Some scientists theorize that exposure to indoor pollutants early in life may be an important factor in later development of asthma, although more research is necessary.
Managing your indoor environment will go a long way toward protecting your family’s health and controlling asthma and allergy attacks.
This guide provides information on four main asthma/allergy concerns in the home and what you can do to minimize their impact on your family.
1 in 4 suffers from asthma or allergies
WHY IT’S AN ON-GOING ISSUE & WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
We admit, it’s pretty gross. Dust mites feed off of dead skin cells and as long as there are humans and their furry friends in the mix, there will be an abundant and constant food supply for dust mites.
Key Problem Areas in Your Home
Dust mites will congregate close to the feast – where already-shed skin cells are concentrated. Textiles trap dead skin cells. Mattresses, pillows, linens, carpet and rugs, drapes, upholstered furniture, towels and plush toys harbor dust mites. Your bed is the perfect environment for dust mites. Your mattress may house between one million and ten million dust mites. It is estimated that one ounce of dust can house 42,000 dust mites.
What You Can Do
Bedding – Vacuum mattresses on 5 sides as often as you can but at least monthly for the allergy sufferer. Use a specialized HEPA filter closed-canister vacuum to remove 99.9% of all particles Flip mattresses every 3 months and vacuum all 6 sides when you flip. Launder linens and covers in water that is 130°F or hotter to kill dust mites. Vacuum the pillows as often as weekly, and launder in water that is 130°F or hotter every 3 months (organic) or replace every 6 months (synthetic). Direct sunlight kills dust mites – on sunny days (winter and summer) hang blankets and covers outside on the line. Leave the beds unmade and open the window dressings during the day.
Carpet & Rugs – Vacuum with a specialized HEPA filter closed-canister vacuum at least weekly, or every few days
Drapes – Vacuum these with a specialized HEPA filter closed-canister vacuum at least monthly, but more often in the bedroom of an asthma/allergy sufferer.
Beneath the Bed – Dust mites like dark places. Be sure to vacuum under the bed frequently. Doing so will also reduce an abundant food source for moths.
Reduce Moisture Indoors
To prevent the growth of mold and mildew, try to maintain a relative indoor humidity below 45%. If you have a wet basement, use a de-humidifier and routinely empty the reservoir. Scrub it with vinegar every few weeks. Raise the temperature if you can to further reduce humidity. If you have wet foundation problems in the basement, get them repaired. Always run the bathroom exhaust fan when showering (during the shower and for several minutes afterwards) and/or open a window to allow moisture to escape so that mold and mildew will have a less hospitable environment in your bathroom. Run the air conditioner if you have one, and use a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter attachment to trap spores before they enter your home. Scour sinks and tubs at least every other week because soap scum and other films on grout and tile are a great food source for fungi. Clean your garbage cans frequently, especially if they have lids. Make sure the dryer vent and hose apparatus is secure and in good repair.
There are 17 potential areas of your home or building where asthma and allergy triggers can be found, according to the Indoor Air Quality Association. You can go to their website (www.iaga.org) to view them all. Here are some of the key areas that deserve your attention.
The Cleaning Contradiction
Air Fresheners & Fragranced Cleaners
A common misconception about cleaning products is that unless the smell of the cleaning product is evident, the home is not clean. Consumers have been trained by marketers of cleaning products for generations that a clean smell equals a clean home. With product fragrances to evoke memories of the ocean, the mountains, the pines, and even just plain “original” we are cued to put fragrance in the perception of a clean home.
Fragrances in perfumes, body care products, cleaning products and air fresheners are suspended in the air by chemical additives designed to help them linger in the air. These chemicals are then at nose level and easily inhaled.
Solvents put off strong vapors and are prone to absorption through the lungs or skin. Organic solvents irritate the respiratory track and have been linked to bronchial asthma in occupational studies.
Bleach and ammonia are corrosive to the lungs. Asthma and allergy sufferers have compromised respiratory function and these corrosives will exacerbate that weakness. Avoid using bleach and ammonia for this and many other reasons.
One of the simplest things you can do to help keep the impact of cleaning to a minimum is to be aware that over-spray broadcasts contaminants which affect every member of the family, not just the asthma or allergy sufferer. Spray cleaning solutions into your cloth, not on the surface you are cleaning to avoid unnecessary disbursement of contaminants indoors..
Volatile Organic Compounds are emitted as gases suspending themselves in the air. VOCs include an array of chemicals, some of which may have short and long term adverse health effects. VOCs commonly are present in perfumes, air fresheners, disinfectants and deodorizers. These compounds pose a variety of human health hazards and collectively are thought to be reproductive toxins, neurotoxins, liver toxins and carcinogens. But the asthma or allergy sufferer only cares that VOCs help toxins in cleaning products become easier to inhale.
