.

Put one cracker into the microwave. Top with chocolate and a marshmallow. Microwave it for 15 seconds at a time until the marshmallow expands. Top with the other cracker.

It really is that simple, and AHAM’s Natalie Cheung honored the traditional with this recipe. However, if you are looking for an alternative to the traditional s’more, try swapping the plain chocolate for a peanut butter cup or other kind of candy bar, the graham cracker for a cookie, or adding slices of banana. Or if you’re really feeling adventurous, go for the salty caramel bacon s’more or one of these creative twists on a classic from TheKitchn.

Spending More Time Inside? How to Make Your Indoor Air Cleaner

Whether it is because of social distancing or to avoid the summer heat, you might find yourself spending more time indoors this summer. That extra time at home has made it even more important to avoid the discomfort and potential health issues, like allergy symptoms, that can arise from poor indoor air quality.

A room air cleaner can reduce allergens and make home environments more comfortable in a time when many are placing renewed emphasis on staying healthy. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a portable air cleaner can also be part of your plan to stay healthy while COVID-19 remains a threat.

“When used properly, air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants including viruses in a home or confined space,” the EPA stated. “However, by itself, a portable air cleaner is not enough to protect people from COVID-19.” When used along with other best practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, operating an air cleaner can be part of a plan to protect yourself and your family.”

There is no way to determine if an air cleaner is effective at removing viruses and bacteria from the air. However, air cleaners that earn the AHAM Verifide® mark are rigorously tested for their ability to remove common household pollutants like dust, smoke and pollen. Some allergists recommend that their patients use air cleaners to reduce their allergy symptoms by removing those three pollutants and other particles, known as PM 2.5.

Dust, smoke, and pollen can trigger symptoms like coughing, wheezing and asthma. PM 2.5 is a significant enough issue for those with breathing difficulties that it is tracked in air quality reports and monitored by the EPA.

Make the right choice for cleaner indoor air

It only takes a few minutes of research for consumers to find an air cleaner model that meets their needs. The AHAM Verifide® Air Cleaner Directory allows those looking for an air cleaner to find a list of models appropriate for the size of the room in which the air cleaner will be used. Each listing carries the recommended room size for that unit, along with the air cleaner’s CADR – Clean Air Delivery Rate – showing its ability to filter tobacco smoke, dust and pollen. The EPA called CADR “The most helpful parameter for understanding the effectiveness of portable air cleaner.”

Air cleaner models are assigned their CADR based on the results of rigorous testing conducted by independent laboratories. During testing, the air cleaners are exposed to specific quantities of tobacco smoke, dust and pollen. After the air cleaner is operated for a certain duration, the amount of each pollutant in the air is measured. The higher the CADR, the greater its ability to filter that specific pollutant. Air cleaners with HEPA filters are designed to remove 99.7% of airborne pollutants .3 microns and larger.

CADR is a helpful guide to finding a room air cleaner that can be part of your toolkit to fight COVID-19. When you’re shopping for an air cleaner, know the size of the room or rooms in which the air cleaner will be placed for maximum efficiency. Choosing one rated for a larger room may use unnecessary energy and generate excess noise.

Check the directory first: As a result of increased interest in air cleaners by consumers, some manufacturers are making claims about their products, including CADR ratings. The only way to know if the air cleaner is certified is to check AHAM’s directory. If an air cleaner is not in the AHAM Verifide directory, it has not been tested or certified.

Get the most out of your air cleaner

Air cleaners are easy to use, but there are a few steps you should take to ensure they’re performing at their highest level.

Place it near the center of the room: Putting the air cleaner against a wall will block the air cleaner from filtering as much air as possible.

Change the air cleaner’s filter Whether the air cleaner has a HEPA filter or an electrostatic precipitator, clean it or replace it regularly. Check your use and care manual for specific instructions.

An air cleaner is only one appliance that can help you improve your indoor air quality. Vacuums, central vacuums, and ventilation hoods all play a role in keeping the air in your home as clean as possible.

AHAM’s COVID-19 Round Up

COVID-19 has, in many ways, turned our lives upside down this year. With work and school now taking place remotely for many of us, the way that we use our homes has changed dramatically. The home appliances we rely on for comfort and convenience are filling more roles in our lives than ever before.

