One of the easiest things you can do to create a healthy kitchen is to make use of the range hood vent. Ventilation can help remove air pollution from gas burners, fat particles from frying food and, of course, strong odors from whatever you’re cooking. To make the best use of your kitchen vents, try to cook on the back burners of your cooktop. This is where your vents are at their maximum performance. Don’t turn off the vents too early; keep them on until the pans you’re cooking with are cool to the touch.

Hand-washing clothing may seem like a time-consuming chore, but for some types of clothing, it’s necessary. Many garments today use rayon fiber to give them stretch. And when rayon becomes wet, it weakens and can lose up to 50 percent of its elasticity. When a rayon garment is put through a washing machine, it can overstretch and essentially destroy the item. By hand-washing it, you help prevent that type of destruction.

One way to extend the life of your toothbrush and keep it sanitized is to use simple table salt. The ubiquitous mineral has hundreds of uses beyond flavoring food. All you need to do is fill a glass with hot tap water and add about 2 tablespoons of table salt. Swirl the glass so the salt dissolves, and insert the head of the toothbrush into the cup. Let it soak for an hour, then rinse. You can also sanitize other hygiene items, including tongue scrapers, dental picks and even hair combs.