Advertise Here

Tips for Reducing Dust Allergens – Rid Yourself of the Sniffles

April 30, 2007 By

Being allergic to something as prolific as dust can be tough to combat. The following tips to reducing dust allergens can go a long way to helping rid yourself of the sniffles.

The most common treatment for allergies is to simply avoid whatever you’re allergic to. While you can stay inside during pollen season, or not eat foods with peanuts, you can’t really avoid dust. It’s everywhere, and not just where you can see it. You can dust surfaces all your want, there’s still millions of dust mites lurking all over your home. The key to staying healthy is to know how to get rid of them. Here are some tips to help you reduce dust allergens:

Get rid of carpet. Hardwood floors may be expensive, but they’re a whole lot better for your health. Carpets are a great place for dust mites to hide out and vacuuming does little to rid you of the problem. If you can’t get rid of carpet, use a HEPA filtered vacuum and a hot water carpet cleaner as often as you can. Another alternative is to have hard flooring with rugs on top. Rugs can easily be washed or steam cleaned to get rid of dust.

Protect your mattress. Just like your carpet, mattresses are a great place for dust mites to hide. But unlike your mattress, you probably don’t spend a third of your life lying on your carpet. Since you probably can’t afford to replace your mattress all the time, find specialized allergy covers for your mattress. They also make covers for your pillows too.

Clean your bedding. Your mattress and pillows aren’t the only place in your bed dust mites like to hang out. They can build up in your sheets, blankets and comforters. That’s why it’s important to wash all your bedding in hot water at least once every two weeks. You should also consider getting a comforter made from a synthetic material rather than down or other natural fibers.

Filter your air. Most people know you’re supposed to change you home’s air filters every three months, but that doesn’t mean most people do. Stay on top of changing the air filter. Plus, they make special filters that help keep dust and other allergens out of the air you breathe. They cost more, but they’re well worth it if you have allergies.

Go Minimalist. While those little knick knacks all over your house may look nice, they can collect dust like none other. Cut down on the number of items you have sitting out and try to use decorations that are easy to dust or clean.

Don’t just move the dust. Traditional dusters and cloths just push dust off your items. Dust or clean with something that actually picks up the dust (static cleaners work best) and keeps it on the duster. This way you know you’re getting rid of it not just moving it somewhere else.

Sure, some of these tips require a lot of work and possibly a bit of money, but the improvement you see in your health will be well worth the effort.

To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk Guide to Raising Happy & Healthy Kids – Tips and resources address nutrition, exercise, sleep, routines, and much more.

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, Home

Typical Family Budget – Small Steps Equal Big Savings

April 30, 2007 By

Have you ever noticed that a week after payday your pockets are nearly empty? Without a family budget, this could be you. Keeping track of your income and expenditures is important to keep a family afloat. Set up a family budget.

To start the budget process gather your check stubs from the previous three months. If any other money is coming into the household on a regular basis from month to month, this should be included also. Average the numbers to come up with a total monthly income.

Make a list of the monthly bills. This list should include: mortgage/rent, all utilities listed separately, food allowance, school lunches for the kids, car payments, gas, insurance payments, childcare, monthly medical costs, and credit card bills. If there are other monthly allowances you need to add, put these on the list as well. Record the payment amount for each expense. Most utility companies will work with you to set up an equal payment plan so that you can budget for the same amount each month.

Add up the monthly bills. This is the total amount of money you will need each month to pay your bills. Subtract this amount from the actual income you expect to make. If the result is a negative number, then you need to find a way to bring more income into the home. And, if the difference is to the good, the family must decide what to do with it.

Before you panic about outcome, see where you can cut costs on bills. Paying bills on time will avoid late fees and penalties that can add up to less money in your pocket. Give your children a set amount of money each month for school lunch. If they go over their budgeted amount, then they have to pack their lunch for the remainder of the month. Opt to use the dependent care spending account at your job to pay the cost of daycare.

With the money that is leftover, set up a line item for entertainment, college savings, and miscellaneous expenditures. In the entertainment category, seeing a matinee movie instead of one at night will save money on the total cost of a night out. Miscellaneous expenditures include car repairs, haircuts, kid’s allowances, and home repairs.

Once you’ve plugged in the numbers, the hard part comes. Get the family to commit to the new budget for two months to see how it works. Track the actual money spent on each item. If you are under on some and over on others, adjust the amount of money allotted to those items. Whatever you do, don’t scrap the budget. If you are diligent, it will keep the family in the black.

Grab your Mom’s Talk Guide to Family Budgeting – Step-by-step guide to help you establish a workable budget.

Filed Under: Money & Finance

Window Cleaning Tips: How To Make Them Sparkle

April 29, 2007 By

Cleaning windows is something that has to be done whether we want to or not. The following window cleaning tips can make short work of a big chore with shining results.

With spring just around the corner, most of you can’t wait to wash the windows in your home. Surprisingly, there have been many ideas afloat on how to wash windows properly. To this end, here are some tips for cleaning your home’s windows, which have been the subject of much debate.

In the old days, washing windows simply involved taking some soap and water and cleaning the windows, frames and sills; the top and bottom of the casing, and you were done. With the advent of glass cleaners, it certainly made cleaning windows much easier. Now that we have become environmentally aware of toxins and chemicals; we are returning back to the old days but with a slight twist.

