With Halloween only 2 weeks away, our Halloween creativity will have to be cranked up this year. The B.C. Centre of Disease Control has released guidelines on the best way to celebrate Halloween while remaining safe and reducing the risk of exposure or transmission.

Indoor gatherings, big or small, put people at higher risk of getting COVID-19, according to the centre. Therefore, consider watching a Halloween movie or observing other traditions with your family or small social group rather than hosting a party.

Pandemic Party Rules

You should know everyone who attends, no plus ones. Don’t pass around snacks, drinks, smokes, tokes or vapes. Be more outside, than inside. Keep the space well-ventilated with windows open. Because hand sanitizer is flammable, be careful around open flames.

Trick-or-Treating Safely

Respect homes by staying away if the lights are out. Keep to your local neighbourhood this year; avoid trick-or-treating in busy areas or indoors. Trick-or-treat in a small social group of six people or fewer. Leave space between you and other groups. Wash your hands before you go out, when you get home and before eating treats. Keep hand sanitizer with you if eating treats on the go. You don’t need to clean every treat but you should wash your hands after handling treats. Do not touch your face.

Handing Out Treats

Use tongs when handing out candy. Hand out individual treats instead of offering from a shared bowl. Only hand out sealed, pre-packaged treats. Wear a non-medical mask that covers your nose and mouth when handing out treats. If you can, stand outside your door to hand out treats which also ensure kids won’t need to touch the door or doorbell. If you’re not able to remain outside, clean and disinfect doorbells and knobs, and any other high-touch surface often during the Halloween night. If you are decorating, avoid props that can cause coughing, such as smoke machines.

For more information visit bccdc.ca.

With turkey, thankfulness, and togetherness at top of our list, B.C. health experts have some tips on how to have a safe and happy Thanksgiving, without giving COVID-19 a chance.

This weekend is Thanksgiving, but in these interesting times it will take sacrifice and adapting, according to B.C.'s Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.

Get creative, but stick to the basics when it comes to COVID hygiene practices and don't forget to be meticulous about handwashing, covering coughs, and wearing non-medical masks or face coverings where appropriate.

How To Give Thanks Safely

Avoid shared meals or shared utensils. Do not use the same serving spoon. Do not eat from the same plate and hand it across the table.

Sticking to six people is the recommendation from Dr. Henry, even within that bubble of six, people need to adapt during Thanksgiving, upcoming holidays and celebrations.

Keep the celebrations shorter than you usually would. Don’t have the long, prolonged meals because risk of spreading the virus increases with the duration of an exposure within a close space.

Henry reiterated this message by saying, "Make our celebration large in thanks, large in gratitude, but small in size." She said there's no need to leave family and friends out, but make the connection by phone or video call.  "Make sure you have ways to include others that you might normally have in the room with you, remotely," Henry said.

Opt out of a buffet style meal, serve individual plates of food instead and sit apart from those not in your household.

Or spend Thanksgiving outdoors if you can.

Thanksgiving To Go

If you are planning to have a small group over to mark the day, some restaurants are stepping in with their own holiday hack and prepping Thanksgiving to-go packages to order.

If you are preparing the meal yourself make sure there are few people involved in the actual cooking.

Henry said getting creative is the name of the game when it comes to the holiday season. With Thanksgiving just days away, it could be the first look at how future holidays can be spent safely.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Pets are truly people’s best friends; snuggly, cuddly and therapeutic. They are a part of the family. Regardless of the type of pet, one thing they have in common: they smell.

Pet owners quickly become “nose blind” to the odors our pets omit. Unfortunately, smell isn’t contained to the animal, it can quickly spread throughout our home, carpets, floors, walls, furniture and curtains - anything that can absorb odors. 

While a little “wet dog” smell might not be a big deal to you, it can be a real turn-off to a potential buyer if you are trying to sell your home. If you are thinking about listing your house or you just want to get rid of unwanted pet odors here are some ways of neutralizing those odors.

Air Out Your House

Many homes lack good ventilation and just circulate contaminated air. Depending on the type of pet you own, simply opening the windows and allowing fresh air to flow through is enough to help alleviate any lingering smells. 

For items that can be removed from the home, like bedding, and blankets, take them outside and leave them for several hours. The sunlight and fresh air will help neutralize and remove odors that might be stuck in the fabric.

