When we talk about “living healthy,” most of us think about eating right and exercising regularly. But healthy doesn’t stop there.

Take your home, for instance. Is your home clean AND healthy? What about your kitchen? Germs and bacteria are mostly found in the kitchen since it is one of the most used rooms in the home. The kitchen is where food is prepared, children do their homework, and family and friends gather together, which is why the kitchen is an important place to practice good hygiene.

How do you keep your kitchen healthy AND clean? Start by going green!

Use glass containers instead of plastic ones to store and also to heat up your food. Glass containers can be used in the microwave safely, which means you don’t have to worry about chemicals coming in contact with your food.

Wash your fruits and vegetables with a spritz of vinegar and warm water. Pat them dry and store them in a cool place. Do not store clean and unwashed produce in the same place.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about ten million cases of food poisoning occur in the United States every year, and one out of every five outbreaks of food-borne illnesses are caused by food that people eat in their homes. Since leafy vegetables and plants are responsible for over half the cases reported, be sure to wash them thoroughly before cooking or eating them. Because one-third of the reported cases are caused by contaminated poultry, be sure to wash your poultry with a vinegar and water solution first before preparing.

Some of the more common kitchen germs are shigella, dysenteriae, E. coli and salmonella. Refrigerator ice and water dispensers, spatulas, refrigerator vegetable and meat compartments, and rubber gaskets on blenders are known to harbor these and other bacteria the most.

Since water and ice dispensers are moist areas, they have a tendency to breed organisms containing mold and yeast, something allergy sufferers could do without.

Refrigerator vegetable and meat compartments are homes to salmonella and listeria.

Mold, yeast, and E. coli lurk on spatulas. If your spatula scraper and handle can be separated, be sure to clean both pieces to get rid of the old food found on the inside of the spatula.

Blender gaskets, if not cleaned properly, can harbor salmonella, E. coli, yeast and mold. Be sure to disassemble the blenders before cleaning them or placing them in the dishwasher.

Rinse can openers with soap and warm water after using them. Dry thoroughly before putting them away.

Wipe down the inside and outside of your refrigerator and freezer. Don’t forget the corners!

Clean your microwave by placing a bowl of water and lemon wedges in the microwave. Set timer for one minute. Take out bowl and wipe the inside walls of the microwave with a damp microfiber cloth.

Clean countertops, cutting boards, light switches, cabinet hardware and floors with your favorite natural homemade ingredients. Some ingredients to try are:

Vinegar (my favorite). Vinegar is an acidic solution that kills germs and microbes. For a great sanitizer, mix 1 cup water, ½ cup apple cider or white vinegar, and a few drops of citrus essential oil in a spray bottle. Spray. Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.

Hydrogen Peroxide (my second favorite). Combined with vinegar, hydrogen peroxide is a wonderful bacteria killer. Use hydrogen peroxide alone, with vinegar, or mix with equal parts of warm water to banish salmonella, E. coli and shigella on countertops, cutting boards, and appliances.

Tea Tree Oil. This antibiotic-resistant bacteria essential oil kills shigella, salmonella and E. coli on all surfaces. For a powerful cleaner, mix 2 cups warm water, 2 tablespoons white vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon liquid castile soap, and 15 drops of tea tree oil. Pour into spray bottle. Spray and wipe clean.

Grapefruit Seed Extract. Grapefruit seed extract is a liquid derived from the pulp, seeds, and white membranes of grapefruit. It is a potent antimicrobial and disinfectant that works against bacteria, flu and viruses which can cause ear infections, sinusitis and meningitis. For a fruit and vegetable wash, add 20 drops of the extract to a sink filled with warm water. To clean your cutting board, add 10 drops of the extract to the surface and spread it around with a damp cloth. Let sit for 30 minutes. Rinse then wipe clean. For an all-purpose cleaner, add 20 drops of extract to a spray bottle full of warm water. Mix, spray and wipe clean.

Neem Oil. Made from seeds of trees in India, Neem oil has sanitizing properties and can also be used as an insect repellent to keep insects out of the kitchen. In order for the oil to work properly, it must be combined with a vegetable-based liquid soap such as Castile Soap. Add a few drops of Neem oil, a tablespoon of Castile Soap and some warm water to a spray bottle. Shake, spray and wipe clean.

