Spring Cleaning: 6 Tips to Keep Your Apartment Allergen-Free

Posted on April 22, 2013 by mprice

Dust is the most common cause of indoor allergies, but make sure you’re not kicking up dirt and debris when you’re cleaning.

Indoor allergies caused by dust mites, pet dander and mold trigger allergy and even asthma symptoms in millions of indoor allergy sufferers each year.

Read on to learn more about our Spring Clean Sweepstakes.

While it is impossible to make your home completely allergen-free, below are a few tips to clear most of the bothersome allergens from your apartment.

Start your apartment search today!

Dusting
Dust is the most common cause of indoor allergies, but be careful how you dust, because you can actually make your allergies worse by kicking up dirt and debris while you’re cleaning. Use a wet or treated cloth that attracts dust, minimize dust-catching clutter and clean dusty surfaces, such as ceiling fan blades, regularly so that dust doesn’t have a chance to accumulate.

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Give Your Apartment Medicine Cabinet a Check-Up

Posted on August 17, 2011 by ag-admin

Stock your medicine chest with the right pills and supplies for any emergency.

Colds and the flu usually strike at the end of winter or beginning of spring. Are you and your medicine cabinet prepared to handle another cold, allergy and cough season?

In addition to readying you for spring, cleaning out your medicine cabinet also ensures you get rid of dangerous or outdated medicines. First, know what to get rid of. Throw out expired and old medicines and consolidate nearly empty bottles and duplicates to get rid of clutter. Don’t leave old pills lying out in open trash cans and available to the curious hands and noses of young children and pets; dispose of them securely

Next, inventory what you have and learn what to add, especially if you’re living in cold-prone, windy areas. Make sure you have the following items in your medicine cabinet:

Acetaminophen (Tylenol): Primarily known as a pain reliever, acetaminophen is also a fever-reducer.

Aloe vera: This soothing, oft-green gel treats burns.

Antihistamine (Benadryl): This over-the-counter medication calms allergy symptoms such as nasal inflammation, sneezing, runny noses and eye irritation. It’s also a lifesaver for allergic reactions and bug bites.

Antiseptics: Hydrogen peroxide and alcohol clean cuts and scrapes to help prevent infection.

Antiseptic creams or ointments (Neosporin): These prevent infection in cuts and scrapes and reduce scarring.

Bandages: Stock up on bandages in various sizes so you can cover and protect any wound.

Cold, cough and flu medicines: So you’re not treating symptoms you don’t have, purchase different over-the-counter cold, cough and flu medications, such as decongestants (for coughs), expectorants and cough suppressants, depending on the symptoms you typically have.

Cortisone cream: This topical ointment reduces inflammation and calms itchy insect bites and rashes.

Gauze bandages and adhesive tape: These two items are crucial for covering larger wounds.

Heating and cooling packs: Ice reduces fevers and swelling, while heat eases cramps and stomach aches.

Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin): This pain reliever also reduces inflammation and swelling.

Medicine dropper or medicine cup: You need some accurate medical-use measure for dispensing liquid medications.

Nose spray: Decongestant nasal sprays quickly open up nasal passages by constricting blood vessels in the lining of the nose. Saline sprays help moisturize dry or irritated nostrils.

Thermometer: Purchase a digital or chemical-dot thermometer for checking temperatures, and know which temperatures are too high for all ages.

Tweezers: Find good tweezers with more pointy ends for removing splinters or ticks.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/micro10x

10 Ways to Eliminate Home Allergens

Posted on August 17, 2011 by ag-admin

If you’re running for the box of tissues every five minutes, read on for how to protect your home against allergens.

We now have dozens of medications and treatments for the abundance of allergies and allergy symptoms that plague us, mostly in the spring and summer. However, providing your body support against harmful allergens, such as pollen, dust and pet dander, does not start with a visit to the doctor. Rather, the first and most effective way to treat allergies is to get their sources out of your home. Here are 10 simple things you can do to make your home allergen-free just in time for spring.

1. Remove
Stagnant items, such as stuffed animals, baskets, magazine holders, rugs and other decorative items, often become glorified dust receptacles during allergy season. Remove any unneeded items, especially from bedrooms.

2. Clean
The best way to keep your home free of harmful allergens is to clean thoroughly and regularly. You don’t need fancy or expensive cleaners; rather, a solution with five percent bleach will work wonders. Just be sure to wipe down with water any surfaces that will come into contact with food.