Wash, Clean and Scrub, Everything

Get ready to give your house a deep clean, which means cleaning and scrubbing everything. Yes, everything. Start with the floors and work your way up. Use a mop or get on your hands and knees and scrub the floors, baseboards and walls where your pets may have left their mark or had an accident. Make sure to use an appropriate cleaner for the surface and has odor-neutralizing capabilities. 

Wash all fabrics such as removable couch cushions, slipcovers, pillows, blankets, curtains and washable area rugs. And don’t forget any pet beds or blankets! If you have items that cannot be put in the washing machine take them to be professionally steamed, dry cleaned or laundered. 

For larger upholstered items such as couches, chairs and ottomans consider renting a carpet shampoo/steamer with an upholstery attachment for a deep clean. Lastly, use a cloth to wipe down furniture, picture frames, light fixtures and ceiling fans in your home as pet dander can float through the air and settle on anything.

Vacuum Floors And Carpets

Odor-causing bacteria and pet dander have a way of embedding themselves in carpets, furniture and fabric—even the cracks in your hardwood floors are the perfect “traps” for dander, dust and pet fur. Vacuuming can help! 

To capture and neutralize any smells coming from your carpets or upholstered items simply sprinkle with baking soda and let it sit for several hours before giving the area a thorough vacuum. Keep those smells at bay by vacuuming regularly, two to three times per week, depending on how much your pet sheds.

Shampoo/Steam Clean Your Carpets

When it comes to life with pets, accidents happen and are often hard to avoid. Oopsies can leave carpeted areas in your home smelly and stained. Purchasing or renting a shampoo/steam cleaner from your local grocer or hardware store is always a wise investment as it’s the most effective way to remove odors, stains and bacteria. 

If your pet is constantly having accidents or frequently marking in the same spot you might want to pull back the carpet and underpad to see if it has reached the subfloor. In this case, it might be wise to replace both.

Replace Pee Pads And Clean Litter

Not only are used pee pads and dirty kitty litter unsightly to see while viewing a home, they tend to have a very offensive odor, especially when they aren’t tended to regularly. 

Be sure to remove and replace used pee pads immediately after each use and clean all litter boxes daily. Right before a scheduled showing, replace the kitty litter entirely and place it in an inconspicuous, but still accessible spot, this should help minimize any odors from the box.

Change Your Air Filters

Heating, ventilation and air conditioner filters are often the last thing homeowners think about replacing when trying to free their homes from offensive pet odors. If your filter is old and clogged, you’re not doing yourself any favours by recirculating that smelly air throughout your home. Pick a filter with odor-eliminating technology and install it as soon as possible. 

Purify The Air

If you have several pets, or even just one, you might consider purchasing a portable air purifier. These powerful little towers can be toted around from room-to-room and are used to purify the air, in most cases, capturing more than 99% of dust, pollen, smoke, odor, mold spores and pet dander. The best part about this investment is you can use it in your new house and get a jumpstart on keeping your home pet odor-free.

Apply A Fresh Coat Of Paint

Did you know pet dander sticks to everything? This means any porous surface, like your walls, is susceptible to odors. If the smell in your home is particularly pungent, sealing and painting the walls might be an option. Use a sealer/primer to cover the area before applying your chosen colour. Not only will this seal and cover the smells, it will help stage your home’s interior when it’s time to list.

Fragrance Is Your Friend

Have a last minute showing and not enough time for a deep clean? Try using strategically placed fragrances like diffusers, wallflowers, potpourri or scented candles as they can help mask offending odors until you have time to fully address the problem. Just be aware, there’s a fine line when using synthetic fragrance in your home, too much can be a bad thing, so don’t go overboard.

Keep Your House And Pets Clean

Consider giving your pet frequent baths or take them to be professionally groomed to reduce bacteria and yeast that might be embedded in their fur. Use wet wipes or a towel to wipe their feet when they come in from outside. Brush them weekly with a high-quality brush, to capture the shedding undercoat fur. Depending on your pet’s demeanor you may wish to keep them in a crate or confined to one room while you’re away to keep them off clean furniture. Or, if you have the option to have your pet stay at a friend’s house while your house is listed, take it!

Remember, potential buyers use all their senses when touring a home, so it’s just as important to have a good smelling home as it is a good looking one!

Nothing mars a beautiful home interior more than the unwanted incursion of mould. Mould’s reputation carries with it more than just an unsightly appearance—it can cause serious illness, and if left unchecked can result in costly repairs.