Keeping your kitchen free from germs and bacteria is a great start to a healthy family and a healthier home!

The summer season has officially ended.  It's time to pack up the outdoor furniture, cover the pool, and start preparing your home for the upcoming colder weather.  The beginning of fall is the perfect time to give your home a "once over."  This way, if you have any repairs you need to do, you can get them done before the winter weather arrives so your family will be cozy and warm all winter long.

Start by inspecting all the doors and windows in your home.  If you feel air coming through the bottom of the door, replace the door sweeps and the weather-stripping.  This will help save you about one-third of your usual average annual cost to heat and cool your home.

Next, caulk all the drafty windows.  Replace old single-pane windows with thicker versions.  Insulate attics and walls.

Wash your windows with a mixture of two cups white distilled vinegar and a half cup water.  Pour ingredients into a spray bottle and spray.  Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.

Remove screens and replace damaged screens.  Clean your screens with castile soap and warm water.  Store screens in a big trash bag so they stay clean throughout the winter.

Inspect your chimney and flue at least once a year to minimize the threat of chimney fires.  If possible, purchase a chimney cap to keep the moisture out and to prevent water from leaking into your home.  (Last year the chimney cap blew off of the chimney and we had water flowing all the way into the basement!)

Check gutters and downspouts and make sure they are flowing freely.  Sometimes falling leaves (or in my case, handballs from my children) can block the gutters and prevent the water from flowing properly.  Clogs can sometimes cause rainwater to run down the foundation walls of your home and get under the roofing.

Look for cracks in the foundation of your home and seal them to prevent moisture buildup.  While you're at it, prevent your decks and fences from rotting by sealing them too.

The roof takes a beating in cold weather, so repair leaks and replace loose shingles on the roof.

Insulate pipes, especially the ones that are located in unheated areas.  In case of a pipe leak, make sure you know where your water shut-off valves are.

Trim all tree branches that are close to your home and driveway to prevent damage to your home and car.

Install a programmable thermostat.  Did you know that you can save up to one percent on your energy bill for every degree your thermostat is adjusted? Believe it or not, programmable thermostats can reduce your energy bills by about $100 a year.

In the home, repair leaky faucets and toilets.  Leaks can add up to twenty gallons of water per person per day!  If possible, purchase low-flush toilets which use about 1.6 gallons of water per flush, and low-flush showerheads which use about 36 percent less water.

Preparing your home for cool weather helps protect your home and your family for the upcoming winter season.  If you feel more comfortable hiring a professional, certified home inspectors will check all areas of your home and give you a report of the condition of your home.

Another beautiful summer season is about to end, but that doesn't mean your love for the planet has to! All summer long, you’ve been green – ditching those pesticides, composting leftover food, and replacing plastic water bottles with reusable ones. Heck, you even rode your bike to work a few times! Don’t let the autumn weather and the beginning of school stop you in your green tracks. When school is in session, there will be plenty of reducing, reusing, and recycling that can be done while you are reading, writing, and doing arithmetic! Where shall you begin? How about in your supply bag.

Believe it or not, an average American family with school aged children spends about $500 on supplies for the school season. Because these supplies are a necessity, we wind up buying disposable supplies like pens and glue sticks that will do the job. But these supplies are often thrown away before their time. In fact, six billion pens are thrown away in the United States every year.

Paper is another school supply that is wasted quite often. The average school throws away almost 40 tons of paper every school year. About 650 trees are cut down each year just for paper, which is why purchasing recycled paper and then recycling it after using it is important. Think about it, for every 220,000 sheets of paper that is recycled, 17 trees are saved. So remember, don’t be afraid to follow your path of green and learn behaviors that can last the entire school season and beyond.

Here are a few more things to help you along your green journey:

Plan your green strategy ahead of time.

Think about your green approach. Will you be bringing lunch every day? Which supplies can you use from last year? Can you reuse your old gym bag or lock for your locker? Can I use one loose leaf binder instead of separate notebooks for my courses?
Prepare a list of what you know you need, what you think you might need, and what you want, and carefully consider which items go in which section of the list.

Go through inventory.

Take a look at what you have from last year. Shoes, backpacks, notebooks, markers, extra pencils and pens, etc., and see which items can be used again. Avoid last-minute impulse purchases by making a list of what you need and sticking to it.

