Archive for June, 2009
Dust Mites: A Microscopic Threat to Your Family’s Health
June 22nd, 2009 | 
Author: Dust mites are microscopic bugs, commonly found in human habitats, such as your house, couch, bed or carpet. They thrive in our environment, because they live off of our dead skin cells, and the dander from our pets.
Unfortunately, even if you do your best to keep your house clean, we are still vulnerable to dust mites. Cleaning alone will not counteract the problem due to the fact that the average human gives off 5-10 grams of dead skin cells each week and about 3lbs per year.
In this sense, despite the most regimented of cleaning schedules, the dust mites in your home will have plenty to sustain them. Furthermore, the average house dust mite reproduces at an astonishingly rapid rate. The effects of this plethora of dust mites in our homes can have a significant role in causing health problems.
Dust mites excrete an average of 20 droppings of waste each day. Many people are highly allergic to these droppings, and scientists are beginning to correlate dust mites to asthma, as well as other allergic symptoms.
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How to Get Rid of Mold: 15 Tips Every Homeowner Should Know
A few days ago, I wrote an article about the Dangers of Mold, and the response I received was overwhelming. Everybody wanted to know more about mold. In fact, within a few days of publishing the post, I got a couple dozen emails asking how to get rid of mold.
So, I wanted to share my personal tips that I use at my home, as well as here in the office. Please feel free to drop your tips in the comment section below.
How to Get Rid of Mold:
- Investigate your home or office for moisture leakage. If you find any moisture leaks, clean them up with a dry towel immediately and find the source of the leak. Consider hiring a professional if the leak does not stop or if you are dealing with a plumbing issue. Controlling moisture leaks in your home or place of work will reduce the mold’s ability to thrive.
- Mold loves warm and wet places. If you live in a place with humidity levels of 70% or more, you must particularly take heed to prevent toxic moldy air. Invest in a high-quality dehumidifier and test your home for mold over-growth.
- Temperatures above 75° F, as well as poorly lit rooms and unmoving air, can actually create more mold. Keep fresh air moving in your home, as well as bright sunlight coming in through your windows. This will help reduce toxic mold.
- Open a window while you take a shower, if possible.
- Change air filters regularly in heating and air-conditioning vents.
- Invest in a good quality air purification system that employs both a HEPA filter and UV & negative ion technologies. In my opinion, this will give you the best results when cleaning your air.
- Keep your home at a moderate temperature, at around 69-73° F and keep the humidity level at 54% and below.
- Make sure your clothes dryer has an anti-humidity vent.
- Check closets for mold growth. This is especially important if you have ever placed wet or damp clothing in your closets. If you find mold in your closet, wash your clothes immediately to help clean any possible mold spores. I would recommend using Soap Nuts.
- Protect your breathing passages when removing active or dead mold. Wear a mask, eye protection and protective gloves that filter mold.
- When cleaning, slightly wet the mold to lessen the amount of airborne spores in the breathing atmosphere while you are cleaning. This can be done with a wet cloth.
- Scrub hard surfaces infested in mold with a non-ammonia soap. Non-toxic, organic soap is best for the environment.
- Porous surface cannot be cleaned of mold. Things like moldy carpeting, drywall, wall-paper, fabric, or other porous surfaces, must be completely removed and replaced from your home or office.
- If you have mold on the structural support of your home or office building, it may not be cleaned out by scrubbing alone. It may have to be sanded. Don’t forget to wear the appropriate protective coverings.
- Remember, the best prevention for mold is to KEEP THINGS DRY and always use a good air purification system!
Do you of any other ways to get rid of mold? Please add any mold removal tips in the comment section below.
The Hidden Formaldehyde In Everyday Products
Producers are tricky, and their business sometimes involves tricking consumers. They trick us into buying very handy products for cleaning, deodorizing, softening, smoothing, and beautifying that contain dangerous chemicals.
If the word “formaldehyde” doesn’t remind you of an embalmed body on a cold steel table, it should!
Formaldehyde has been used for decades to embalm dead bodies for open casket burials. It is a preservation fluid that replaces the blood, it is a recognized cancer causing agent (carcinogen) by the National Cancer Institute, and oh, by the way, it is in most of the products you buy and use around your home, even the materials your home was built with!
Is My Home Embalmed?
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