14 Ways To Make Your Home An Allergy-Free Zone

Pollen... (Photo credit: igor_nz)

Spring is finally here! This is great for those who hate the winter cold. Unfortunately, it also means that allergies are in full swing!

In my previous post about Spring allergies, I mentioned that an estimated 54% of the American population has a reaction to at least one allergen (a substance, often a protein, that causes an allergy, such as pollen or dust). Indoor allergens like dust mites, mold, pet dander and mildew can be problematic year-round, but pollen is probably the major cause of spring (outdoor) allergies.

Here are 14 ways that you can minimize allergens in your home, with little to no money at all:

1. Dust everything! I'm talking windows, book shelves, furniture, air conditioning vents- all the things that collected dust and/or mold during the winter months. 
2. Use a microfiber cloth which are eco-friendly, in that they reduce the use of cleaning products and paper towels or other disposable products, while efficiently removing dust, allergens and bacteria.
3. Change your sheets and pillowcases often. This will help prevent build up of dust, pollen, etc.
4. Wash your bedding, pajamas, and clothing as often as possible in hot (at least 130° F) to get rid of allergens. Pollen tends to stick to fabrics, which means you can leave allergens from your clothes on your furniture, sheets, pillow, etc.
5. Protect your mattress by using an airtight, dust-proof, plastic cover.
6. Take or wipe off your shoes: Estimates show that we track as much as 85% of the dirt in our homes in from the outside on our shoes or paws of pets. The EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) specifically recommends that shoes remain outside the house. However, if going shoeless is not something that the whole family is willing to do, try getting them to wear house shoes, flip-flops or socks that are solely worn inside the house.
7. Get clean! Take a shower after you've spent time outdoors to cut down on the amount of allergens that you bring into your home. 
8. Use saline eye drops or cool water to rinse your eyes after you've spent time outside. This will soothe irritated eyes and remove any clinging pollen.
9. Stay inside, or at least minimize the amount of time spent outdoors, when pollen counts are high. Peak pollen times are usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. You can receive up-to-date pollen information for the U.S. by visiting the National Allergy Bureau's site.
10. Keep the windows in your home shut, especially on days when the pollen counts are high. Also, avoid fans that may draw pollen indoors.
11. Replace/Clean Air Filters: Most of us change our air filters, but not often enough. If you want to reduce dust levels and extend the life span of your air conditioner and maintain its efficiency, the most important thing you can do is change the filter of your air conditioner or furnace once every 3 to 6 months. HEPA filters are considered the most efficient filters available, but need to be checked monthly since they can become choked up very quickly and can hamper the airflow if they become too clogged. Electrostatic filters probably offer the best combination of value and efficiency. They can cost twice as much as a good quality disposable filter, but you can just wash them with water when they become dirty, and reuse them (very eco-friendly)!
12. Vacuum 2-3 times a week to remove allergens from the floor and furniture.
13. Keep your pets off the furniture, especially the bed. Pollen can cling to your cat or dog after it's been outside.
14. Decrease humidity levels by running the AC or using a dehumidifier. Humidity levels tend to rise with temperatures, so make sure that you maintain levels between 35%-50%. This will help prevent the growth of bacteria and mold.

For more helpful tips on coping with Spring allergies, please check out 10 Tips For Dealing With Spring Allergies.


Elena White is the founder and editor of  Life The Green Way, corporate sustainability coordinator at her day job, and a "rurban" wife and mother.  Learn more about her here and follow her on Twitter at @Lifethegreenway.

You Can't Drink Money: Why Water Is So Important

As we all know, water is essential to life. Unfortunately, in many areas of the world, clean water is a precious and scarce commodity. Seametrics has created the below infographic that is full of interesting information about water - who's "water rich" and who's "water poor."


Infographic by Seametrics, a manufacturer of water flow meter technology that measures and conserves water.


Elena White is the founder and editor of  Life The Green Way, corporate sustainability coordinator at her day job, and a "rurban" wife and mother.  Learn more about her here and follow her on Twitter at @Lifethegreenway.

Want Cleaner Air? Keep Those Household Plants Alive!

Peace Lily, image via Wikimedia Commons

If you have a green thumb, keeping your household plants alive is as easy as 1-2-3. However, if you have a "black thumb" like me (a.k.a. the "thumb of death) this is a tall order.