When it comes to buying pens and pencils, choose refillable pens and biodegradable pencils. Encourage your children to use their pens and pencils as long as they can before switching to a new one.

Cut down on paper consumption. Buy products with the highest percentage of post-consumer recycled content that is PCF, or processed chlorine free, like Mead Recycled Notebooks and New Leaf Printer Paper. To save paper, use both sides of the page when taking notes, and use a flash drive instead of printing and toting assignments to and from school.

Use Caution When Shopping for School Supplies.

Think twice about loading up on supplies in the beginning of the year, especially if the supplies are not used every day. Also, don’t be tempted by buying the better deal on a dozen bottles of glue if you know you only need three. Covering textbooks with cut-up grocery or shopping bags helps reduce waste and keeps your books in good condition.

Green Lunches.

Tote your lunch in a PVC-free, thermally insulated lunch bag. Keep lunches cool by freezing water or juice in a reusable container and putting it in the bag. Instead of using Ziploc bags and tinfoil to wrap sandwiches and snacks, use reusable plastic containers. Instead of packing plastic bottles for beverages, use metal ones. Klean Kanteen has a variety of sizes and designs.

Get your kids involved in packing healthy lunches by letting them choose the ingredients. For a snack, pick apples, oranges, bananas, and other healthy fruit that come with their own compostable wrapping. Pack homemade granola bars instead of purchasing individually wrapped purchased bars, or pack some fruit or vegetable sticks and a couple of slices of cheese. Leftovers also make great lunches.

If you buy lunch, take and use only what you need, such as one napkin, one ketchup packet, one salt and/or pepper packet, and silverware. Recycle your cans and bottles, and separate your waste in the school separation bins.

Clothes Shopping.

Almost half of the money spent on back to school shopping goes to buying clothes. Hand-me-downs are a great place to get started, and so are thrift stores. When heading out to the mall to buy school clothes, choose well-made, high-quality items made from more sustainable fabrics like organic cotton or bamboo.

Getting to School.

Getting to school can also be green. If school is nearby, walking or biking is the way to go. If walking, biking, or busing are not options, why not save gas and start a parent carpool and divide the ride?

Keep Up With Your Green Ways.

Greening your back to school experience is a great way to start the year, and a great way to make progress toward a sustainable lifestyle. So, why not keep it going all year round? Apply the lessons you have learned preparing to go back to school to other parts of your life.

Amongst the mound of dirty clothes, the half-folded piles of clean clothes, the smelly gym bags and the empty candy wrappers lies a beautiful place we call “the kids room.”

Messy bedrooms and kids usually go hand in hand.  Unfortunately, messy bedrooms don’t sit well with most parents.  That's why you should get your kids excited about cleaning early on in life.

Start Early On

When children are about two or three years old, they can begin learning ways of keeping their room clean, such as putting away a toy before taking out another.  Setting limits on the amount of toys being taken out at once also helps.  At this age, kids can learn to store toys in certain spaces, like bins or baskets. They also get a sense of organization early on.

Sometimes when a messy bedroom gets out of hand and the toddler needs help cleaning, it is the parent’s job to make cleaning a fun experience and not a chore.  Be specific about each chore.  For example, “putting all the cars in the cabinet,” works well at this age.  Praising the child for being helpful also goes a long way.

When children are about four or five years old, they can learn how to make their beds.  An easy way to teach them is to have them lay in their bed under the covers like they were sleeping.  While under the covers, have them flatten and straighten the top covers.  Then, have your child slide out from under the covers, and voila!  The bed is made!

Keep Things Fun

Here are some other ways to make cleaning your room fun for the kids:

