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(NAPSI)-According to the Environmental
Protection Agency, Americans spend an average of 90 percent of their time
indoors-where pollutant levels are often higher than those outside. Indoor
pollution is estimated to cause hundreds of thousands of respiratory health
problems each year. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and
Immunology, 50 million Americans suffer from allergic diseases each year.
Now more than ever, providing a healthy,
safe and clean environment in your home is essential. Laura Dellutri, the
"Healthy Housekeeper," has some smart, easy solutions for creating this
balance in your own home that will help you protect yourself and your
family.
1
Clean air ducts and vent work. We often
think of pollution outdoors, and don't prepare for high pollutant levels
inside our homes. Make it a habit to clean air ducts and vents twice a year
and replace furnace filters monthly to ensure good air quality conditions.
Allergen filters, such as 3M Filtrete capture nearly all airborne particles
and will ease respiratory problems.
2 Choose smart cleaning products. Many
kitchen and bathroom cleaning products use toxic chemicals to get a
sparkling clean. This can be particularly dangerous in the bathroom because
of the typically small space and poor ventilation. Kaboom Shower, Tub and
Tile Cleaner uses no ammonia, phosphates or harsh acids, and has a patented
no toxic fume formulation. The best part is, Kaboom is a powerful cleaner
and will erase all of your soap scum, dirt, grime, hard water stains and
even rust.
3 Wash the sheets. All bedding should be
washed weekly in hot water (130 degrees). Purchase protective covers for
pillows and mattresses. This will help kill the dust mites in the bed.
According to the Environmental Health and Safety Organization, you are
sleeping with 100,000 to 10 million dust mites every night in your bed. They
are invisible to the human eye and they live off the dead skin that falls
from your body. They can cause sinus issues, sinusitis, runny noses, and
trigger allergies.
4 Reduce and capture dust. Heavy drapes
and curtains accumulate dust and are likely washed or vacuumed less often.
Choose blinds or light weight curtains that allow less area for dust to
accumulate and are easier to clean. When dusting, you should use microfiber
cloths that capture dust particles, instead of old rags and T-shirts.
5 Vacuum right. Your old vacuum may very
well be making you sick by blowing out dust mites, pet dander, mold spores
and other airborne particles. Use a HEPA filtration, micro filtration or
other high filtration filter in your vacuum that captures at least 99.7
percent of airborne particulate. This will not only keep the carpets clean,
but it will stop recycling the dust back into the air.
More valuable tips and information can be
found on Laura's Web site,
www.healthyhousekeeper.com or in her latest book, Speed Cleaning 101. |
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