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

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?

Before I get into my topic, I want to thank the folks who read my blog about the “shower/toilet brush incident” and expressed their concerns by sending 57 toilet brushes, 92 bottles of shower gel, and 131 shower brushes.  Kidding! Instead, I got a bunch of bad puns and some razzing from my co-workers.   I did get a bottle of shower gel and a new shower brush from a concerned co-worker which will come in handy when our bathroom renovation is completed.

We are giving our 70’s bathroom a facelift.  Normally, my husband and I are “do-it-yourselfers.”  Over the years we have done quite a few renovation projects.  Because we are already working on a kitchen project for my husband’s mother, we decided to contract out the work this time for our bathroom.

When considering doing-it-yourself home improvements versus contracting out there is a lot to think about.  The labor portion of any project is the most costly aspect. By doing home renovations yourself, you can potentially save a lot of money, but don’t forget to figure in the cost of tools and other supplies you may need to purchase.  If you make mistakes during the project, they are on you to fix and it may cost you more than you planned.

The outcome of a project depends a lot on the amount of skill that went into the work.  If you don’t have the correct skills or tools, you may end up with work that is less than satisfactory.  My tip for building your renovation skills: find people with professional-level skills (friends of friends willing to barter or work small projects for extra cash) who are willing to let you work along side them as they teach you.  You can use those skills in future projects.  

Working with a contractor may require a lot of schedule juggling, and nothing is more frustrating than taking time off from work only to have the scheduled contractor not show up.  The down side to doing the work yourself is that it may take you a lot longer to finish than a professional.

If, after considering all of these factors, you think it would be best to find a contractor, here are some helpful links that can guide you:

• FCIC Consumer Focus on Home Maintenance
• Home Sweet Home Improvement
• Home Improvements and Repair – Selecting a Contractor
• Consumeraction.gov Home Improvements and Repair
• HUD Home Improvements page

The contractor just finished the bathroom and while I am pleased with the result, my final word on the subject is that I think we will go back to doing-it-ourselves.   What can I say?  I have a sledge hammer and I like to use it!   So, how about you?  Are you a do-it-yourselfer?  How do you feel about home contractors?  Have you had good experiences or bad?

Did you know that the number one cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers may be lurking in your home? The culprit—elevated levels of radon—is estimated to be found in nearly one out of every 15 homes in the United States, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some 20,000 people will die this year due to breathing too much radon without even knowing it. Among smokers, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in nearly all soils. It can leak through cracks into your home, where it can get trapped and build up. You can't see radon, and you can't smell or taste it. Any home can have a radon problem—new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.

The EPA and the Surgeon General of the United States have recommended that all houses be tested for radon. I thought that my house had a radon tester, but while researching this post, I learned that it’s just a monitor—which sports the recommendation to test for radon every two years.

Luckily, many states offer free or discounted radon test kits; you can check your state’s program on EPA’s map. Radon test kits are also available by calling 1-800-SOS-RADON (1-800-767-7236), and from some local or state American Lung Associations and home improvement stores.

If you have elevated levels of radon in your home, professionals can help fix the problem, often for about the same cost as other common home repairs.

For more facts on radon, visit EPA's general information, its citizens' guide to radon, and its consumers' guide to radon reduction. Pueblo.gsa.gov also offers information on the deadly gas, and the National Institutes of Health and USA.gov offer useful links to more information on radon.

Recently, Gov Gab headquarters, aka the Federal Citizen Information Center, enjoyed a visit from investigative reporter Lisa Robinson from Baltimore's WBAL-TV. She was here to put together a story about one of our office's pet peeves: a consumer scam. We hate it when people try to rip you off and we do everything we can to keep you informed. So we like people, like Lisa, who are looking out for you, too.

One of Lisa's viewers told her about a scam that's been circulating the country. It involves the deed to your home.

Like thousands of people nationwide, this viewer received a letter that looks like this from an official sounding company. It might also come to you in email form. The letter says that the Federal Citizen Information Center recommends that you get a certified copy of the deed to your home. Not sure where to get it? Lucky you—the company will provide it for you for just fifty-nine to eighty-nine bucks, depending on the version of the letter you receive. Oh, and don't forget the $4.50 shipping fee. I guess they photocopy your deed on especially heavy paper or something.

The truth is, we don't endorse that company or their service. You can get a copy of your deed yourself from your county clerk or registrar. In most places it's free or no more than ten bucks.

If you get any offer like this by mail, phone or email that sounds fishy, trust your gut and check it out with us, with your state or local consumer office or attorney general, or with your local consumer or investigative reporter, like Lisa.

Have you gotten one of these letters? What other scams have been hitting your area (or your inbox) lately?

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about avoiding mortgage foreclosure. I know that topic resonated with a lot of folks. In addition to other worries, homeowners must now be more guarded than ever against foreclosure rescue scams. The fear of losing their homes can make even the savviest consumers susceptible.

The Federal Trade Commission and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency both provide general descriptions of the most common foreclosure rescue scams:

• Lease-back or repurchase scams happen when someone offers to pay your mortgage and rent your home back to you. This scheme often involves signing over your deed to a con artist.
• Refinance Fraud occurs when people pose as mortgage brokers and offer to refinance your loan so you can afford the payments. Con artists may trick you into signing over the ownership of your home by saying that you are signing documents for a new loan.
• Bankruptcy Schemes attempt to abuse the bankruptcy laws. The con artist may even file a bankruptcy case in your name, without your knowledge.

Here are some general tips to help you avoid these scams:

• Read and understand everything you sign.
• Don’t sign blank or partially completed documents.
• Make payments directly to your lender or mortgage provider.
• Contact your lender directly to discuss payments and options.
• Never sign over the deed to your house without consulting a lawyer.
• Report suspicious activity to the FTC or your state consumer protection office.

For more information about housing, visit the USA.gov Homes and Housing Page. Do you have any other tips for avoiding foreclosure scams?