Over the past five months, AHAM has been gathering resources to help you adapt to our new normal. Wondering about the difference between cleaning and sanitizing, how to make the most of your freezer space or turning your kitchen into a multi-function room? We have that information, and more, in AHAM’s COVID-19 resources.

Sanitizing Cycles and Other Ways to Kill Illness-causing Bugs

Working at Home? Homeschooling? Making your Kitchen Functional During the COVID-19 Quarantine

Quarantined? Using what you have at home

How to Improve Your Living Space, Simplify Life, and Build Comfort During COVID-19

Organize Your Refrigerator and Reheat Leftovers for Food Safety

Your Guide to Appliance Repair During COVID-19

Indoor Air Quality is an Essential Part of a Healthy Home

Get the Most Out of Your Freezer

Ask Your Manufacturer Before You Disinfect Your Appliances

Is there a COVID-19 topic you’d like to see us cover? Let us know in the comments.

Need a New Room Air Conditioner? Check Out These Tips Before You Buy!

If you’re on the east coast, you might still have the heat on this April! But warm-weather lovers can rejoice, because summer is definitely on the way. If that means a new room air conditioner for you, you’re in luck. You’ll find a wide selection of powerful and energy-efficient room air conditioners on the market.

ENERGY STAR’s website has some great tips for purchasing room air conditioners:
•   Consider a unit with controls. Controls such as a digital readout for the thermostat setting, and a built-in timer help you adjust your unit to use less energy.
•   Check the yellow EnergyGuide label. This label helps you determine how much energy it takes to operate the model, compare the energy use of similar models, and estimate annual operating costs
•   Look for a unit whose filter slides out easily for regular cleaning. Clean filters help keep your unit in good working condition.
•   Select the unit with the highest Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) for greater savings. The EER is the cooling capacity in BTUs divided by the watts.

Top tips to keep your air conditioner running smoothly:

And when you do buy that new room air conditioner, here are some tips courtesy of the U.S. Dept. of Energy to keep it running smoothly for years to come:
•   The most important maintenance task that will ensure the efficiency of your air conditioner is to routinely replace or clean its filters.
•   Clogged, dirty filters block normal airflow and reduce a system’s efficiency significantly. Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5% to 15%.
•   Outdoor condenser coils can also become very dirty if the outdoor environment is dusty or if there is foliage nearby. You can easily see the condenser coil and notice if dirt is collecting on its fins.
•   At the start of each cooling season, inspect the seal between the air conditioner and the window frame to ensure it makes contact with the unit’s metal case. Moisture can damage this seal, allowing cool air to escape from your house.
•   In the winter, either cover your room air conditioner or remove and store it. Covering the outdoor unit of a central air conditioner will protect the unit from winter weather and debris.

Ask Your Manufacturer Before You Disinfect Your Appliances

Sanitizers and disinfectants have been popular items since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic as consumers step up their cleaning vigilance at home. There are hundreds of disinfectant products that the U.S. EPA and Health Canada say are proven to kill COVID-19 on surfaces. However, though the products the EPA recommends may kill the coronavirus, not all of them are safe to use on your appliances. In fact, using certain disinfectants or other products on your appliances may cause damage to the interior or exterior of your appliances, including scratching finishes, corroding surfaces, degrading refrigerator liners, and weakening structures.

Cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing: What’s the difference?

You might hear the three used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Here are the definitions, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Cleaning refers to the physical removal of germs, dirt and impurities from surfaces with soap or detergent. “This process does not necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection,” the CDC says.

Disinfecting uses chemicals to kill germs, but does not necessarily clean surfaces, according to the CDC.

Sanitizing reduces the number of germs on a surface to a safe level, according to certain public health guidelines.

Now that you know the difference, you might be wondering what cleaning products are safe to use on your appliance. Check your use and care manual or ask the manufacturer to find out. However, the old standby—soap and water—is generally safe for most appliance surfaces and can reduce the presence of germs on hard surfaces. Here, the Mayo Clinic explains how soap affects viruses and bacteria, including COVID-19.

If you are using a disinfectant, the CDC recommends cleaning the surface first. However, you should only use the disinfectants, cleaners and cleaning tools (sponges, cloths) that your appliance’s manufacturer recommends. If the manufacturer doesn’t make any recommendations, stick to soap and water. The CDC recommends wearing gloves while cleaning and discarding them and washing your hands immediately after.

