Baby Boomers Fail White Glove Test

Dust to dust: What would your mother think? Eighty-one percent of baby boomer women say their homes aren’t as clean as their mothers’ were. Of course, it may have something to do with the fact that American householders spend an average of 10 fewer hours weekly doing housework than people did two decades ago, says a poll done for Space-Gard High-Efficiency Air Cleaners by the Survey Research Center at the University of Maryland.

Help with record-keeping: If you hire household help, make sure you don’t break any tax laws. If you pay a housekeeper or maid at least $1,000 a year, you’re required to pay Social Security and other taxes on that person, says Blaine McCleary, owner of the Montgomeryville, Pa.-based cleaning service, THE MAIDS. Most maid service companies withhold taxes for their employees, but check to make sure.

A peek at the pipes: Worried about what’s going on behind closed walls? Pennsylvania State University engineers have developed a new inspection device that uses sound waves to detect and measure corrosion and wall thinning in virtually any insulated or non-insulated pipe.

Fall-safe: If you’re 65 and older, precautions against falls begin at home. That’s where 60 percent of seniors’ falls occur, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons says. Some simple precautions: When walking, wear glasses if needed. Clean up spilled liquids immediately. And always wear properly fitting, non-skid footwear in the house.