Oprah - Locks of Love - Dust Mites

This afternoon I was watching Oprah. The first part of the show was about six women who hadn't cut their hair in years. They each had their hair cut on-stage, and got a makeover afterwards. The hair was donated to Locks of Love, an organization that accepts donations of human hair and money, with the stated intention of making wigs for needy children who have lost their hair due to a medical condition. I could have gone on that show last year; my hair was longer than any one of those women. In fact, I distinctly remember my hair brushing against the backs of my knees in the shower. Hard to believe, right? But it's true; I went at least eight years without cutting my hair, and I've got pictures to prove it. (Some random guy once told me that I looked like Rapunzel). Eventually, though, I got tired of having such long hair. I had to braid it every night just so it wouldn't get tangled while I was sleeping! So about six months ago, I went to a salon and got a shoulder-length, layered cut. I love it. It's so much easier to brush, and it saves a lot of shampoo. : ) I only wish that I had thought to donate my hair to Locks of Love too.

The second part of Oprah was about "How clean is your house?". It was disgusting. I couldn't believe some of the things they said. Did you know that your kitchen sink has more germs and bacteria than your toilet??? I didn't. They said that to get your sink clean, you should use a germicide and a brush with chlorine and water. The worst part was when they showed the close-up of a dust mite. I'd post a picture of one, but it would probably gross you out. They live in your sheets, blankets, pillows, carpet... basically any type of fabric. The best way to get rid of them is to vacuum a lot, and to wash your bedding once a week. Oprah says she has her sheets washed every two days, but that's just not practical for normal people like me and you. After watching the show, I changed my sheets, and my pillows are in the dryer right now.

Here's the link to the article on Oprah's website. It has more cleaning tips... http://www2.oprah.com/foodhome/home/repair/home_20040413_clean.jhtml