Entry bubble Allergy Proof your Home

By: Colleen | August 26, 2009 | Category: Health

My sister always jokes that the clearest memories she has of her childhood are not being able to breathe. allergy

Unfortunately inheriting a heap of allergies from my Dad, the poor girl spent years with a chronic case of stuffy-nose. My parents sent her to the allergist, but anything short of having her live in a bubble didn't really help. Luckily, as time wore on, she outgrew the worst of them, but still deals with her allergies today.

For allergy sufferers like my sister, fall is often the worst time of year. Here are some suggestions to keep your home as allergy free as possible.

  • Clear your home of clutter. Stacks of "stuff" are ideal homes for dust mites, bugs, mold, and mice.
  • Vacuum weekly. Dust mites and pet dander are most often in rugs and carpets.
  • Wash your bedding in 130 degree water weekly.
  • Banish bathroom mold by spraying walls with chlorine-bleach solution (1 once of bleach to 1 quart H2O).
  • Keep mold out of the house by keeping shoes clean of wet leaves.
  • Store damp firewood in a separate dry place.
  • Empty your garbage often.
  • Shut windows between 10am and 3pm when pollen counts are at their peak.
  • Change AC and heater filters monthly.
  • Wash your dirty dishes right after eating.
  • Don't leave pet food or water out overnight.
  • Keep dogs and cats out of the bedroom and off furniture.
  • Wash and brush your pets outside to cut down on pet dander.
  • Dust weekly.
  • Fix plumbing leaks and drips.
  • Keep home temperature below 70 degrees - creepy crawlies dislike colder temperatures.

What secrets or suggestions do you have for keeping an allergy-free home? Do certain techniques tend to work better than others?

 

 

| View Comments [6] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: allergies   allergy   clean   colleen   fall   home  

 

Entry bubble Green Spring Cleaning

By: Sommer | March 21, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

cleaning solution, orange rubber gloves, sponges, and scrub brushYesterday was the first day of spring so it’s time for annual spring cleaning again. But, how many of you, like me, dread the process because of the smell of traditional household cleaning products? Fake pine, lemon and orange just don’t make me think “clean” they make me think “hard to breathe” and “headache.” And the residue some cleaners leave behind is just gross!

I’ve recently tried to learn about less toxic products I can use to clean the house. Luckily, my research turned up tons of ways to clean without using toxic chemicals and store-bought cleaners.

Some basic staples to keep on hand for green cleaning include:

  • Vinegar: My favorite product to use around the house, plain white vinegar, works as a fabulous all purpose cleaner and it doesn’t leave behind toxic smells or residue. I mix equal parts water and vinegar and keep it in a spray bottle. A couple squirts and a clean rag go a long way to sprucing up the house. Vinegar with a sheet of newspaper works great for cleaning windows and mirrors while a spray of the water and vinegar mixture on the bathroom sink in the morning freshens it up for the rest of the day.
  • Baking soda works great as a mildly abrasive scouring powder. Used on a damp sponge it can even get a kool-aid stain off the kitchen counter! This natural deodorizer can also work wonders in a refrigerator, pantry or clothes closet to keep the air fresh. Hey, any product that can keep kitty litter smelling fresh is a miracle-worker in my book.
  • Lemons and lemon juice are nature’s bleach and disinfectant. I love to use lemons to freshen my garbage disposal. Sprinkling some salt on a lemon you've cut in half makes a great disinfectant and deodorizer for a cutting board.

When making your own cleaners use caution. Make sure you read all labels closely and follow recommendations. Never mix products that turn toxic when combined including bleach with ammonia or vinegar.

Here’s to a clean, green house this spring!

| View Comments [6] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: bakingsoda   chemical   clean   green   lemon   organic   sommer   spring   toxic   vinegar