Allergies

How To Reduce Pet Allergens In Your Home

by Jennifer | No Comments Thursday, March 22, 2012

Even if you are not allergic to pets, they can still cause problems, especially in the springtime when every other allergy culprit is making it’s way to you. These issues are caused by dander, the loose, flaky skin that animals shed. But your furry friend still needs loads of love, so here are some ways to reduce the pet allergens in your home to keep everyone happy and as sneeze-free this spring as possible!

1. Keep Them Out Of Bedrooms

As sweet as it is to snuggle with your pet, the dander can settle into your bedsheets and clothes, making it impossible to avoid any reactions. Give them their own bed in another room of the house.

2. Let Them Play Outside Often

Most pets don’t want to be couped up in the house all day and night, and who could blame them, you wouldn’t want to be confined either! So let them outside frequently when the weather permits, so they shed some of that dander outdoors.

3. Don’t let them crawl all over the furniture.

Upholstry is a magnet for dander and hair, so unless you are ok with vacuuming your furniture every day, it is usually best to not let them on the couch.

4. Keep Them Cleaned And Groomed

If you can afford it, get your pet professionally groomed every week or two. If you have time, do it on your own. If you have a cat that will not let you put him in water, there are powdered shampoos you can try. And having good tools really helps, such as a brush with wire bristles that will lift the dander, and one with regular bristles to grab everything and smooth the fur.

5. Vacuum and Dust Often

With a pet in the home, the floors and upholstry should be cleaned at least 2 times a week or more, depending on how many animals and people reside there. Maintaining your home will keep the allergens to a minimum.

How To Deep Clean Your Bedroom In 8 Steps

by Jennifer | No Comments Thursday, March 15, 2012

It can be easy to skip out on deep cleaning your bedroom. After all, it’s not a kitchen or bathroom, right? Ok, maybe it’s not as intensive as deep cleaning one of those, but you spend more time in it than any other room, so it deserves some TLC here and there. If you are cleaning your home on your own, we recommend doing this deep clean quarterly, then keeping it up with dusting and spot cleaning in between. For this deep cleaning, we recommend opening your windows a little to keep the air circulating, so there will be minimum resettling of dust.

1. Use An Extendable Duster To Clean The Ceiling

Before you do anything else, dust the ceiling fan, crown moulding, and remove any cobwebs with an extendable duster. This way, everything will fall onto surfaces and your bed before they are clean.

2. Clean Your Bed

Strip your sheets and bedskirt, and throw in the washer. If anything is dry-clean only, take it a day or two in advance so that it will be ready today, and use your backup linens/comforter in the meantime. Take a spray bottle with a mixture of 2 tablespoons of baking soda filled to the top with water and spray on your mattress and pillows until slightly damp. This will remove unsightly odors and freshen up everything. You can add a little scent to the baking soda mix if you like, but if you are sensitive, just leave it as is. Make your bed at the very end of your deep clean, making sure the mattress and pillows are completely dry.

3. Clean Blinds, Windows, and Sills

Carefully dust your blinds and window sills with a microfiber rag, to minimize tossing dust up in the air. With a clean rag and a spray bottle with 2 tablespoons vinegar, a few drops of essential oil of your choice (optional) filled to the top with water, remove any spots from your blinds, windows, and sills.

4.  Doors, Door Frames and Switchplates

With the Vinegar solution, go around and clean all door frames, doors, door handles, and switchplates. These are commonly touched areas that can harbor viruses and bacteria. Vinegar is naturally anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal, so it will not only make those areas look sparkling, but will sanitize them as well.

5. Dust Wall Decor

With a microfiber rag, dust every item on your wall carefully. If possible, gently pull the decor away from the wall and dust behind it.

6. Dust Furniture

A good trick is to take every item off of your dresser and tables first. This way, when you put everything back, you are less likely to put everything back as clutter, and find a new home for everything you don’t need sitting out. Go around with a microfiber cloth and dust every piece of furniture, including the sides and any detail work. Don’t forget the headboard and footboard! As you put all decor and necessities back on your furniture, dust each item as well.

7. Wash Your Basebaords

Using the vinegar mixture and a rag, wash all basebaords. Move furniture away from the wall if possible.

8. Vacuum/Sweep And Mop Floors

If you have carpet, use the hose attachment of your vacuum to go around all edges, corners, and underneath all furniture before doing the main area. If you are sweeping and mopping, be sure and get every possible nook and cranny.

Healthier Alternatives For Common Ingredients In Baking

by Jennifer | No Comments Monday, February 27, 2012

Baking is all about experimenting. For those of us who don’t bake regularly, it’s great knowing that someone else discovered these great ingredient swaps. But we encourage everyone to at least be familiar with it, and do it as often as you can manage. While some of these substitutions are for people with food allergies, they are all healthier alternatives that will greatly reduce the amount of fat and calories in your recipe, without sacrificing any taste or texture. We regularly stick to these in my home, and you can’t tell the difference! These amounts are generalized to one cup, so you will need to convert them to fit your recipe. Bonus: if you are baking and find yourself without some of these main ingredients, you now know how to keep going without ruining the recipe!

-Applesauce for oil

Use 2/3 the amount of applesauce in place of oil. Example: 2/3 cup of applesauce instead of 1 cup of oil.

-Yogurt For Butter

Convert half of each half needed. Example: for every cup of butter needed, instead use 1/2 cup of butter and 1/4 cup of yogurt.

