Archive for the 'Allergies' Category

March 25, 2008 | Allergies, Health

I am not one for taking a lot of medication if it’s not extreme circumstances. I don’t like the side effects and the “medicine head” feeling. Unfortunately, I also suffer from pretty bad seasonal allergies! Since I can’t just pop a few decongestants (mostly because I would never wake up!) I’ve just dealt with the congestion and runny nose. Until two nights ago when my husband suggested I try THESE…

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March 15, 2008 | Allergies, asthma, Health

There are certain plants this time of year that we all want to avoid - the yellow pollinators, and other things that cause asthma and allergy flare-ups. But there are other plants that will actually improve indoor air quality. And when the EPA tells us that indoor air tends to be 5-100 times more toxic than outdoor air, improving air quality indoors suddenly becomes a very big deal. So, if you want some plants that’ll help your home (or office or cubicle…), try one of these: (more…)

March 5, 2008 | Allergies, asthma, Health, Cleaning tips

Spring is on its way, or maybe it’s already arrived where you are. But that also means allergy season is upon us! I don’t know about you, but that makes me cringe. Runny noses, itchy eyes and all sorts of other fun things. I’m sure Kleenex loves this time of year, but I could do without the allergies. So here are a few little cleaning tips to pass the spring with fewer sneezes. (more…)

December 30, 2007 | Allergies, asthma, Cleaning tips

Christmas has come and gone, but New Year is just around the corner, and that means parties! More cleaning to be done, plans to be made, appetizers to prepare, and desserts to bake. The fun of the holidays is far from over!

But in another few days we’ll be putting away holiday decorations and putting our homes back in order - the way they are the rest of the year (or at least the way we want them to be for Superbowl parties).

A few things to remember as you’re doing your cleaning this week and next:

• As you put away your holiday decorations, remember that the regular decor that’s been boxed up may have collected dust and other allergens. Unpack them outside if possible, and dust them before you bring them in - especially if anyone in your home has asthma.
• Now is a great time to replace your air filters. All the changing of home decor probably created more dust in your home, and while you’re cleaning you might as well change those filters.
• Don’t forget to sweep your entry ways (even outside the home) and give your door mats a good clean. With the extra traffic of the holidays, you’ll want to make sure what remains is memories, not dirt to be tracked in!
• Have leftover candy canes? Throw them in a food processor, melt your favorite chocolate and spread it over a cookie sheet. Sprinkle the candy cane dust over the top, and refrigerate. Voila! Peppermint bark! Add a drop or two of peppermint oil to the melted chocolate to make it extra minty.
•  If you have silk plants and trees in your home, now would be a great time to spray them down. Again, the activity of the holidays brings extra things into your home, and that means extra dust. Either put the plants in the shower and use a detachable shower head to spray them down, or take them outside and use a garden hose and sprayer attachment to wash the dust away.
• A feather duster is a great way to go over your home quickly for dust. Just remember to wear a mask if you have severe allergies, do it when others are away, and an hour or two after you dust each room run the vacuum to collect any dust that will have settled into your floors.
• Don’t forget to clean out your refrigerator and freezer after the parties have finished. You’d rather toss it now than in a month when it’s become a science project!
• Does your oven need a good scrub after all your holiday baking? Mine sure does! Good for you if you have a self-cleaning oven. If not, you don’t need a harsh oven cleaner. Just grab a good degreaser (Simple Green works well, as does Bon Ami and Bar Keepers’ Friend). Spray or sprinkle on, let sit a while, and then scrub away. It may take a few rounds, but it’ll be well worth it.

And may the New Year bring you renewed organization, healthy motivation, and a good balance of relaxation and good times with good friends!

October 5, 2007 | Allergies, asthma, Health, Lifestyle

Halloween is around the corner. Then Thanksgiving. Hanukka. Christmas. And that means autumn and winter holiday decorations. Does anyone in your family have allergies or asthma? Those dusty, musty decorations from the attic or basement could be triggers. When you get them down, take them out to the garage or the deck first. Remove them from their boxes there and dust them off before bringing them inside. Let the allergens stay outside so that you’re bringing the family memorabilia inside, free of triggers.

September 21, 2007 | Allergies, Cleaning tips

I’ve been reminded by hearing the dry cough-cough through the night down the hall in the kids’ rooms. And by that persistent little itch in my nose. That allergy season is making its debut. So to conquer the sniffles and other not-so-welcome nuisances of allergy season, here are some helpful tips: (more…)

May 24, 2007 | Allergies, asthma, Health, Cleaning tips

Truth be told, I only sweep my front porch and back deck once every several months. Well, once or twice a year to be brutally honest. But times, they are a-changin’! I just read at the IIRC website (they have some great cleaning tips) that regularly cleaning the outside areas of your home that people regularly enter through can cut down on allergies. Apparently, less pollen and debris get tracked in that way. Who knew?!

Now, one thing we do right in our house (though for other reasons) is we take our shoes off when we come in. I remember going to a friend’s house as a kid where I was told to take my shoes off when I came in. I thought they were so persnickety about cleanliness - just because they didn’t wear shoes inside. Just think. What got on your shoes the last time you were in a public restroom? How much of it actually came off on the way home, and how much was still on the soles of your shoes when you entered your house? If you have crawling babies or toddling kids, think of the effect that has on them. (ew, gross!)

Now as an aside… Another perspective on the whole shoes thing - and this is why we don’t wear shoes in our house - is that in many Eastern cultures people just don’t wear shoes inside. They’re seen as dirty, cumbersome footwear that should be traded in at the door for cozy, homey slippers. It’s cleaner. It’s comfier. It fits more with the ambiance and is more appropriate to the environment. And when you visit someone else’s home, it’s one of the small ways you show respect. It’s the same idea as zero footprint. The less mess you leave for your host (and the less dirt you track into their home), the less time they’ll spend cleaning it. And that shows you respect their time and effort to invite you as a guest. Consider that.

Anyhow, it does make for a cleaner home, and I can see it when I wash my kids’ socks. They’re used to taking off their shoes inside, so they do it wherever they are. When they’ve been at home, their socks are usually the same color they were when they were freshly washed. When they’ve been at someone else’s house who wears shoes inside, their socks are almost always darker on the soles. I can tell how clean my floors are by the sight of my kids’ socks…