Momathon Blog

Geeky Mom: iPhone App Helps You Find Clean Public Bathrooms

Now here's an iPhone app moms will love. You might not like the name, but you'll love how SitOrSquat.com will help you find the cleanest public bathroom anywhere in the world. This free mobile app for iPhones and BlackBerry's is courtesy of Charmin. The app uses GPS to guide you to the nearest clean public bathroom.

You can also recommend clean public bathrooms you think should be included on the list too. If you don't have an iPhone, you can still visit SitOrSquat.com online and find a clean restroom. 

I really could have used this service when I visited London and other large cities with little kids in tow. Besides all the lovely museums, we also got to know the best McDonald's and Starbucks to visit for potty privileges. 

I never thought I would say this, "I love you, Charmin."

Easter Egg-Decorating Kits

My kids love to decorate eggs and our success depends on the quality of the decorating kit we buy. That's why I was so glad when I found a great article by Beth Dicarbo in WSJ.com. She tested four egg-decorating kits including

Dudley's Speckled Eggs by Paper Magic Group Inc.
Price: $2.49; 
Store:  Kmart and other major retailers

Bright & Shiny Eggs by Easter Unlimited
Price:  $3.99; 
Store:  Michaels

Egg Scribblers by Paas
Price:  $2.99; 
Store:  Hobby Lobby

Mark-it Easter Pack by BIC
Price:  $3.99; 
Store:  Target

Beth's comments on each kit she tested include comments on ease of use and if they are fun for kids to use. This year I am opting for a no-stress and no-mess option so I think I will buy the Mark-it Easter Pack by BIC. 

Hidden Knife in the Yard: Update on the Dangers of Metal Lawn Edging

Spring is here and many of us are planting flowers and fixing up our lawns. One home improvement project that is well worth the money is replacing dangerous metal lawn edging that can seriously cut children or pets playing in your yard. As you might remember, about a year ago my dog was seriously injured on a walk when she sliced the tendons on her right front leg on metal lawn edging in a neighbor's yard.

It's been 11 months since I first wrote about the dangers of metal lawn edging in my blog. Since my last post on this topic my dog has had a second surgery to repair the damage from the sharp metal edging in a neighbor's yard that severed her tendons above her front right foot. 

Now I notice the the hidden knife in grassy areas everywhere: in the park, family yards, and school playgrounds. That's why I tell practically everyone I meet while I bike or walk about the hazards of this type of landscaping. To keep your yard and neighborhood safe, remove metal lawn edging or at least apply the protective plastic covers on the edging.

Metal lawn edging was once the only option for edging. Fortunately now we have many safer alternatives because the metal edging poses a great risk to children (and adults) and pets. If you doubt the how quickly the edging can slice open a hand (or paw), a leg, or a knee consider what happened to my dog. It took only a second. She was on leash and had ventured less than 2 feet from the sidewalk. We were enjoying a long walk when my dog sliced open her lower leg to the bone on exposed metal lawn edging. The cut happened in an instant and it was so deep the all tendons in her lower leg were severed. The metal lawn/garden edging in that yard stands at least 4 inches tall out of the ground--a hidden knife in a lawn. My dog is too big for me to carry and I knew I had to get her to the vet quickly. Leg and foot injuries can have a great deal of bleeding and finding a way to stop the bleeding wasn't easy. She was bleeding profusely so I took off my coat and my gloves trying to find anything that would work as a bandage to stop the bleeding. I was near panic because practically everything I wore was nylon and the bleeding wouldn't stop. I was ready to rip off my cotton shirt, but fortunately neighbors driving by stopped to help us and one kind soul gave me a blanket to wrap her leg and stop the bleeding. One sweet girl sat beside my pup and calmed her down while I applied pressure to stop the bleeding. Thanks to the help of many kind dog lovers nearby, within less than 15 minutes my husband arrived and we took her to the vet for emergency surgery.  

I am writing about my dog's injuries because I am hoping by getting the word out we can prevent this from happening to other dogs and children. I am grateful my dog is alive. I am grateful my daughter or another child didn't fall on that edging. My dog has had two major surgeries to repair the damage to her leg. Her leg was so weak and vulnerable she had a second surgery to fuse the joint above her foot. She has a slight limp when she tries to run.