What Is Mould

Mould is the term used to describe fungus that grows on food and in damp environments in our homes, it grows in patches of dark grey, green, black or white. Although spores exist naturally in our environment and are ever-present in the air we breathe, when conditions are right for their growth, they can become a concern in our homes.

Mould and mildew are often used as two distinct terms, though both describe fungi which we find in our homes. The difference is mildew grows on surfaces causing cosmetic damage, while mould, referring to toxic fungus, spreads more easily, penetrating building materials and can cause structural damage, and severe illnesses. 

What Moulds Can Make You Sick

Although most common moulds are harmless and exist in the air we breathe, there are six types of toxic moulds with potentially serious health effects.

Stachybotrys: Referred to as black mould, this is the most dangerous of the toxic moulds, having a musty, dank odour. It can cause flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, headaches, memory loss and severe respiratory damage. Children are at higher risk of respiratory illness due to their developing lungs.

Chaetomium: Usually found where water damage has occurred, this variety thrives in dark, wet environments like drywall, wallpaper, baseboards and carpeting. It’s similar to stachybotrys, often growing in the same environment, causing allergy symptoms like red, watery eyes, trouble breathing, and even neurological damage and autoimmune illnesses.

Aspergillus: While its spores are present in the air we breathe, this mould variety can be detrimental to a compromised immune system. Exposure can result in allergic reactions, and lung infections including a specific and serious infection known as apergillosis.

Penicillium: Much like aspergillus, penicillium exists abundantly in our environment, but can cause asthmatic symptoms, bronchitis and other respiratory problems if trapped in our homes in certain conditions.

Fusarium: This type of mould is normally found in soil and plant debris, though it may also be found in very damp indoor areas like under carpeting, inside drywall, foam insulation, humidifier pans and HVAC systems. Fusarium spores in rare cases cause fusarium keratitis, a serious eye infection.

Alternaria: This allergy-causing mould is common in many climate zones during spring and summer. Although it’s not generally found in building materials, it can grow on most damp surfaces in the home, and most notably can be found in electric cables, cardboard, some synthetics and textiles.

What Are Common Causes Of Mould?

We know mould prefers damp environments, but it doesn’t take much to create a suitable environment for mould advancement. The most common causes of mould are:

•persistent humidity;

•leaky pipes;

•a leaky roof;

•condensation build-up;

•poor ventilation;

•wet laundry;

•flooding; and

•damp basements.

Years can pass with no issues, but as soon as the right humidity conditions occur, dormant mould spores can reactivate.

How To Detect Mould

Detecting mould can be tricky because it’s not always visible. It’s only when it blooms and spreads that it becomes easily detectable. Dank, musty, or mildew odours are good indicators of possible mould problems.

Mould spreads, so be sure to check all rooms in your home, especially dark and damp areas like the basement. Also check under the carpeting, flooring and behind wallpaper or drywall.

But what if I can’t see or smell any mould? If you or your family members have persistent allergy, cold or flu symptoms that subside when away from the house for any length of time, it could be an indicator of mould in your home. While mould test kits can be purchased, it’s a good idea to seek a professional to investigate further.

Dealing With Mould

If you’ve discovered a small spot of mould, it’s possible to address it safely on your own. Use warm soapy water to help get deeper into semi-porous surfaces then use undiluted white vinegar to neutralize the bacteria that causes mould spores.

A large or widespread infestation, requires a mould remediation professional, and it’s best not to disturb it further. If you attempt this scenario solo, you risk spreading the spores, feeding the mould—cleaners are often diluted using water which is what mould eats!—causing further structural damage. You can also miss something and have to remediate again, or become ill from breathing in the spores.

An Ounce Of Prevention

There are some key things you can do to keep mould out of your home, saving you down the road.

Do not allow wet materials to sit: Mould needs less than 48 hours to start growing, so never leave damp laundry or towels laying around. 

Keep household surfaces clean: Giving surfaces in your home—especially around sinks, tubs and tiles in your kitchen and bathroom—a good cleaning disinfection and drying. Leaving dry surfaces after each cleaning is key.

Reduce moisture levels in your home: Always run the exhaust fan during and after showering in your bathroom or when cooking in the kitchen to minimize moisture levels.

Stow your belongings securely: Store seasonal items in secure bins with tight-closing lids to keep moisture out. Be sure to store any gear or boxes in a way that allows adequate airflow between them.