• Pick a color and have your children pick up and put away all the items of the same color.
• Time yourself and try to beat last weeks’ time, or challenge your kids to see who can make their bed faster and neater. If you have a floor full of toys, give each child an empty bucket, set a timer for a minute, and see who can collect the most toys. The winner gets to pick the snack for the night, or the next family movie to watch.
•  Involve all family members in cleaning.  Give them the proper tools needed to do a good job cleaning.  Give them one-on-one instruction and let them learn from you.
• Put on some kid friendly music while teaching them how to fold laundry.  Make it a game and see how much laundry can be put away in five minutes.  Work, then dance!
• Find out which jobs your children like to do the most and assign that chore to them.  Maybe one child is better at washing dishes than dusting furniture.
• Make a list of things that need to be accomplished from each child by the end of the week.  Write a list for each child and put it in their rooms.
• Make an interesting chore chart by making cleaning a part of the Olympics, where each child gets a medal for cleaning.
• Make a habit of daily cleanups, about fifteen minutes each night, instead of longer cleanups which tend to be tedious.
• Reward your children for doing their chores.  Be as supportive and encouraging.  Thank them for their efforts, even if their efforts aren’t perfect.
• As hard as it may be at times, don’t redo their work.  Don’t let your child walk away thinking their work wasn’t good enough.  If you don’t like how they folded the laundry, for example, assign them a different chore next time.
• Have places to store things like important homework, toys, and books.  Place a laundry basket in the bathroom or in each of the kid’s rooms.
• For both teens and younger children, use the “work before play” rule if needed.

Above all, have patience.  Good cleaning habits don’t happen overnight.  Start young and establish fun cleaning and “picking up” skills that your children can learn and accept as part of making the household run smoothly and neatly.

For many of us, controlling asthma symptoms is a way of life.  It is almost impossible to avoid these symptoms all of the time, but knowing what materials, conditions, or activities trigger your asthma and learning how to avoid them is key to living a healthy life.

Things that cause asthma attacks in one person might be different for someone else.  Educating yourself on common causes of asthma attacks is important in preventing exposure and reducing allergy flare-ups.  Some common allergy triggers are:

• Breathing in mold and mildew:  The moisture in the air, called humidity, makes mold grow.  Keep the humidity level low by using a dehumidifier or an air conditioner in your basement and your home.  Humidity levels should not be higher than 50%.  Install an exhaust fan in the bathroom, or open the window to help reduce the moisture level in the air after showering.  Avoid mold growing behind the walls by checking and fixing all water leaks.  Check around your yard for piles of molded wood and leaves and discard them.

• Dust Mites:  Tiny bugs, called dust mites, are common asthma and allergy triggers.  Believe it or not, almost every home contains dust mites.  Cover your bed mattresses, pillows, sofas and box springs with dust-proof covers. Avoid down pillows and bedding.  Remove clutter as much as possible from your home, especially in the closets and in the bedrooms.  Wash all bedding on the hottest water setting to kill off dust mites.  Minimize your stuffed animal collection.  If possible, avoid carpeting and stick with wood or laminate flooring or tile which is easier to clean. Check out this post to find out how to get rid of dust mites.

• Cockroaches and their droppings:  Cockroaches are usually found in places where food is eaten and crumbs are left behind.  To get rid of cockroaches that may be lurking around your home, remove as many food and water sources you have lying around your home.  This includes half-filled water glasses and empty candy wrappers that might have been left in bedrooms or basements.  Try and sweep or vacuum every couple of days to minimize crumbs.  Cover up all food after eating.  Keep food in airtight containers or in the refrigerator.  Keep your trash cans tightly covered.  Be sure to check outside to see if there are cockroaches hiding around the outside of your home.  Seal up cracks where roaches can get in.  Limit the use of pesticides when possible.

• Smoke:  First things first.  If you have asthma and you smoke, please consider quitting smoking.  But secondhand smoke also causes asthma attacks.  Even the smell of smoke on clothing is enough to cause an attack in certain people.  Avoid standing near people when they are smoking and don’t allow anyone to smoke in your home or your car.  If you do smoke, wash your hands after smoking.

• Fumes from gas, wood, kerosene stoves, fireplaces, stoves, and even car exhaust can trigger asthma and allergy attacks. Avoid burning wood in your home.   Make sure your stove is properly vented to the outside. For gas stoves, install an exhaust fan that vents outside while cooking.  If you plan on using an unvented kerosene or gas space heater, be sure to open the window or use an exhaust fan.  When using your fireplace, make sure the flue is open so the smoke escapes out the chimney.  Clean and inspect your heating system each year.  If you have an attached garage, do not keep your car idling inside the garage.  Avoid breathing in barbeque and campfire smoke.  Use an air conditioner as much as possible in the spring and summer months to clean your indoor air.  Change the filter at least once a month.