To find out more about safer lawn edging alternatives, please read my earlier blog post on the topic. Two landscaping options out of the many safer alternatives you might want consider are

Guard-N-Edge (protective cover for metal landscape edging) and A Better Edge.

Finding Instant Karma

A few years ago, a friend gave me a tiny book filled with suggestions for nurturing good karma. Despite it's compact size, this book includes a lifetime's worth of suggestions--8,879 ways to give yourself and others good fortune.

I keep the book by my desk and when life goes a little insane I open it on any page and read a few ideas. Sometimes the suggestions I read make me smile. And they always make me think.

From the book Instant Karma by Barbara Ann Kipfer, here are a few good karma suggestions that I like:

• Love your age.
• Hold hands in the movies
• Abolish yelling
• Share your umbrella
• Give confidence to others
• Complain less and listen more
• Keep a record of good things that happen
• Life is too important to take too seriously  

  

Come Twitter With Me

If you haven't joined Twitter yet, check it out. You might even want to create your own account. You can follow my tweets on Twitter.com/Momathon.

Julia Angwin recently wrote an insightful how-to article on Twittering at WSJ.com. Angwin, WSJ.com's senior technology editor, sums it up:

"Twitter is a mass text-messaging service that allows you to send short 140-character updates -- or "tweets" -- to a bunch of people at once. They are your "followers." It was designed to be read on a cellphone, though many people read it online, too... On Twitter, however, you do not exist without followers, who subscribe to receive your messages."

Why Twitter? I like Twitter because it allows me to tap into an amazing community of people from around the world.

Twittering can be addictive. Networking with your followers and updating your Twitter page is time consuming. Beware: Spending too much time in Twittersphere means your "real" relationships could suffer.

Will Twitter create the next wave of break ups? Today geeksugar reports that Twitter may be to blame for splitting up celebrity couple Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer. According to a post on geeksugar: 

"Mayer told Aniston that he was too busy to get in touch with her, yet he always managed to have the time to update his Twitter page. Eventually, Aniston got fed up with John putting his Tweeting priorities ahead of his relationship so she decided to call it quits."

The bottom line: Have fun on Twitter, but if you can't remember when you last talked face-to-face with your family, then it is time to take a Twitter break. A very long break from Twittersphere.

Geeky Mom: TuneJuice Battery Charger for iPhone (and iPod)

TuneJuice battery backup for both the iPhone and iPod, allows you to recharge your device anywhere--as long as you have 4 AAA batteries. ($30)

Do you need this gadget? If you travel and worry that you might run out of juice during an important call, then all you have to do is plug in the TuneJuice and your iPhone keeps running. For me, the greatest benefit would be charging the iPhone when you are not near a power outlet such as when hiking or camping.

Of course, the big question is how many gadget accessories are you willing to lug around?There are plenty of recharger options out there such as the multi-tasking solar-powered, charging capable cases for the iPhone. Solar Arcadia offers a solar-powered case so you don't have to depend on AAA batteries, but then you do need the sun ($46). The best bet is to pick a charger that fits your situation. 

According to iLounge the TuneJuice will power an iPhone for approximately one of the following activities: 

• 2 hours of talk time
• 1.5 hours of internet use
• fuels an iPod nano 3G for 24 hours of music

1 in 3 Teens in Abusive Relationship

Love doesn't have to hurt. Violence in a relationship is unacceptable. Unfortunately teen dating abuse is a growing problem--whether the abuse is physical, emotional or mental. Sadly, teens (as well as adults) in abusive relationships cling to the false hope that the violence won't escalate and get worse.

To stop the trend of violence, parents need to talk to their teens about dating violence and let them know that abuse of any kind is not acceptable.

According to the Do Something.org

"One in three teens is in an abusive relationship. And most partners stay in the relationship after the first act of violence."

The "alleged" beating of pop star Rihanna by Chris Brown, inspired a new PSA about the dangers of dating violence. The PSA featuring actors re-enacting the singers confrontation was pieced together using statements made in the LAPD's affadavit of the Feb. 8th incident when Brown reportedly punched, bit and choked Rihanna. 
To see the PSA created by DoSomething.org, just go to this link at  YouTube.

"Brown, 19, faces felony charges of assault and making criminal threats that stemmed from a confrontation in early February after Rihanna found a text message on his cell phone, according to a sworn police statement," reports Kansas.com.