Using vinegar and water is one way in which you can clean your windows. The process begins with removing window shades, blinds and curtains. Use a clean rag to wipe away any dirt or grime from the frame and sills. Use a wet rag to rid your windows of dirt and grime as well. Then using water and vinegar; clean your windows from top to bottom. Go over the glass with a clean cloth; then proceed to wash the frames and sills with a damp cloth. Dry and you’re done!

Some people who have used this method claim that using vinegar left streaks on their windows. The remedy is to add a minute bit of dish soap to the vinegar and water. Voila! No more streaks!

Other tips for cleaning your home’s windows include purchasing a window washing kit. If you want to spend money on this you can. Or, you can simply purchase a squeegee. Just like using a squeegee on your car windows, the same process applies. Using a few drops of liquid soap, water and vinegar; proceed by using a sponge to wash the windows. Then dip the squeegee into clean water, and beginning from the top of the window to the bottom, just run the squeegee down. Remove the wash from the squeegee with a paper towel, and repeat the process as you complete washing the entire window. To finish the window off, run the squeegee along the bottom of the window horizontally to remove excess water than has dripped down to the bottom surface.

Whatever method you choose, these window cleaning tips can give your home, inside and out, a brilliant sparkle. Ah, clean windows; don’t you just love it!

Keep up with what’s happening at Mom’s Talk Network, by clicking here.

Filed Under: Home

Cleaning Your Carpets – Keep Them Looking Like New

April 29, 2007 By

Cleaning carpets doesn’t have to be a dreaded chore if you take some preventative steps to reduce the buildup.

Having just purchased a new carpet for the living room, there is always that feeling of what if. A living room is meant to be lived in; just because a new carpet has been installed doesn’t mean the room should to be roped off and only used on certain occasions. There will be the occasional spills. In order to avoid any accumulation of dust or other foreign matters, here are tips for cleaning your carpet.

  • Vacuum often
  • If you spill anything on the carpet; take a paper towel and pat down on the spill until it is absorbed onto the paper towel.
  • Whenever possible, use door mats to have your family wipe their shoes so nothing is tracked onto the carpet.
  • Be careful when using certain cleaning supplies
  • If you choose to have your carpet shampooed; be sure to ask if the scotch guard will be removed in the process.
  • Do not allow any family member to eat in the living room.

While these are just a few tips for cleaning your carpets, you may certainly have your own tried and tested methods to keep your carpet clean. Preventative measures are the best way to avoid soiling your new carpet.

*Cleaning supplies note: There are so many products which claim to remove stains from carpets. There is one thing you need to be aware of. Most of these carpet cleaners not only remove the scotch guard, but lighten the soiled area as well. Not only are these cleaners toxic; they include dangerous chemicals as well.

Buying a new carpet is an expensive undertaking. To ensure it is kept as pristine as possible, you can use these tips for cleaning your carpets. However, as mentioned earlier your home is meant to be lived in; so accidental spills will happen. Don’t stress over it. Just attend to the spillage as soon as possible and set some ground rules for the entire family.

Keep up with what’s happening at Mom’s Talk Network, by clicking here.

Filed Under: Home

Travel Games for Children – Fun Ways to Pass the Time

April 29, 2007 By

There is one question parent’s dislike hearing when on a long road trip: “Are we there yet?” The kids are restless and jumping all over the backseat. What can you do to keep from pulling your hair out? Here are some ideas for games and activities to keep your children occupied on those extended trips.

Everyone loves puzzles. They tease the brain and keep us occupied. Check the internet for sites with downloadable brain teasers that will keep your children busy for hours. Don’t forget to bring the pencils. For added fun, give out a few prizes for the child that finds the most words in the word search or wins the most games of tic-tac-toe. Offering incentives helps them to stay interested in the games.

Our favorite thing to do on long trips was to sing old songs. We would sing campfire songs, round robin songs like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”, nursery rhyme songs, commercial jingles, and others. You could give each child a word and see who can come up with the best song using that word.

Bring your video games. Newer model sport utility vehicles (SUV’s) and minivans come with a DVD player that contains hook-ups for video game controllers. If you don’t happen to own one of these vehicles, invest in a portable DVD player that allows for video game play. This is a good investment if you and your children travel a lot during the year. Something like this will keep children, especially boys out of your hair for most if not all of the trip.

For younger children, purchase educational toys that make sounds. For preschool or kindergarten kids, toys that make animal sounds or talk back when they press a button will fascinate them. Playschool® makes educational games for all ages that can be adapted for travel.

Involve your children in their surroundings. The license plate game involves finding as many different car license plates as you can. Each state counts only once. They may see the same license plates for a while until you leave your home state. Give each child a sheet with each state listed. As they call out the license plates they see, have them circle the state name.

Stores sell magnetic board games such as chess, checkers, and tic-tac-toe. This way, you don’t have to worry about your children losing the pieces. If you have younger children in the car also, have the older kids play the game on a different seat or with their backs to the smaller children so they won’t grab and swallow the pieces.

Plan ahead. Children dread a long trip if there’s nothing to do. Give them plenty of activity options and join in the fun.

To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk Guide to Raising Happy & Healthy Kids – Tips and resources address nutrition, exercise, sleep, routines, and much more.

Filed Under: Travel
« Older Posts

Come Get To Know Us :)

We're Very Social!