Avoid These 7 Dangerous Spring Cleaning Mistakes

PLUS: The easiest way to make crème brûlée at home, my 6 favorite audiobook narrators, and more. PLUS: The easiest way to make crème brûlée at home, my 6 favorite audiobook narrators, and more. March 26, 2022 [View Online]( Good morning! Cleaning isn’t exactly the sort of thing most people would classify as “dangerous,” but it certainly can be. There are plenty of dangers and hazards you can encounter during the course of spring cleaning, but the 7 tips in Today’s Good Thing will help you identify and avoid them. Also in today’s newsletter, I’m sharing one of my very favorite dessert recipes with you: crème brûlée. It’s the perfect thing to serve when you want to impress, but don’t want to spend a lot of time or effort in the kitchen. Jillee TODAY'S GOOD THING Avoid These 7 Dangerous Spring Cleaning Mistakes [Photos of Jillee cleaning shelves and stairs.]( As you clean and organize your home, take care to avoid these potentially dangerous situations. 1. Heavy Lifting. Lifting heavy furniture is a common cause of back injuries, so take care when moving or lifting anything heavy! Before lifting anything, do some stretching beforehand. And don’t forget to do two things—lift from your knees and ask for help! Many hands make light work. 2. Climbing Ladders. If cleaning your windows or gutters is on your spring cleaning to-do list, be extra cautious around ladders. Falls are another common cleaning-related accident, and one that can have dire consequences. Whether you’re getting on the roof or on top of a step ladder, have someone there to spot you. 3. Skipping Protective Gear. A good pair of cleaning gloves will help protect your hands from caustic chemicals, abrasive cleansers, and hot water alike. And depending on what you’re cleaning and what you’re cleaning it with, a mask and goggles may not go amiss either. 4. Running A Dirty Humidifier. If you use a humidifier to keep the air moist, don’t forget to clean it thoroughly. Grimy humidifier tanks can be an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, and even mold, which can then become airborne if the humidifier pushes them into the air. [Learn how to clean out a humidifier here](. 5. Mixing Cleaners. Mixing cleaners is never a good idea. Some mixtures can create toxic fumes and cause headaches, eye and throat irritation, or worse. It can even happen from using one cleaner after another on a surface, so if you aren’t satisfied with one, wipe the surface with soapy water before trying another. [2 More Dangerous Spring Cleaning Mistakes ➜]( Related • ["Why Didn't I Think Of That?" - Spring Cleaning Edition]( • [9 Easily Overlooked Cleaning Projects You Should Do This Spring]( ⚡️QUICK TIPS⚡️ • From using them as cloth napkins to wrapping ice packs, there are plenty of ways that bandanas can come in handy. [Read more ➜]( • Have baked-on drips or splatters in the base of your slow cooker? Here’s an easy way to get rid of them. [Read more ➜]( • Toothaches are the worst, but these 7 simple remedies can help soothe the pain and discomfort until your appointment. [Read more ➜]( COOKING Incredible Instant Pot Crème Brûlée [A photo of individual ramekins of Instant Pot crème brûlée.]( The Instant Pot makes it easier than ever to make restaurant-worthy crème brûlée at home. Creamy vanilla custard with a crust of caramelized sugar, the appeal of crème brûlée needs no explanation. For my son Kell, who has celiac disease, it's one of the rare dessert options at restaurants that is always dependably gluten free and never disappoints. Now that I know how easy it is to make in my Instant Pot, we can (and do) eat it often, and I’m sure you’ll love it as much as we do. Here’s how to make it: Add 6 egg yolks and 5 tablespoons of sugar to a mixing bowl and whisk until the sugar dissolves. Then add 2 cups of heavy cream and 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract and whisk again to incorporate. Pour the egg and cream mixture into 6 ramekins and cover each one tightly with a small piece of tin foil. Add 1 cup of water and the metal trivet to the bottom of your Instant Pot, then carefully arrange the ramekins in two layers so that they're evenly spaced and sturdy. Put the lid on the pot, select "Pressure Cook," and set the timer for 9 minutes. When the timer goes off, leave the pot alone and allow the pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes, then turn the release valve to Venting to release any remaining pressure. Carefully remove the ramekins from the pot, discard the foil, and allow them to cool for 45 minutes. Cover each cooled ramekin in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. To serve, remove the plastic and sprinkle 1-2 teaspoons of sugar on top of each one, then lightly caramelize the sugar with a culinary torch and dig in. [See the full recipe ➜]( UNUSUAL USES 3 Surprising Things You Can Do With Simple Clean [Photos of using Simple Clean to remove a sticker, clean a counter, and make a cleaning spray.]( While it does smell very nice, this essential oil blend can do a lot more than just freshen the air. 1. Remove Sticker Residue. Apply a few drops of [Simple Clean]( to the sticky residue left behind after removing a label, sticker, or price tag. Let it soak in for a few minutes, then scrape away the loosened paper and residue. This works especially well on glass and ceramics. 