Even after seeing the photo Rhianna's bruised and bloodied face, many teen girls commenting on the internent minimized Brown's alleged behavior and forgave the abuser. Some even blamed Rihanna for causing the fight.

Why would a teen or anyone accept violence in a relationship? "This whole idea that control and jealousy equals love is very dangerous," said Susan Cayouette, co-director of Emerge, a batterer's counseling service in Boston according to The Boston Globe.

Will anger management classes prevent future domestic abuse? The news isn't good. "Anger management teaches behavioral techniques," says Cayouette in the Boston Globe, such as counting to 10. "It was never designed for intimate partner violence, which is more layered and complex." However, more intensive therapy such as certified abuse intervention programs could offer help.

For more information about intervention and counseling about dating danger among teens check out the resources included in the NYTimes.com

The National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline

Day One: a legal representation and advice organization for young people in New York City.

A campaign with videos and "callout cards" to help teenagers fend off digital harrassment.

"Love Doesn't Have To Hurt Teens," from the American Psychological Association.

From Liz Claiborne Inc., which sponsored research on adolescent dating relationships.

Resources to Help Families and Teens Prevent or Stop Abuse

Get Organized and Get 25% Off at Container Store

Thanks to Oprah.com you can get an extra 25% off all their products in stores and online. Get your Container Store coupon at this link.

Here are the promo details:

• Promotion ends at 11:59 p.m. CST Monday, April 13, 2009. 
• Printed offer must be present at checkout for in-store purchases. 
• One printed offer per visit. 
• For phone orders, customers must present the bar code number on the printable offer to the phone representative. 
• Offer is not valid on delivery or installation.
• This offer cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with any other store or online discount, coupon or gift card.  
• This offer cannot be combined with any free shipping offer. 
• It is nontransferrable and is not valid toward previously purchased items.    
• For more information go to Oprah.com

Hope They Sell Swim Diapers at World's Largest Swimming Pool

Sara Haines on Twitter alerted me to this super-sized pool at the San Alfonso del Mar resort at Algarrobo, Chile. The gigantic manmade lagoon was recently featured in the Offbeat Traveler section of the LA Times.

Sounds too cool, but as a mom and former lifeguard, I can't help but wonder just how they handle those "Tootsie Roll" in the pool episodes?

In case you were wondering, according to the LA Times: "The coast-hugging pool is all man-made with a bit of patented technology that uses water from the nearby Pacific Ocean to fill it."

Definitely a vacant stare moment. To quote Liz Lemmon of 30 Rock, "I want to go to there."

Whoopie Cakes Make a Comeback

Cupcake fans cover your eyes. The most delicious photo of the beloved Whoopie Cake is featured in the NY Times Dining & Wine section.

As a kid I loved this gooey cake-like sandwich with a rich buttercream filling. Forget about watching the calories, this dessert is simply addictive. Call it a cake, cookie or pie--the Whoopie is dee-lish!

Yesterday I wrote a post about the lovely cupcake with the pretty frosting swirl. Cupcakes are elegant and pretty. Because I never had a Whoopie Pie as beautiful as the one pictured in the NYT, I always thought of the Whoopie Pie as a bit messy. A treat best enjoyed in the backyard and not at a wedding reception.

If you can't find a bakery near year--or you are having a Martha Stewart moment--check out the Whoopie Pies recipe at the NYT adapted from Zingerman's Bakehouse, Ann Arbor, Mich.

How Cupcakes Define Us

When asked to choose between cake and a cupcake, for me the little cupcake always wins. Why? For starters they are just too cute--especially with candy sprinkles on top or tempting frosting swirls as tall as the cake itself. Plus, they are portable and better yet they even fit nicely in your purse. (Just don't forget the cupcake box.) I know this last reason must be false, but I still believe just one cupcake will never ruin a diet. With a flavor for every mood, who can resist?

Now I have to have just one vanilla with cinnamon sprinkles buttery treat. How did I ever get started on this?

Check out the cupcake journalism including a video post by Corby Kummer about the "cloyingly cute cupcake shops" at The Atlantic Podcasts and the delicious post on Jezebel.

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day and Go Green

 

With all the green mania today, why not join the sassier shade of green folks at Ideal Bite and get their eco-living tips for "light green" consumers, delivered daily via email, Twitter. and Facebook. Tip archive available on their blog. As their name implies, Ideal Bite offers bite-sized ideas for light green living. Tips cover everything from biodynamic wine to organic cosmetics, to seasonal recipes from local chefs.

