Tax Tip
Pet lovers, take note! You might be able to deduct costs associated with your cat or dog when it is used for specific purposes. For instance, your kitty keeps your business property free of mice, rats and other vermin and, if proven so is tax-deductible, according to GoBankingRates.com.
Q: This question isn't really consumer related, but it runs right up your alley. My husband says I'm germophobic. He respects your advice, so if you side with me, he might be more accepting of my problem. - Paranoid
A: Dear Ms. Paranoid: Thanks for the kudos from your husband. The subject is right up my alley. After all, germs produce illness, which affect all kinds of consumer issues. So let's discuss these nasties - found in kitchens, offices, on floors and phones - and how to send them packing.
- The kitchen. Experts agree the kitchen can be nastier than the bathroom. Take countertops: After meal prep (especially after handling meats and poultry), counters need a good scrubbing with a cleanser formulated for your countertop material. Pay attention to corners and crevices around appliances and fixtures where gunk builds up. Knobs and pulls are spots our dirty hands touch over and over again. Use disinfectant wipes first. Then, with fine metals like silver and brass, clean with specialty products. The kitchen sink is pretty gross, too, and ties with the bathroom sink as the "No. 1 Nasty." They're often dirtier than the toilet seat!
- The bathroom. Continual hand washing, dirty dishes and so forth cause armies of germs to inhabit sinks. Add tooth brushing to the bathroom sink and - if you don't have a closed space for your toilet - every time you flush, a deluge of minuscule droplets sails through the air and lands in the sink, on toothbrushes and drinking cups. Disinfectant daily.
- The computer. Some of us munch over the keyboard and drop food particles into its crevices. If we don't clean the mess up immediately, it can result in stuck keys or, worse, ants and other critters. Buy canned air for a quick cleanup or, if time elapses, unplug the appliance, run a lightly dampened lint-free microfiber cloth over the keys and into the grooves to remove the yukky buildup.
- Cellphones. Whether kept in a pocket along with your used handkerchief or inside that purse you haven't cleaned all season, mobile phones are truly breeding grounds for bacteria. A friend recently informed me about PhoneSoap 2.0, which I subsequently discovered in Family Circle magazine. This innovative product is a submergible UV light that sanitizes the phone while charging it. Many websites sell PhoneSoap for varying prices, including $60 at PhoneSoap.com. I shop for bargains so, therefore, was delighted to find one on eBay, missing only its box, for $28!
- Light switches. Think of all the fingers that flip lights and other switches on and off in a 24-hour period. It's simply not enough that we keep our hands clean after we touch germy surfaces throughout our day. At the very least, sanitize the switch plates weekly, using hot water, dish soap and a microfiber cloth that's thoroughly squeezed. (You don't want to electrocute yourself.)
- The floor. As far as floors are concerned, where the soles of our shoes touch make for the most nauseating surface in the entire home. Think of all the revolting stuff we step on outside then track in. Some people ask for shoe removal before entering the house, while others prefer cleanable floor coverings. For example, according to Family Circle, FLOR carpet tiles (flor.com) can be washed and replaced. In fact, even if some of the tiles are damaged enough to warrant disposal, damaged ones can be exchanged for a fresh or even a new look. Hypoallergenic and nontoxic, they also meet and exceed standards for low VOCs.
Contact Ellen Phillips at consumerwatch@timesfreepress.com.