2. Make An All-Purpose Cleaner. My favorite [DIY all-purpose cleaner]( features grease-cutting ingredients that make it perfect for wiping down counters and removing smudges and smears from surfaces. And thanks to a few drops of Simple Clean, it leaves behind a nice shine and a naturally clean scent. 3. Make Cleaning Wipes. While store-bought disinfecting wipes are certainly convenient, they can also be expensive and generate a lot of waste. But [these DIY wipes]( are easy to make, inexpensive, and can be reused again and again. Plus, a few drops of Simple Clean gives them a clean scent and an antibacterial boost. JILLEE'S PICK My Favorite Audiobook Narrators [Photos of Jillee listening to audiobooks.]( When you listen to as many audiobooks as I do, you learn fast that the narrator can make or break your experience of listening to a book. I thought I’d share 6 of my favorite narrators here—reply to this email and tell me which narrators you love to listen to! 1. [Julia Whelan](. She has narrated over 400 audiobooks, including titles by some of my favorite authors (Jojo Moyes, Kristin Hannah, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Emily Henry, etc.) Some of her most famous narration work includes smash hits like Gone Girl and Educated. 2. [Rosalyn Landor](. Landor is the grande dame of Regency romance narrators, having narrated the incredibly popular Bridgertons series by Julia Quinn, as well as the books in Mary Balogh’s Wescott, Bedwyn, and Survivors Club series. 3. [Simon Vance](. I've been on a classics kick lately and Vance has narrated plenty of them, including The Wind in the Willows, Oliver Twist, and Paradise Lost. At this point, his voice is a familiar and comforting presence, and knowing that he narrated a book I'm considering listening to is reason enough to hit “play!" 4. [Stephen Fry](. In addition to being a beloved British actor, Stephen Fry is a prolific narrator as well. My first experience with his narration was listening to the Sherlock Holmes collection, and I enjoyed it so much I promptly listened to his own fascinating books on Greek mythology: Mythos, Heroes, and Troy. 5. [Davina Porter](. Davina Porter’s name has become synonymous with the Outlander series for many fans—myself included! The books just wouldn't be the same without her refined and elegant voice bringing them to life. Apparently she’s done a number of classics as well, and I’m looking forward to listening to them. 6. [Jim Dale](. I couldn't finish this list without mentioning Jim Dale, who narrated 7 of my favorite books: the Harry Potter series. (He narrated the US versions of the books, while Stephen Fry narrated the UK versions.) He really brings the characters to life! REMEMBER WHEN Gaucho Pants [Vintage ads for gauchos from the 1970s.]( Gauchos rose like a meteor in the mid ‘70s, and thankfully vanished as quickly as they came. (I say ‘thankfully’ knowing full well that I had a pair or two of these pants in my own closet at one point, but nobody’s perfect.) As their name suggests, these pants were inspired by those worn by gauchos, the cowboys and ranchers of the South American lowlands. It’s not hard to understand why this baggy, wide-legged style became the trouser of choice for horse-riding gauchos. But we weren't about to let a little thing like not needing such wide-legged pants stop us from wearing them. Gaucho pants were the hottest when you paired them with a pair of Dingo boots, just to really drive home that free-range, western-inspired look. Our southwestern flair burned bright and hot during the 70’s, drenching the decade in a color palette of beige, orange, and brown. In an outfit of Dingo boots, corduroy gauchos, a neck scarf, and a suede jacket, you were as ready for a rodeo as a night on the town! Did you wear gaucho pants back in the day? Reply to this email and tell me all about your memories of these extra wide pants! A FEW MORE THINGS... Purple Day: It's [Purple Day](, also called Epilepsy Awareness Day, created by a young girl named Cassidy Megan in 2009 to raise awareness about epilepsy and dispel harmful myths about this neurological disease, which is estimated to affect 1 in 100 people. While Canada is the only country who officially recognizes Purple Day, epilepsy groups around the world also honor of the occasion. Happy Birthday To You: If you’re celebrating a birthday today, all of us on the OGT Team wish you a great one, and ask that you please eat an extra piece of cake for us! You share a birthday with some very talented people, including Leonard Nemoy (1931), James Caan (1940), Diana Ross (1944), Steven Tyler (1948), Martin Short (1950), and Kiera Knightly (1985). 🤔 Wordle: [Solve today's 5-letter word](. What did you think of today's email? [Not good]( | [Just okay]( | [Loved it!]( 🏠[Visit the By Jillee Shop]( 🤗 [Join OGT Free]( Let's connect! [facebook]( [instagram]( [pinterest]( [youtube]( If you have thoughts, comments, questions or a tip or trick you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you! My inbox is always open, so just hit "reply" and let me know what's on your mind. See you tomorrow! Sending you bright ideas and simple solutions to help you create a home and life you love. My mailing address is: One Good Thing by Jillee 841 S. Main St. Heber City, UT 84032 If you're not happy please reply to this email to tell me why. Update your email preferences or [unsubscribe]( [here](. View our privacy policy [here](.