Showing posts with label allergies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label allergies. Show all posts

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Cleaning tools - Beat those germs with simple protection

Thankfully, my cleaning calendar has helped me to relax and not feel rushed. With the right tools, cleaning is more of an enjoyment than something to be endured. I also listen to music which is a wonderful “tool” to accompany the physical workout I get from cleaning. Beyond the physical demands, I do struggle with using disposable cleaning tools while prolific growth of landfills besieges our country. We are still not recycling our waste adequately. But I continue to work on natural solutions for my cleaning routine.  I don’t use paper towels to clean glass or wash counter tops so I help to save the environment. Then I do laundry to clean my work towels, using up precious water as a resource. It’s an environmental dilemma, for sure. If you know of a cost effective biodegradable tool I can use, I am open to suggestions. But I digress. Here are a few of my cleaning tools, beginning with those that protect me from germs.

Gloves are important and necessary to avoid contact with any products you are using, keep your hands dry, and protect you from germs that you could absorb or spread. I sometimes use rubber gloves at home instead of disposables. I try to work quickly before my hands start to sweat; otherwise, I feel compelled to rinse them out and go through the drying process, inside and out. It’s a time sucker but necessary to prevent mold. I live in Florida, headquarters for mold and mildew. When I have no choice but to clean and reverse the gloves, I use a ¼ inch dowel that can reach into the glove fingers and push. When I clean for others, I use disposable, non-latex food prep gloves as they are time savers, less expensive than other disposables, and they fit nicely. I change gloves between bathrooms and, of course, for the kitchen.

Thursday, January 18, 2018

The scourge of the sponge

What are your pet peeves for house cleaning? There are SO many to choose from.  I didn’t know I had one until I started cleaning for others (including my husband’s bathroom) and found a sponge in one condition or another either on the sink or nearby. It appears that these are used to clean the bathroom or kitchen, presumably the sink or maybe the dishes. Sometimes people use them like a soap dish which really raises suspicion. Have they left it there from cleaning? Does it have grease residue from dishes or pots? Do they wash themselves with it?  The problem I have with sponges is

Monday, January 15, 2018

Where Does All the Dust Come From?

Today one of my clients mentioned have recurring dust issues in her home.  I have had those issues too and it takes some detective work to get it under control. It's a constant battle that I am beginning to conquer.  

Before I replaced my leaky vacuum cleaner, the day after I dusted the dust had returned.  Even now I find that whenever I've been moving things around, bringing in new items (like Christmas decorations from the garage), or doing laundry (using the dryer and folding clothes), that more dust shows up on my glass tables, etc. We don't open our windows very often because we do live near a high traffic area but

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Have you looked at your lampshades recently?


Don't do it now unless you've had a recent dose of Claritin. They are likely SO dusty and "who's looking at them anyway?" But you keep changing the bulbs as the lights get dimmer and dimmer over the years.  Do you ever wonder why you sneeze every time your AC or heat kicks on?  Beyond the dreaded dirty filter, hidden dust is just one of the reasons, and it's all over your house.  But take heart! I'm going to share my solution to the "dust dilemma" in this blog.

With allergies to dust and mold, I am always looking for the reasons I sneeze and then I go after them. Yes, I take occasional antihistamines but swore off corticosteroids years ago.  As I once dealt with a borderline asthmatic condition, a pulmonary specialist warned me to not overdo it.

How cleanable is your house?

The house I live in was built in 1948 and I've lived in it since 1992. The original owner was a doctor, a fact I've always prized. This fine old Florida ranch house was first situated on an orange grove that was once adjacent to a dairy farm. It had been a rental property when I bought it. Back then, it was filthy, with dog poop under the wall to wall carpeting(???), no intake filter on the central air unit, and
ancient cedar closets that were poisoning me. But it had 3/4 acres of beautiful yard right in the city--albeit overgrown with intertwining citrus trees. I fell in love but my allergies went haywire. I had some air quality people come in and diagnose the problems and hired someone to rip out the closets and replace with wallboard. We ripped out all carpeting and refinished the original floors ourselves (we were a lot younger back then), etc.

It's pretty likely that your current home is in very