It's that time of year when Spring cleaning is in the air - literally! There are a plethora of cleaning products available these days for a variety of purposes and outcomes. Some claim to improve the "smell" of your air, while others claim to "reduce" items that make your home smell. But one thing almost ALL of them have in common is a laundry list of chemicals.
Cleaning products can also be very bad for those with breathing difficulties, COPD and asthma are a couple of afflictions. But there are also items that you might never guess are harmful to those suffering from asthma. The obvious irritant is a pet due to their dander and what they bring into a home with thme, but irritants can also include dust mites and bugs!
There are a lot of practices that help in how you maintain and clean your home. A few of these include:
- Vacuum carpets & furniture weekly; eliminate carpet if possible; make sure your vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter.
- Eliminate all cleaning products except vinegar, baking soda and fragrance free dish soap. Use allergen free soaps, white vinegar as fabric softener, and do not use dryer sheets.
- Keep windows closed, even though it's tempting to open them during spring and fall.
- Change air filters in your home regularly with filters that are a MERV 8.
- Lemons offer a great way to clean using the acids in the fruit. To clean your shower: mix 7 cups of water, 1/2 c baking soda, 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1/3 c lemon juice. Pour onto shower and let stand before using a brush to clean grout. For tough stains, use a half of a lemon to scrub the shower with baking soda. Lemons are anti-bacterial are a natural disinfectant.
- Another way to make natural disinfectant is to cut lemon peels and put into a jar, fill with vinegar and let sit for a week. This can be used on glass surfaces and cook tops. Don't use on granite as it will dull the surface and remove the glossy finish.
- To freshen carpet - mix 2 cups of baking soda, 1 cup of borax with citrus peels. Store in a jar for a week. Sprinkle over the carpet and vacuum, letting it sit for some time. Vacuum!
For more ideas about natural cleansers, check out Sam Turnbull's site!
While you're at it, consider that there are other issues that contribute to "bad" indoor air quality for residents. Colorless, odorless gasses come in a variety of forms.
- Mold is a substance you can eventually locate due to a water leak, but sometimes these are behind walls and not obvious. If you are suspicious if you have a mold source, it's always a good idea to test your indoor air. Mold kits are available by contacting reputable companies that can test and remediate mold, returning your indoor air to a safe level.
- Radon is a colorless, odorless indoor gas. One sign that you might be having a build-up of radon in your home is a dark ring where carpet or flooring meets a baseboard. If you suspect this issue, definitely reach out to a professional in your area to have your home tested. It's a common belief that this issue only exists in the Northeastern states, but having experienced radon in Arizona, I can attest it can be anywhere. Radon typically seeps into a home through the foundation where the concrete or structure meets the ground to allow the gas to seep into your home, or in groundwater.
- Carobon Monoxide is also a colorless, odorless gas that typically comes from gas appliances, wood or gas fireplaces, auto exhaust filtration, and tobacoo smoke. Check out this site for more information. This gas is extremely dangerous as occupants of a home aren't even aware it's an ongoing problem until it's a deadly issue.
Curious if you might be chemically sensitive, check out this list and information.
Age can bring on sensitivities as well as some medical treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. Eliminating disease fighting warriors in your body can leave a cancer survivor chemically sensitive. I'm not a cancer survivor, but as I've aged, I can tell that every time I walk into a department store, sinuses start watering due to the chemicals in new products!
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