3. Vacuum
Ideally, any carpet or rugs should be replaced with tile or hardwood surfaces. However, that probably isn’t an option in your Detroit apartment, so be sure to vacuum at least once a week, not forgetting to vacuum any fabrics on sofas and chairs. If you have a pet in your home and/or you have severe allergies, vacuum every other day, but protect yourself by wearing a mask. Also, make sure you’re using a high-quality vacuum that will gather and capture as many allergens as possible.

4. Dust
Dust and dust mites are the most prevalent allergy culprits. Dust attaches to surfaces all over your apartment and can float in the air for minutes before settling, so don’t simply push it from a shelf and into the air you breathe. Instead, use a damp cloth on all surfaces – careful not to miss any rarely used places – to remove dust particles and pollen. Also make sure your clothes are stored in drawers and closets, so they don’t gather extra dust.

5. Wash
Dust mites reside primarily in beds and bedrooms, so make sure you wash your bedding – comforters, blankets and quilts included – regularly in hot water. For children and severe allergy sufferers, bedding should be washed at least once a week. Do not place any bedding, pillows or stuffed animals on the bed if they cannot withstand multiple washings.

6. Separate
Pets warm our hearts, but they also aggravate our allergies. To stay healthy and keep your beloved dog or cat happy, create a space just for him or her. If your allergies are severe, you may need to keep your pet outdoors. However, another option is to designate a room or area for the pet exclusively. Bathe and groom your pet often, and keep him or her off of furniture and your bed.

7. Filter
Allergies can be kept at bay by breathing in clean air. Keep windows and doors closed, and use air purifiers with HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters to remove allergens from the air you breathe in.

8. Dehumidify
Mold that accumulates in moist, dark places can trigger harsh allergy reactions. Rid your apartment of mold by regularly checking for leaks and ensuring that your home, especially the bathroom and kitchen, is well ventilated. Humidity should be between 40 and 50 percent, so consider getting a dehumidifier if the humidity in your apartment consistently stays above 50 percent. Also, keep the thermostat down, ideally between 68 and 72 degrees, and run the air conditioner often, as it will act as an additional air filter in the summer.

9. Trade
Consider replacing your normal bedding with mite-resistant materials, including latex mattresses, silk sheets and comforters, hypoallergenic bed casings and mattress covers. Avoid using feather pillows and bedding, as well as bulky quilts. In other areas of your home, try to buy smooth-surfaced furniture, such as leather, vinyl or suede. Install washable curtains, and consider dust covers for all of your furniture.

10. Demand
Cigarette smoke is an egregious irritator of allergies, so establish a strict “No Smoking” policy for your home. If visitors insist on it, have them smoke outside and then spray their clothing with a fragrance-less odor remover upon reentering the apartment.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/efenzi

Get a Better Night’s Sleep

Posted on August 17, 2011 by ag-admin

Make the room as dark and cool as possible to get a better night's sleep.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/sswartz

Sleeping well each night doesn’t just keep you from being grouchy the next day – it lowers your risk for coming down with major diseases, regulates your metabolism and sharpens your memory. While the jury’s still out on why the human body sleeps at all, there’s no denying that regularly sleeping seven to eight hours per night keeps you looking and feeling younger.

If you haven’t been sleeping well lately, try the tips below to be on the road to dreamland tonight.

Set a regular sleep schedule. If you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, you’ll get back in sync with your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. If you must nap, keep it at 30 minutes or less, and find something small to do, such as washing the dishes or folding clothes, to stave off after-dinner drowsiness.

Watch what you eat. Avoid big or fatty meals within two hours of bedtime to aid in digestion, and try to avoid alcohol and most liquids within four hours of going to sleep. Limit your caffeine intake, and eat a light snack such as string cheese, half a peanut butter sandwich or a banana to help promote sleep.

Replace your bedding. If your bedding is too heavy, you may wake up frequently because you’re too hot. Switch out your heavy comforter or polyester bedspread with a cotton quilt, which more evenly distributes heat, is lightweight and encourages you to get cozy. Replace your low-thread count sheets with sheets in sateen or 400-thread-count cotton for maximum softness.

Don’t exercise right before bed. Exercise raises your body temperature and stimulates the body, so try to work out in the morning, at lunch time or in the early afternoon. However, feel free to do light yoga or stretching before bed to help you relax.

Hang lined curtains. Since your goal is to get the room as dark as possible, opt for heavy curtains or dark shades to eliminate as much light from the room as you can. Turn the TV off and even wear an eye mask to help keep out light.