Looking for safer alternatives
The basic ingredients for natural cleaning products might already be in your pantry:
DISTILLED WHITE VINEGAR – good for dissolving grease, dirt, soap, scum and mineral deposits. Also absorbs odors.
BAKING SODA – an effective replacement for harsh scouring powders. Mildly abrasive and naturally deodorizing.
BORAX – good for cleaning, disinfecting and deodorizing.
LEMON JUICE – cuts grease, freshens and deodorizes, fights household bacteria.
WATER – distilled is best, but tap is fine.
CASTILE SOAP – all-purpose cleaner for around the house.
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE – (3%) a natural anti-bacterial, whitener and mold cleaner.
THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE
For an all-purpose cleaner, combine 3 T white vinegar, ½ tsp washing soda, ½ tsp castile soap and 2 cups hot water in a spray bottle. Shake and spray!
To remove rust, sprinkle a little salt on the rust. Squeeze a lime over the salt until it is well soaked. Let the mixture set for two to three hours. Use the leftover rind to rub the residue.
For a good window cleaner, mix 3 T white vinegar with 1 gal cool water. Wipe with a newspaper to avoid streaks.
Sprinkling baking soda in the bottom of garbage bags will help eliminate of control odors as you add trash.
Half a lemon stored in your fridge, uncovered, will help control and eliminate unpleasant smells.
Anywhere that moisture is a problem such as cupboards and under sinks, place a bowl of baking soda to help control humidity. You will need to stir the powder occasionally for maximum effective life.
NATURAL PET SHAMPOO
Mix 2 C warm water, 2 tsp liquid castile soap, 2 T pure aloe vera gel and 1 tsp vegetable oil. Combine all ingredients in a jar and shake to blend. Wet your pet’s coat, then work in shampoo a few tablespoons at a time, lathering as you go.
IN THE KITCHEN
To clean the microwave, heat a bowl of water and lemon slices in your microwave for about 45 seconds, then wipe. Stains will be easier to remove and old food odors will be neutralized.
A teaspoon of lemon juice added to your dishwashing detergent can help boost grease cutting power.
Hot lemon juice and baking soda makes a good drain cleaner that’s safe for septic systems.
Rub lemon juice into your wooden chopping board, leave overnight and then rinse. Wood chopping boards appear to have anti-bacterial properties anyway, but the lemon will help kill off any remaining germs plus neutralize odors.
Clean stainless steel sinks with a paste of baking soda and vinegar. Mix it up and apply with a sponge. Don’t let the foaming scare you – it works great!
IN THE BATHROOM
Spray fresh lemon juice on hard water scale build-up around faucets, wait 10 minutes and rinse.
Use a scrub paste made from baking soda and a tiny bit of water to scrub soap scum in tubs and showers.
To clean tile, mix ½ C. vinegar with ½ tsp all purpose liquid detergent and 2 C. very hot tap water. Combine in a spray bottle and mix well. Spray on, then rinse with a sponge.
To clean the toilet bowl, pour 1 C. borax into the bowl and let it sit for a few hours. Use the toilet brush to scrub, then flush. Spray straight vinegar onto the rim, seat and top. Scrub the rim with the brush and use a sponge or cloth to wipe. Re-spray the rim and don’t rinse.
Antibacterial spray can be made from water and pure essential lavender oil. Mix 1 C. water and 1 tsp lavender oil in a spray bottle and shake to mix. Spray and wait 15 minutes before wiping or don’t rinse at all.
NOTE: Label all home concoctions and date them so you can be sure of what you’re using. WARNING: Vinegar and baking soda cannot be used on all surfaces. Do some research first!
Maybe a cleaning service that cleans GREEN is right for you.
Most people feel like house cleaning duty is their “2nd shift” –
just one more job to do after spending a full day in the paid workforce. They know house cleaning is necessary and important, but also time-consuming. A house cleaning service alleviates the burden of regular cleaning routines, but one that is expert in green cleaning also frees you from time consuming and often confusing research.
A green cleaning service can make it easier
to maintain a clean and healthy indoor environment. Not all green cleaning services follow the same processes and some are more committed than others. But a service that is TRULY green will stay on top of emerging scientific and medical developments and use the healthiest, most effective green cleaning technologies and practices available. Did we mention the fact that they bring the supplies and equipment? You don’t have to know what to buy, which surfaces you can clean with a particular solution and which you can’t, or whether your equipment meets green standards for indoor air quality.
Ask around & compare
to find a company you know you can trust in your home and to understand their similarities and differences in what they offer. Not all green cleaning services are totally green, for instance. Some emphasize individual elements of a green program and others take a more holistic approach. But if you’re choosing green cleaning for health reasons, you should go with the holistic approach. Why rid your home of certain contaminants only to introduce others? We want to help you at Maid Brigade.
