The Allergy Patrolby Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger 02 Nov 2006 11:00 AM Do you or someone you love suffer from allergies? A monthly allergy patrol can help get rid of allergy triggers and help you live a little more comfortably.
- Use air filters on the heat vents in the rooms you use the most. You can use disposable cheesecloth -- replace the cloth monthly -- or pick reusable filters. Just don't cover every vent in the house, because that can strain your heating system.
- Wipe down walls and ceilings once a month with a wet or magnetically charged cloth. You'll be amazed at how much dust, dirt, and cobwebs you clear away.
- Wash your curtains once a month in hot water to kill dust mites.
- Wash your pillows once a month in hot water to kill dust mites.
- Wash your quilts and blankets once a month in hot water to kill dust mites.
- Store stuffed toys in sealed bins when they are not being used -- this will help keep dust mites from reproducing and mold from growing. Have certain stuffed animals that don't get storage? Put them on ice for a few days: stick a toy in your freezer to halt the growth of mold and dust mites.
- Move your clothes hamper out of the bathroom. The moist air of the bathroom can promote mold and mildew growth on dirty clothes.
- Check around your sinks, tub and shower, and toilets for mold growth. Don't forget to check behind the fridge and in the basement, too! If you find any mold, scrub it away with diluted bleach (wearing a mask so you don't breathe the mold in).
- Repair plumbing leaks quickly. Seal cracking grout in bathroom tile.
- Switch cardboard storage boxes for plastic bins -- the bins are mold resistant.
- Vacuum and dust in your car once a month. Dust, mold, and mites can live there, too!
allergies, dust, house cleaning, living with allergies, mold
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