Keep the temperature in check. Program your thermostat so the temperature drops during the night (around 65 degrees is ideal for sleeping), since most people sleep best in a cool room.

Consider using earplugs. If you’re a light sleeper, you may benefit from using earplugs so you wake up less often during the night. Outside traffic, insomniac roommates and even appliances can all make noise throughout the night. If you’re a really light sleeper, check out the high decibel-blocking earplugs at home improvement stores, designed for those who use jackhammers on a regular basis.

Kick out the pets. We know, you love sleeping with Fido or Fluffy (or both), but they are typically bed hogs that are too cute to move, and they give off a massive amount of heat that can negate any afore-mentioned room temperature controls. They might whine outside your door at first, but the uninterrupted sleep will be worth it in the long run.

Counteract Overindulgence and Feel Better

Posted on August 16, 2011 by ag-admin

Have too much to dream last night? Fix the overindulgence that ails you with the tips below.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/OSTILL

Eat, drink and be merry, as they say. Food, drink and beautiful days are some of life’s greatest joys, but if you overeat, drink too much alcohol or stay out in the sun too long, you won’t feel much like celebrating tomorrow. Counteract overindulgence in alcohol, food, all-nighters, work, exercise, caffeine and sun exposure by giving your body some much-needed recovery time. See below for how to fight off too much of any good thing.

Too Much to Drink

If you’ve had more than five cocktails in a four- to six-hour period, you’ll probably have a hangover the next day. Symptoms are worsened if you didn’t drink enough water, eat much or sleep much or if you danced and dehydrated yourself even further. Feel better by taking two aspirin (if your stomach isn’t sensitive to it), drinking lots of water, drinking a little fruit juice (which speeds up the rate your body gets rid of toxins), eating a banana or kiwi to replace potassium lost and sleeping it off if you can.

Too Much to Eat

We’ve all eaten to the point of discomfort, especially on Thanksgiving. If you overdid it at the buffet, Grandma’s table or your favorite restaurant, try not to lie down. Stand up, stretch a little and take a relaxing walk to encourage digestion, or perform a light task around the house, such as folding clothes or washing dishes. When you feel a little better, slowly sip ginger ale, ginger tea or ice water and relax for awhile.

Too Much Fun

In this case, too much fun equals too little sleep. Whether you couldn’t sleep because of unfamiliar surroundings or because you were up working on a project all night, you begin to feel the effects of it immediately. Instead of guzzling an extra-large cup of coffee, drink smaller doses of coffee or black tea every hour, and try to stop around 4 p.m. Eat five small meals containing protein, evenly spaced throughout the day, to provide energy, and avoid sugar and fatty foods. Try to take a 20- to 30-minute nap sometime throughout the day to recharge.

Too Much Work

This may seem like an easy one, but working too much can be as addictive as gambling, drinking or taking drugs and produce similar side effects, such as stomach aches, irritability and muscle pain. Try to carve out time for yourself by becoming more effective when you are at work. More productivity equals less hours working. Reach out to friends and family to schedule time spent with them, and turn off your phone, laptop, iPad and Blackberry when you get home each day. If you can’t turn it off completely, set up “office hours” for yourself, where you will only check and respond to emails between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. In extreme cases, take a personal day to recharge and reprioritize – or just to spend time with family and friends.

Too Much Exercise

If you’re experiencing extreme muscle pain, headaches, fatigue, a loss of appetite and a decrease in athletic performance, you may have overdone it at the gym. Recovery time is important to your body’s muscle development, so rest each muscle group a day after lifting weights or doing crunches. Stretch or attend a yoga class, and soak in a warm bath with Epsom salt added in. Take two ibuprofen to reduce muscle inflammation, drink lots of water and take an easy walk if you can to help combat muscle stiffness.

Too Much Caffeine

Are your fingers shaking as you type and are you sweating more than usual? You may have had too much caffeine. While you can’t do anything to speed up metabolizing caffeine, you can participate in activities that calm you. Refrain from putting yourself in stressful situations, which combined with the caffeine, may cause you to snap at others.

Too Much Sun

We probably don’t have to explain what a sunburn feels like – if you have one after spending too much time in the sun, you’ll know. First, lie down in an air-conditioned room, and apply cool cloths to sunburned areas. Take frequent cool showers or baths, apply aloe vera lotion or a cream with 1 percent hydrocortisone to the affected areas and drink lots of water to help hydrate your skin.

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