Recently they added an Ideal Bite for Mamas to:

"Give you the scoop on everything from junk in the trunk (we're talkin' chems in disposable diapers that aren't great for babies, baby daddies, or Mama Earth), to safe alternatives to conventional plastic toys. Ideal Bite delivers easy eco-mommy tips via a short, sassy email each weekday."

Here's a recent tip from Mama at Ideal Bite:

"St. Pat's Day have you coveting green-colored foods?

The Bite

Eat your heart out, just make sure you use organic and plant-based food coloring in your holiday recipes. You'll keep artificial ingredients off your kid's plate without begrudging them a clover-hued cookie." 

(Images from Ideal Bite)

New Duke University Study Helps Treat Peanut Allergy

I can't imagine how stressful it must be to have a child with peanut allergies. Peanut products are everywhere including in thousands of processed foods. Eating even a tiny piece of peanut could result in a fatal reaction for some children with peanut allergies. According to USNnews.com

"Of the 150 deaths each year from food allergies, half are caused by peanuts, and most of those deaths happen in teenagers and young adults. That's why two new reports on an experimental treatment for peanut allergy are good news. They offer the possibility that some kids will be able to "outgrow" peanut allergy, as well as dangerous allergies to such foods as eggs, milk, tree nuts, and shellfish."

New research by Wesley Burks, the chief of the division of pediatric allergy and immunology at Duke University Medical Center, offers hope by using medically supervised daily dose of peanuts to help children with peanut allergies increase their tolerance to the food. According to NYTimes.com, "The new treatment uses doses of peanuts that start as small as one-thousandth of a peanut and eventually increase to about 15 peanuts a day."

Geeky Mom: Free Book Download by Jean Chatzky

I have XM in my car and I admit to scheduling my errands around listening to financial guru Jean Chatzky on Oprah.com on the car radio.

Today you can download her newest book for free (until 10:59 a.m., ET Saturday, March 14, 2009). The bestselling author and nationally syndicated columnist Jean Chatzky recently released her newest financial book, The Difference: How Anyone Can Prosper in Even the Toughest Times. Here's the link on Oprah.com: Download Your Free Copy of Jean Chatzky's Book The Difference

I just downloaded her book on my laptop. She's inspiring on the radio and she motivates me to do even more to become financially fluent in this new book

According to her book promo on Amazon.com:

"Trusted financial coach Jean Chatzky shares the secrets her groundbreaking research of the self-made wealthy has uncovered so that anyone can break through the barriers that stand between them and true financial freedom. Find out why it’s important to:

• Get happy, but not too happy
• Do what you love, but don’t quit your day job
• Read every day 
• Remember that failure is not an option–it’s a necessity
• Harness your intuition to take risks that make sense 
• Practice the Kevin Bacon Principle–make connections
• Say thank you–and mean it
• Make your money work as hard as you do

Enjoy the book!

Digital Kid Syndrome: Are Your Kids Couch Potatoes?

I dream about a world--or maybe just a weekend--without a Wii, Xbox, or iPod. My kids would talk to me and other real people in real time. Their eyes would enjoy looking at real things like books, bicycles, broccoli, and basketball courts. Their arms and legs would move with real things like the vacuum cleaner!

Okay, it's just a dream. But what if you could convince your kids to step away from their digital worlds and go outside. Taking a class with their friends or with siblings is one way to develop new hobbies and talents that can last a lifetime. Imagine a teen who makes dinner. Or an 8-year-old who creates all your greeting cards. According to the clever editors at Oprah.com you have many wonderful choices including these ideas:

• Cooking classes (or teach them to cook at home with Recipes Your Kids Will Enjoy Making and Eating!)
• Music classes
• Photography class with mom or dad (check out these Photography Tips)
• Fitness class
• Sewing, knitting, or other craft classes
• Language class
• Dance class
• Magic lessons
• Volunteer (check out these tips on the Art of Giving Back)

In my personal experience, some affordable (and even free) classes that last a day or an afternoon can be great fun too. Group lessons are usually more affordable. Here are some to try:

• Horseback riding lessons (More affordable lessons might be offered to a group such as Girl Scouts, etc.)
• Writing or journaling classes (Some classes are offered for free at the library)
• Tennis lessons
• Golf Lessons 
• Scuba diving lessons
• Pottery or ceramics classes
• Mommy and kids craft classes at your library 
• Or create a co-op with your friends. Each mom (or dad) can sign up to teach a class in a hobby they enjoy

Have fun! I might sneak into one of the classes too!