-Peanut Butter And Bananas For Butter

Convert evenly. Example: for every cup of butter needed, use 1/2 cup of peanut butter and 1/2 cup of bananas.

-Vinegar For Buttermilk

For every cup of buttermilk needed, simply put 1 tbsp. of vinegar in a cup, fill to top with skim milk.

-Half and Half for Heavy Cream

Supstitute and equal amount of half and half for cream.

Do you have any baking subsitutions that you swear by? We would love to know about it!

10 Ways To Improve The Air Quality In Your Home

by Jennifer | No Comments Monday, February 13, 2012

It is a common fact that the air inside your home is more likely dirtier than the air outside. This is true no matter where you live, even if it’s a big crowded city. We spend a great deal of our time indoors, and if the air quality is left unattended, it can lead to health problems involving the heart, lungs, and allergies. Follow all of these guidelines, and you will be doing yourself and everyone in your home a big favor.

1. Keep Your Air Filters Clean

We have talked about this several times, keeping your air filters up to date is one of the best things you can do for your home. It helps keep your energy bill down, and a clean filter will keep many allergens from floating around in the air you breathe. You should replace your filters at least every 3 months.

2. Limit Burning Candles

Candles are a beautiful addition to any home, and it is perfectly acceptable to light one every once in a while for the great smell and relaxing ambiance, but you don’t want to burn them regularly. They release toxins in the air, some of which have been linked to cancer. Click Here For More Detailed Information.  Having said that, beeswax and soy candles are an exception in that they release no harmful chemicals, and are safe for regular use.

3. Minimizing Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew are two very nasty culprits, and should be erradicated as much as possible. The EPA has a great deal of material about the dangers, Listed Here. If you have mold in your home, find the source of moisture (whether it be a leak in the roof, plumbing, or elsewhere) and fix the problem, then clean the mold with a strong disinfectant. On a smaller scale, it is most commonly found in the shower along the grout. Regular cleaning and proper ventillation of the bathroom should keep it away.

4. Air Purifiers

An air purifier is a great way to help keep the air in your home allergen-free. Be sure and read the directions carefully, so you know proper care of the purifier to keep it in top condition.

5. Avoid Manufactured Air Fresheners

Aerosol air freshners do give the home an instant pick me up, but aerosol is bad for the environment, and the chemicals that are used to create that great smell can be harmful, especially if used regularly. Instead, try keeping small bowls throughout your home with water in them, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. You will need to add more oil every couple of days to maintain the smell, and clean the bowls out once a week.

6. Open The Windows On A Nice Day

If the weather permits, open your windows. Even if you live in a city, that added air flow will add an instant freshness to your home. And as a bonus, saves you money on your energy bill!

7. Use Green Cleaning Products

There are so many alternatives to harmful chemical cleaning products nowadays, it is so easy to avoid them altogether. Refer to any of our blogs listed under Cleaning Products for a great way to get your green cleaning started!

8. Do Not Smoke Indoors

We cannot stress enough that smoking indoors is very harmful to yourself and others. Second hand smoke affects everyone who is around it long enough. Not to mention, it gives your home a distinct odor that many find unpleasant.

9. Don’t Give Dust Mites A Great Place To Live

Dust mites and their waste are a potentially very harmful allergen. We have talked about the dangers before, In Our Blog About Dust Mites And Their Link To Asthma we have everything you need to know to keep those little buggers out of your home, and what to do if you have them.

10). Use Houseplants To Clean The Air Indoors

Houseplants are great for improving the quality of air in your home. The absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, and they also absorb other chemicals such as formaldehyde. They add a liveliness to your home, and most common plants are very easy to care for. Here Is A List Of The 25 Best Indoor Plants.

For more great tips on improving the quality of air in your home, check out this article on thedailygreen.com on How To Purify The Air In Your Home.

 

Dust Mites and Asthma

by Scarlette | No Comments Friday, July 15, 2011

What are Dust Mites?

Dust mites are tiny microscopic creatures that are often  a cause of allergy symptoms and asthma.  They belong to the family of eight-legged creatures called arachnids. This family also includes spiders, chiggers and ticks.

Dust mites are hardy creatures that live well and multiply easily in warm, humid places. They prefer temperatures at or above 70 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 75 percent to 80 percent, and die when the humidity falls below 40 percent to 50 percent.

Can Dust Mites Cause Asthma?

Body parts and droppings from dust mites can trigger asthma in individuals with allergies to dust mites. Exposure to dust mites can cause asthma in children who have not previously exhibited asthma symptoms.

Typical symptoms of house dust mite allergies are itchiness, sneezing, inflamed or infected eczema, watering/reddening eyes, sneezing repeatedly and frequently; e.g., on waking up sneezing 10 or more times, runny nose and clogging in the lungs.

Actions You Can Take to Reduce Dust Mites in your Home:

The EPA suggests:

  • Wash bedding in hot water once a week. Dry completely.
  • Use dust proof covers on pillows and mattresses.
  • Vacuum carpets and furniture every week.
  • Choose stuffed toys that you can wash. Wash stuffed toys in hot water. Dry completely before your child plays with the toy.

Common house dust may also contain asthma triggers. These simple steps can help:

  • Dust often with a damp cloth.
  • Vacuum carpet and fabric-covered furniture to reduce dust build-up using a high efficiency (HEPA) filter. People with asthma or allergies should leave the area being vacuumed. Read more about Air Filters – Available Guide for Their Comparison.
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