Monday, August 24, 2009

Allergy Proof your House

Allergy-Proof Your Home

From bathroom to kitchen to bedroom, here are some simple steps to rid your home of the stuff that makes you sick.

Whole Home Tips....
1) Adjust the humidity in your home to around 30-40%. You can get a humidity gauge at home-improvement stores.
2) Change your furnace filter every month to help keep the air moving cleanly in your home.
3) Invest in a quality air purfier that will help reduce particulates in the air. http://www.healthy-environments.com/air-purifiers.asp

Bedroom Tips....
1) Wash you bedding weekly in hot water...at least 130 degrees. Turn up the water heater for the job and then back down when finished.
2) Mattress and pillow covers will help reduce dust mite waste, which is a major cause of allergies and asthma flare-ups.

Living Room Tips....
1) Vacuum regularly, especially with a model with a Hepa filter or double-layer bag.
2) Keep pets off the furniture as much as possible. Try to wash pets weekly if possible.

Bathroom Tips....
1) Scrub the corners of your shower or tub weekly. No need to use bleach or other toxic chemicals. Many environmentally safe cleaners will kill bacteria and viruses.
Check out these at http://www.healthy-environments.com/safe-cleaning-products.asp
2) Easy to clean bathroom floors are the best. Clean mats in hot water weekly and make sure they dry out between uses.

Kitchen Tips....
1) Clean and sweep around the stove, refrigerator and toaster, where crumbs tend to gather. Don't leave dishes in the sink. Keep all food sealed tight.
2) Caulk areas where pests can come in walls, windows and floor cracks. Bugs and cockroaches can add to poor air quality.


These are just a few steps towards a healthier environment. To receive a FREE report on the First 7 Steps Towards an Allergy-Free Home at-
http://www.healthy-environments.com/Claim-Free-Reports.asp .
Deborah Mumm has been an Indoor Air Specialist since 1996.

1 comment:

Carole said...

Hi Deb,

A lot of great tips here. I used to suffer from really bad sinus problems and allergies, and my daughter currently has bouts with it. So keeping the house clean for these issues is a little more rigorous than your normal clean. But the relief is well worth the effort! You mention vacuuming thoroughly in the living room, but the bedroom is probably even more important. You should dust and vacuum regularly, and be sure to vacuum the matress and pillows every so often too. I don't actually wash the comforters every week, but I do vacuum them every week. We have 2 cats and a dog on top of it. I really do need to get one of your air cleaners. That would be a great finishing touch.