Go Green: Is Your House an Energy Hog?

My windows leak. My door has a draft. And many more energy saps are just waiting to be discovered. I know I am due for an "energy audit." I've heard that most homes have the equivalent of a large open window 24/7. That's energy literally going out the window.

Energy auditors can detect where houses are losing energy. These guys come armed with high-tech tools such as a thermographic camera that detects heat loss. The camera can detect if heat is going through your insulation because the insulation is not adequate.

Some leaks we might not feel are easy to find with the naked eye. Did you know spiders are your friends? Spiders like to build webs where there is a draft. Just look for the spider webs and you will find the leaks in your house.

Energy efficiency probably wasn't a major concern when most houses are built. Even newer houses have leaks. Air sealing is a great investment in keeping your house warm. 

For more information on how to improve your home's energy efficiency, check out this NYT video link featuring Tom Zeller Jr., the editor of the Green Inc. blog. In this video Zeller hires specialists from Green Treen Energy to track cown the spots in his house where energy is lost.

You Go Girl: Katie Couric Wins Walter Cronkite Award

I am a news junkie. Even as a child it bugged me that women were not more prominent in the news. When Couric became the first solo woman anchor in the history of network evening news, some wondered who let the girl into the boys' club? She hasn't always been popular in that post, but something about her style makes her the top news anchor in my opinion. 

Katie Couric, Emmy-winning journalist, cancer-awareness advocate and devoted mom, doesn't just read the CBS evening news, she talks to me. She's a modern Everywoman. She asks the tough questions about world events and politics as well as those real world questions many of us want to ask such as when she asked Starbucks C.E.O. Howard Schultz about their the quirky coffee cup sizes: "Why do you have to do that? Why can't you do 'small," medium,' 'large," like normal people?"

When Vanity Fair asked Katie Couric to describe what is her idea of perfect happiness she said, "At the kitchen table, laughing with my daughters."

The CBS Evening News anchor was honored by Reliable Resources for her "extraordinary, persistent, and detailed multi-part interviews with Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin," according to CBS News. The Cronkite Awards are presented biannually by the USC Annenberg School of Communication.

Textbooks in the Fridge

Life with kids means lots of things will go missing. At my house, we usually blame the dog or my son. He resents this because his sister is younger and in his opinion she's the less responsible one. This line of argument at my house could go on and on.

Moms everywhere face the similar challenges just getting the lunches packed and the kids on the bus for school. Lost a lunchbox for the hundredth time? That's why we have paper bags. Can't find your homework? If you did it once, you can do it again. (Probably with more help from Mom or Dad.)

It's easy to feel inadequate when clutter overtakes the house and the pace of your busy life grows faster and faster. That's why I love blogs and podcasts that tell the real stories behind the mommy juggle by mommies everywhere. ABC news correspondent and mother of three boys JuJu Chang has a clever blog Juju Juggles and her new video segments on The Fix.

What happens when a BlackBerry goes missing at JuJu's house? Check out this video clip from the The Fix.

Look Up Recipes on Your iPhone?

Seems like we need to have our cell phones with us 24/7 because this gadget has become so important to surviving our hectic lifestyle. Hopefully we all know to set down the cell while driving because it can create dangerous distractions. And I also know from experience that cooking in the kitchen with my cell plastered to my ear can create some ugly food disasters. However, I do love the new iPhone recipe app that could supply me with a recipe while I'm wandering through the grocery aisles without a clue about what to make for dinner.

When I'm stumped for a recipe I usually call mom or my best bud Kathy. I admit sometimes I need help at the worst times and often when my cooking support network is not available. A mobile cookbook sounds very tempting. Thanks to Betty Crocker, now we can turn to a cooking expert anytime, anywhere, with the new free iPhone application. The Betty Crocker Mobile Cookbook puts more than 4,000 recipes on your phone. (This app also works with the iPod Touch and doesn't require wireless connection.)