• Our cute and cuddly friends, our pets, may trigger asthma flare-ups in some people.  If possible, bathe your pets weekly.  If possible, vacuum often.  People with asthma are not allergic to the pet’s hair, so keeping the hair trimmed doesn’t usually help.  It is the pet dander that is the trigger.  Dust and mop using microfiber cloths and mops and vacuum with a HEPA filtered vacuum.  Wash your hands after playing with you pets.  Keep pets off of furniture and counter tops as much as possible. Click here to learn how to get rid of pet hair and dander.

• Many common household products, like cleaning supplies, paints, pesticides, perfumes, and soaps can be a problem for some people with asthma.  These strong smelling products release chemicals into the air.  Avoid toxic chemicals by cleaning with non-toxic, natural ingredients.  Use unscented or fragrance-free soaps, shampoos, and detergents.  Avoid wearing perfumes or colognes.  Instead of using air fresheners and scented candles, choose essential oils.  Avoid pesticides.  Use non-toxic paints and clays.  Avoid using chalk because of the dust.

• Dust:  As much as we clean it, dust is always around.  Dust is filled with a variety of allergy triggers that need to be avoided.  Be sure to dust your home with a microfiber cloth because the microfiber cloth traps the dust instead of releasing it back into the air.  A HEPA filtered vacuum is the only kind of vacuum that actually removes dust particles.

If you think you may be suffering from asthma or allergies, ask your doctor about getting an allergy test.  Educate and work with your doctor on learning possible asthma and allergy triggers and how to control them so you can live a healthy life.

A long, long time ago, the infamous house dust mite was born.  Originally they lived in colonies scavenging on decaying organic matter.  Today, house dust mites found their way indoors by hitching a ride on modern man.  They decided to set up tent in the warm, humid, cluttered environment we call “home.”  In doing so, dust mites have caused all types of maladies, especially asthma and allergies.

What exactly are dust mites?

Dust mites are tiny scavengers closely related to spiders and ticks.  They are made up of 75% water in weight.  They eat dead skin cells and hair covered in bacteria, pollen, mold, fungi, and yeasts.  They can live up to three months in damp, warm environments.  Female mites lay about 60 eggs in that time.  Mites produce about 20 droppings a day, which for them, is considered their source of food because the droppings are filled with leftover food and enzymes.

In our homes, dust mites live in clothing, carpets, bedding, and even our baking flour.  They travel by attaching themselves to material, fur, feathers, socks, pajamas, and soft toys.  They prefer light material items because they can hide in them.

Why do they trigger allergies?

Mites are usually associated with allergies because the body parts from dead mites are so small they become airborne and get inhaled.  The mites also produce powerful enzymes that are strong enough to break down delicate cells.  They are known to cause hay fever, asthma, sinusitis, eczema, skin rashes, wheezing, sneezing, itching, watery eyes, allergic and migraine headaches, urticarial dermatitis, and certain gut disorders.

Because house dust mites are so tiny — about 0.3 mm — they are not visible to the naked eye.  They may be visible through a magnifying glass.

Ick! What do I do about them?

It is impossible to get rid of dust mites completely, but there are ways to keep them at a minimum in your home and your bed:

• Keep your bedding clean.  People spend a lot of time in their beds and lose a lot of dead skin while they’re there. Wash your bedding at least once a week and wash the bedding in hot water. Cold water will not kill every dust mite.  Cover your mattress, pillows, box springs and duvet covers with micro-porous material.  Remove clutter near your bed.  Before making your bed in the morning, air it out to reduce moisture buildup.  Make sure your mattress is made from latex.  Freeze all stuffed toys that cannot be washed for about 48 hours to kill dust mites.
• Also, get your pet its own bed. A dust mite is just as happy to eat pet dander as human.  Remember to wash your pet’s blankets and bedding weekly too.
• Carpeting is a dust mite magnet because there are so many places to hide in it!  Even when you vacuum, most dust mites stay alive by grabbing onto the carpet fibers.  If possible, remove as much carpet as you can and switch to wood, linoleum, or laminate flooring.  If flooring is not an option, have your carpets steam cleaned on a regular basis.
• Keep your home free of clutter as much as possible.  Everything in the home should have a place.  Clean your home.  Wearing a dust mask, start high and work your way down.  With a dry microfiber cloth, dust walls, fan blades, tops of shelves, tops of picture frames, and anything else that might collect dust. Don’t forget to clean the draperies.
• When vacuuming, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.  Vacuum upholstered furniture, floors,  and carpets.  Mop floors with a damp microfiber mop.
• Since dust mites thrive in a warm and humid environment, lower the thermostat below 70 degrees and install some air conditioners. Air conditioners are really good at lowering the humidity levels of a home. So are dehumidifiers. Ideally, keep the humidity level below 35%.
• Keeping a clean and clutter-free house is just one of the ways you can prevent house dust mites from taking over your home.

