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Healthy Home
Does anyone in your family suffer from allergies?
Have you been able to determine the cause?
It is possible that your own home is the culprit. Our daily environment whether at home or work can likely be the cause of allergies and asthma attacks. Have a look in your laundry room and see how many cleaners you have..you may be surprised. Are they all really necessary? Would an all purpose cleaner do double or triple duty in many rooms?
It is not just cleaning products that can be an irritant. Beauty and bath products, fumes from smoking, fireplaces and hobby products can all be linked to an increase in asthma and allergy attacks.
As Canadians we spend 80% of our time in our homes, due to our climate. Does it not make sense to improve our inside air quality?
For more information on air quality visit Healthy Home Tour
Spring Cleaning
This seems to have become a lost cause, with all the moms out to work it is difficult to free up time for this seasonal ritual. But it should be done, especially if you suffer from allergies or asthma.
Here are some tips to help you Spring Clean.
1. Wipe down all walls and furniture with a damp cloth.
2. Vacuum all surfaces in the room.
3. Wash any linen in the room and if possible hang out in the sunshine for 3 days. This helps to purify the items and make them ready for use.
4. Scrub windows and window sills with vinegar/tea tree oil and water to remove mold and mildew.
5. Wipe shades on both sides and wash curtains at 130 F degrees.
6. Make steam cleaning rugs and upholestery a yearly requirement.
If you take steps to remove allergens from your home you will create a better breathing environment and healthier home for your family.
Cleaning Products
Tea tree oil has many uses for housekeeping. You can test this yourself, and see how well it works to kill mold and mildew:
Put 2 teaspons of Australian tea tree oil in a spray bottle, with 2 cups of water. Spray the mixture on something musty. Let the smell dissipate (it will take a few days). The musty smell and mold will be gone, once the source of moisture has been removed. You may also add a few drops of rose or lavender oil.
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