A sampling of the mobile cookbook features:

• Recipe search
• Ingredient search
• Recipe Detail with Photos
• Favorites

Check this link to find out more about the Betty Crocker Mobile Cookbook.

Snow on the Yucca Plant

In the summer our yucca plants have beautiful bell-like flowers with blooms of greenish white to creamy white.

In the winter the plant stays green. A beautiful sight against the pristine winter snow.

The hundreds of spiky leaves are sharp. And unfortunately a huge temptation to sniff by my pup. She is growing smarter and avoided sniffing today.

Go Green: Free Stylish Online Invites @ pingg

Martha Stewart recently joined pingg, the free online invite service. And why not? She fits in perfectly with the stylish and functional online invitation and event company. 

pingg (the company likes the lowercase p) also launched a new content section that features party-planning tips and entertaining ideas from Martha.

pingg is perfect for birthdays, showers, backyard bbqs and more. Very eco-chic.

Swimsuit Models on Planes...Literally

I like swimsuits. I'm not phobic about trying one on. I know I am "older" so a bikini probably isn't a good option. And because I used to be a lifeguard, I don't pick a red tank anymore.

However, swimsuits--even on super models--in my highly opinionated opinion belong at the beach or the pool. I was not impressed when I saw the story about Southwest Airlines teaming up with Sports Illustrated to paint one of their Boeing 737s with the image of uber swimsuit model Bar Rafaeli in a white binkini. I wouldn't go as far as to equate the plane's swimsuit edition to "soft porn" as some shocked passengers did according to Gadling.com. 

Sure, it would be funny to see this "swimsuit edition" plane, but funny is not what I am looking for in a plane.

Does This Salad Make My Butt Look Big?

Going out to eat? Eating a big salad packed with fresh veggies sounds like a good idea. That is until you stop and consider that your salad could also include fat riddled toppings and excess sodium.

Imagine a green salad with as much fat and sodium as a big plate of cheese fries. According to a segment on the TODAY Show with Men's Health editor David Zinczenko and Matt Lauer many popular salads are over the 1,000 calorie mark. 

I hear you. You thought you were making a good choice by eating a salad instead of the cheese burger and fries. How could a nice green salad be so bad? Consider the T.G.I. Friday's Pecan Crusted Chicken Salad that has 1,300 calories making it as caloric as eating an entire Domino's thin crust Hawaiian pizza plus an extra pizza slice. Yikes! To find out more caloric salads--including one that is the fat equivalent to eating 10 scoops of  ice cream--check out the TODAY Show video below.

The good news is you can still eat a healthy salad at a restaurant, just do your homework before you order. Here are a few healthier salad options according to the  TODAY Show.

HEALTHY SALAD CHOICES

McDonald's Premium Asian Salad with Grilled Chicken

• 300 calories

• 10 grams fat (1 gram saturated)

• 890 mg sodium

Panera Classic Cafe Salad

• 400 calories

• 11 grams fat (1.5 g saturated)

• 270 mg sodium

Find out more tips to eating healthier salads at restaurants with Men's Health editor David Zinczenko and Matt Lauer on the TODAY Show video clip below.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

How Clean Is That Airplane? Don't Check the Seat-Back Pocket

United Airlines has long been a favorite of mine. My reasoning is anecdotal. My neighbor is a United pilot and I respect his skills as a pilot and his choice of an airline to work with. I have had relatively good luck on United flight schedules. Plus they have never left me sitting on the tarmac for hours while they fix the plane. The crew on United flights seem very nice compared to other airlines...like they really care about me.

Do they actually care what I think? Evidently they do. In a recent bid to attract more passengers, United now is on a mission to make their jets spick-and-span.

I am not exactly a neat freak. However I will never again look in seat-back pockets after finding something I think belonged in the bathroom in one pocket. And I remind my kids to never touch those grimy pockets also.

I don't easily get grossed out. But even I have my limits. A cleaner airplane seems almost like an impossible task, that is until a fastidious United manager Paul Sanders and clean guru for United Timothy Canavan made making their jets pristine their personal mission. 

Thanks to these guys and others at United we can feel a bit better about cleaner planes when we board a United flight. According to the Chicago Tribune:

Now, the intensive cleans are done every 30 days for the smaller United jets that fly within the U.S. and every 15 days for the wide-body aircraft that cross the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, enduring wear and tear during the long flights that can cause planes to become run-down more quickly.