Remember, dust mites can never be fully eliminated, but these basic tips will help you suffer less because of them.

I love my two cats.  They bring so much joy and happiness to my family every day.  They are my companions when my husband is working and the kids are out.  Our cats love us unconditionally, which is why I spoil them so much!  Even though I suffer from allergies, I could never give my cats away, which is why I make sure I reduce the allergens in my home as much as I can.

What exactly causes an allergic response when it comes to pets?

It is the animal dander, or the loose skin flakes that the animals shed.  Sometimes allergies can be caused the proteins in the pet’s hair.  Either way, when the allergens come in contact with your skin, an allergic reaction can occur.

Pet’s fur can collect allergens like dust, mold spores, and pollen from the outside environment just like people collect on their clothes, shoes, and hair when they come in from the outdoors.  Pet dander and other allergens can be found anywhere in the home, especially in carpets, drapery, upholstery and bedding.

How to get rid of the allergens:

For people with mild pet allergies, there are things you can do to reduce your exposure to animal dander and other pert allergens in your home:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after playing with your pet.
• Keep pets off the furniture as much as possible.  For cats, buy a cat tree so they have a place to climb and sit.  For dogs, place a dog bed in a corner of the room.  Wash the pet bed at least once a month.
• Clean your indoor air by setting up a HEPA filtered air purifier in the rooms most often used in your home, or in your bedroom.
• Vacuum frequently with a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner that traps and permanently removes airborne allergens.  I vacuum the kitchen floor every day and the bedrooms every other day since they are the rooms most often used in my home.  This helps lessen all types of allergens tremendously.
• Cloth curtains, carpeted floors and blinds tend to trap and hide allergens.  If possible, placing laminate, vinyl, or hardwood flooring down instead of carpeting is a big step in reducing allergens in the home.  Hang sheer curtains and draperies that can be taken down and washed also helps to keep allergens at bay.  Place washable area rugs around your home.
• Use an air conditioner during the summer and days calling for high pollen count.  Don’t forget to change the air filters on a monthly basis.
• Wipe down baseboards and counter tops on a regular basis with a damp microfiber cloth and a mix of warm water and liquid dish soap.  Microfiber cloths are great to use because they trap the dirt instead of kicking it back up into the air.  Plus, when the cloth gets dirty, you can throw it in the washer and use it over and over again.
• When cleaning, wear a face mask if your allergies are severe.  Use natural green cleaning ingredients and non-toxic cleaners to clean your home.  Microfiber cloths, microfiber mops and a HEPA filtered vacuum work wonders when it comes to allergens.
• Be sure to wipe your pets coat and paws off after coming in from outside.  Leave all shoes at the door.
• Cover all bedding, pillows, and mattresses in allergy-free cases.  Invest in cotton and polyester pillow and pillow cases which help reduce allergies.  Make sure you vacuum mattresses and bedroom floor often.
• If possible, give your pet a weekly bath using anti-dander shampoo.
• Vacuum all upholstered furniture.  For quick fixes on cleaning up pet hair, take a lint roller brush or a yellow rubber glove and wipe along the furniture.  To clean pet hair off area rugs quickly, spray a little vodka on the rug, and, with a yellow rubber glove, swipe over the pet hair.  The hair comes up easy!
• Use a low-dust, scent-free kitty litter.  Sprinkle a little baking soda on the top of it to keep the odor away.

Educating yourself on how to lessen pet dander and other allergy-triggers in your home is an important step in keeping  your allergy symptoms at bay. Follow these tips to stay healthy and happy, even with your beloved pets around.