Maintain your plumbing: Monitor your plumbing, and repair or replace as needed to prevent leaky or weeping pipes.

Optimize airflow in your home: Keep furniture away from walls and open windows when possible to allow natural airflow through your home. Make sure any confined spaces, like your attic or crawl spaces, are well ventilated so moisture does not become trapped.

Reduce moisture in the basement: If the humidity is more than 50%, it’s advisable to run a dehumidifier, or install a foundation drain. Keep an eye out for foundation cracks and repair without delay—this is especially important if you own an older home. Installing insulation and thermal or storm windows can help to keep basements warmer and more dry.

 
Mould is certainly nothing to ignore, especially when it comes to your health and well being. If you keep a keen eye on your home with periodic inspections, maintenance and prevention measures, you will have more reason to rest easy. 

As fall is just around the corner, it is time to start transitioning out or our summer clothes and into our fall and winter ones. Now is the perfect time to clean out and reorganize our closets.

Sort

The first step is to take everything out of the closet and make four piles: the Now Pile, for things used or worn often; the Someday Pile, for clothes you might fit into again or might use if an occasion arises; the Never Pile, for things you absolutely never reach for; and the Seasonal Pile, for things used seasonally. Be honest and remember your goal: a clean, well-organized, easy-to-use closet.

Donate

Donate all the garments that no longer fit you and the clothes you don’t wear but hang on to because you paid a fortune for them. Take them to a consignment shop or sell them on an online store. Check your local thrift store to make sure they are accepting donations and how many you can take at a time.

The next step is a tough one. Move everything from the Someday Pile into the Never Pile. This is the hardest step. But you can do it. 

Sort Again

For most people, the Never Pile is often much bigger than expected. It’s normal for the Never Pile to amount to 40% or more of the items in your closets, that’s a lot of closet space wasted.

At this point, the purge is not quite finished. Once we see how much space we can free up by eliminating unwanted, unnecessary and unused stuff, we’re often motivated to go further. It’s time to look for “never” and “someday” items hiding in the Now Pile.

Think Fast

Act quickly, while motivation and resolve remains strong, place everything from the Never Pile in large trash bags for donation, resale or sharing. Be strong. Keep moving forward and trust your first instincts. Next, get the bags out of your way by temporarily relocating them to the garage, guest room, basement or attic.

Seasonal Strategies

Pack up seasonal stuff in clear plastic bins with big, easy-to-read labels that let you know what’s inside. Store them out of sight in an easily accessible place.

When storing seasonal clothes, wash and dry-clean out-of-season clothes before you put them in storage, because antiperspirant, cologne and makeup residue attracts insects. Make sure items are dry before you store them. Dampness leads to mildew and a musty smell. Never store clothes in plastic bags like those from dry cleaners. Store them in cotton zip-up bags. No mothballs. No exceptions.

Home Stretch

Dust or vacuum before you put anything back in the closet. Dust mites destroy fabric, and they are horrible for people with allergies.

After the closet is empty and clean, you’re heading for the home stretch. Don’t repeat old mistakes. Wooden, plastic, padded or flocked hangers are best for maintaining the shape of a garment. Make sure you shop for hangers with a nice, elongated hook and contoured shoulders. The longer hooks will help keep your collars in shape. The contoured shoulders mirror human shoulders and will help keep the garment in shape. Keep in mind, too, that slim hangers create more space on the rod.

Choose clip or clamp-style hangers with felt or foam cushioning to hold skirts and pants in plush fabrics such as corduroy, velour or velvet. Tube style, open-ended hangers are a great choice for pants.

Group Think

When it comes to determining what goes where, group “like” things together for ease and simplicity. Long-sleeved shirts, short-sleeved shirts and sleeveless shirts all belong in the shirt section. Bottoms such as skirts and pants also get their own section. You can also group clothes according to color, function, work or occasion.

One More Thing

After a week or so of appreciating how much quicker and easier it is to live with a well-organized closet full of things you actually use, it’s time to deal with the sequestered bags from the Never Pile. But it’s important to remember this: Do. Not. Open. Not even a peek.

Can you remember what’s inside them? The answer is probably no. These items have served you well, but it’s time to move on. Resist the urge to open the bags one last time. Drop them off at a thrift store, recycling them or sell them online. Let them have a new life with people who will use them. Then move on.

Enjoy your newly organized waredrobe!