Indoor plants actually act as natural air filters, improving indoor air quality by converting carbon dioxide to oxygen. Additionally, scientists say that they can contribute to clean air by absorbing nasty pollutants such as formaldehyde, carbon monoxide.

Sounds great, right? Before you go shopping, you need to know which plants are the best at keeping indoor air at its best. Research has shown that the following 7 plants are the most effective in contributing to balanced indoor humidity, as well as combating off-gassed chemicals:

1) Boston Fern
2) English Ivy
3) Peace Lily
4) Rubber Plant
5) Areca Palm
6) Gerbera Daisy
7) Spider Plant

I think I'm going to try the Areca Palm, since they are supposed to be hardy plants that require little to no expertise; just medium to bright light and enough water to keep the soil moist. That shouldn't be too hard, right?

5 Green Ways Your Kids Can Construct Their Best Fort Yet

Summer is drawing to a close, but that doesn’t mean that your kids are ready to come inside and start thinking about the next school year. If you have kids of the fort-making age, then you’ve probably had your living room completely dismantled of cushions all summer long and had to throw old blankets in the wash way too many times to count. But, when the kids start to make forts outside, it can become a much more complicated matter. Many parents end up buying expensive plastic play houses or building costly tree houses, neither of which are necessarily very good for the environment. But, there are actually plenty of re-purposed items your kids can use to build stellar forts in the great outdoors.

1. Leaves

You may just be looking to rake up the leaves and get them out of the yard as quickly as possible. After all, if they’re left for too long, they will begin to decompose and can turn into a big mess. But, before you toss away all your leaves, think twice. They are actually one of the coolest types of building materials for forts. Give your kids a bunch of rakes and they can spend hours building mazes, roads and pretend houses out of leaves. When they’re done, have them dispose of the leaves in a recyclable waste bag. You can also sell them or use them in your own garden as natural mulch.

2. Re-used cardboard boxes

When you find yourself with a load of cardboard boxes sitting in the basement or garage, don’t be too quick to throw them out or send them to the recycling bin. Used cardboard boxes can be of service time and time again for a wide array of outdoor play. They are excellent to use for forts, especially if they’re big. Try to find the biggest boxes you have and help your kids cut doors and windows into the sides.

3. Sticks

Sticks are yet another pesky thing that we find in our backyards. We ultimately want to clear our yards of old sticks and stones, but why not have the kids do the grunt work? Have them gather up all the sticks they can find. Then take some twine and work together to turn groups of the sticks into longer units for building. You can lean them against the side of a fence or tie them up together for a makeshift teepee.

4. Old Bricks

Old bricks are difficult to move around, and, when you find them in your yard or piled up in the driveway, it can be one of those things that just never gets done. Fortunately, they are also a great way to save money on otherwise expensive fort materials. Kids will get a kick out of building and taking down their own brick walls, so let them go for it.

5. Salvaged boards

If your kids have been begging you to build a tree house or a fort, but you just can’t afford it or don’t have the time, then maybe they would like to play with some salvaged boards and do it on their own with safe materials. It’s easy to find old boards from salvage yards. Just make sure that you take all the nails and staples out of them and make sure they are not too weak. The kids can put them up around trees or lean them on the sides of backyard fences.

About the Author

Having her fair share of construction management jobs, Kristie Lewis considers herself an expert on the subject and regularly writes about it. Send your questions and feedback to her at Kristie.lewis81@gmail.com.

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Elena White is the founder and editor of  Life The Green Way, corporate sustainability coordinator at her day job, and a "rurban" wife and mother.  Learn more about her here and follow her on Twitter at @Lifethegreenway.

The Environmental Impact of Video Games: Infographic

All of us either know, or live with a gamer (if you're not one yourself). If you're concerned about the environment, this may cause you to feel some guilt. In our recent post, "Gaming Without Guilt: Top 5 Green Games to Play," we provide the names of some games that promote environmental interest.

Some may disagree with the idea of e-games being greener than those played on a console. Check out the infographic below and let us know your thoughts.


Source: Big Fish Games

Elena White is the founder and editor of  Life The Green Way, corporate sustainability coordinator at her day job, and a "rurban" wife and mother.  Learn more about her here and follow her on Twitter at @Lifethegreenway.