How to Improve Your Living Space, Simplify Life, and Build Comfort During COVID-19

A few weeks ago, your day-to-day world consisted of your home, your car, an office, maybe a school. Now, you are among the millions across North America who are spending most of their time inside because of restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19.

While a comfortable home is a good place to spend your time most days, the coronavirus-related lockdowns or quarantines currently in place have many looking for quick ways to improve function, space and comfort.

It is the same home, but now you have new storage needs. Organization becomes more important. And, you need a game plan to ensure the home operates with maximum efficiency to increase enjoyment and reduce the potential for tension. You might notice repairs you were willing to live with before, or think about what upgrades you’ll make once life returns to normal.

We spoke with Paula Kennedy, a longtime friend of In Every Home and a designer in a COVID-19 hotspot, Seattle, about quick changes you can make in your home to reduce stress, improve function and make it into comforting environment for everyone there.

Start with space

Think about how you use your home, then map out the space and establish a purpose for each area. Make sure members of the family understand each area. “We all live there now, and everything happens there, from DIY to homework,” Kennedy says The home may have just gone from being largely empty during the day to a place where children are learning and multiple people may be earning their living. “Everyone needs to know where everything goes. The more organized things are and the more routine it is, that will reduce stress encourages homeowners to make a plan so all family members are aware of how the home works.

Spending almost all of our time at home is an unfamiliar experience for most of us, but plenty of things haven’t changed. It’s still spring, and still time for spring cleaning. Take advantage of your new schedule flexibility and dig in for some serious decluttering. Kennedy recommends removing anything unnecessary in the kitchen. “We need that valuable countertop space to be used for other things,” she says. “If you aren’t using the blender every day, it doesn’t need to be on the countertop.” It’s not just about freeing up space. Multiple studies have linked clutter to higher levels of stress and anxiety.

Stay in your lane during the day. Keep the work areas for working, the learning areas for learning. Look at how you can alter your space to make life easier. The family may be used to gathering in the living room around the TV, but having everybody in one room might be a recipe for stress. “Move the TV into the formal dining room,” Kennedy says. “Spread the family out instead of everyone being in the living room. Use the home efficiently so you’re not on top of each other 24/7.”

Simplify life

You’ve cleaned and decluttered. Now it’s time to think about what you can bring into the home to make your life easier. Appliances like countertop ovens, portable steam ovens and sous vide cookers can speed up meal preparation and give you healthy cooking options. Many smaller appliances can be bought online, so you can save yourself a trip to the store.

Additional food storage, like refrigerators reserved for beverages and snacks, can save space in the main refrigerator and help manage foot traffic, and make us feel more comfortable at home. “Food storage can give you extra security,” Kennedy says. “Do you have a way of storing extra food and freezing it so you can store it as long as possible?” Think about adding an extra freezer, under-cabinet refrigeration, or a vacuum sealer for the countertop. A recent jump in sales of freezers suggests many are putting additional food storage measures in place.

That extra refrigerator or freezer can also help manage foot traffic. Put your microwave, countertop oven and beverage refrigerator in the same place in a “grab and go” zone. That way, family members coming into the kitchen for lunch or a snack won’t move into areas reserved for work or school.

“I make sure the microwave is in the same zone as the refrigerators so the kids, or people coming in to get a snack, aren’t interrupting the main work zone,” Kennedy says. “The microwave oven or speed oven near the refrigerator so they don’t intersect the main cooking zone.”

Build comfort

People have different tolerance for noise, including sound generated from appliances and foot traffic. Take steps to bring the home’s noise level. “That’s on my list for wellness,” Kennedy says. “How we manage that sound is important. “A simple DIY is adding rugs, mats or soft finishes that help absorb some of the sound.”

Air quality is also a factor in wellness and comfort. Make sure your kitchen ventilation is working properly, and consider adding an air cleaner.

Bringing elements of the outdoors, like more natural light or vegetation, into your living space may also help reduce stress and increase productivity. Think about adding an indoor herb garden or growing some of your own food.

While you’re at home, take stock of what you changes you can bring to your home to make it a more comforting place. Think about why you feel comfortable in certain parts of your home and try apply those elements to the home on a wider scale.

In Every Home

Top tips to keep your air conditioner running smoothly:

About This Blog