FitSugar

Five Germ-Friendly Areas That Need a Spring Clean

Leta Shy — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 10:00:53 PST

There's no time like Spring to start getting cleanliness on the brain. A clean space makes us happier and more productive, but staying healthy and combating sickness is another reason to dust, scrub, and disinfect your home. Here are five important germ-infested areas that you shouldn't overlook when you dive into your duties!

Do You Make Your Bed Every Day?

CasaSugar — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:00:15 PST

While I love the look of a tidy, crisply made bed, there's something so romantic about an unmade bed like this one. Even better news? Not making your bed every day can help to reduce dust mites. What's your routine at your house when it comes to making the bed?

Source: Flickr User stacy michelle

How-To: Say Goodbye to Dust Mites

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:00:25 PDT

If you have allergies or asthma, chances are you're also sensitive to dust mites. While you can't see these icky, little bugs (they're microscopic), that doesn't mean they're not lurking in your home. Dust mites love to hang out in warm and cozy spots such as carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, and beds.

Don't worry though: there are plenty of ways you can combat the presence of dust mites in your home. For one, you can start by not making your bed. Since dust mites need humidity levels above 50 percent in order to survive, an unmade bed is too dry for the critters to survive in.

Want more tips for decimating your home's dust mite population? Then

If you live in a hot and humid climate, invest in a dehumidifier. Since dust mites, as I mentioned earlier, need humidity levels above 50 percent, a dehumidifer can suck moisture out of closets, carpets, and other damp spaces, thus reducing dust mites.
Wash bedding in hot water, and dry on high to kill dust mites. Alternately, hang your bedding to dry in the sun to zap the bugs.
Vacuum regularly, and thoroughly, with a HEPA filter vacuum.
Use a HEPA air purifier to eliminate indoor airborne allergens.
Do you have kids? Replace their nonwashable stuffed animals with hypoallergenic, washable toys.

Also, check out these products to help you out with your dust mite fight!

Source: Flickr User stacy michelle

Casa Quickie: Mattress Flip

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 06:15:00 PST

Start a good habit this Winter: flip your mattress. At least twice a year, you should flip your mattress to keep the wear even. This will also help keep your mattress clean. Vacuum the top of the mattress, and if you use a box spring, vacuum that as well. If you have an issue with dust mites, consider adding an allergenic mattress pad to your bedding mix.

Source

Got Allergies? Don't Make Your Bed

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:00:00 PDT

If you suffer from allergies to dust, then I hereby excuse you from your bed-making duties. It turns out that a study from London's Kingston University shows that dust mites need humidity levels above 50 percent in order to survive. This means that a neat bed traps the moisture in that those pesky mites need in order to thrive and multiply. An unmade bed, on the other hand, is too dry for those little suckers. Try to remember this little tip in the upcoming Summer months when the air is especially humid. So leave your covers alone in the morning, and you'll have less dust mites living in your bed. Who knows? Not making your bed in the morning may even save you time for breakfast.

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Pillow Talk

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:15:00 PDT

Is your pillow over 2 years old? If yes, you might be sleeping with a veritable zoo of mold, bacteria and dust mites. Not exactly the kind of pillow talk you want to engage in, is it?

That fluffy bit of comfort on which you rest your head every night can be a hotbed for germs, and might contain even more germs than your bathroom. Yick! Pillows absorb germs from our skin and the air and since we rarely clean or replace our bedroom pillows, bacterias and molds are free to reproduce unhampered. This can become quite a problem if you have allergies to dust mites or mold since you are placing your head in the hot zone for 8 hours a night.

Experts suggest that you replace your pillow every 2 years. Since that can be a costly endeavor, you can try pillow protectors instead since they can prevent dust mites from breeding in your bedding.

Fit's Tip: One quick way to zap all those bacteria is to throw you pillows into the dryer for 20 minutes on high heat. Aim to do this at least once a month and at least once a week if you are experiencing severe allergy symptoms.

Sweet dreams....

What's in Your Pillow?

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 02:27:09 PST

So I've already told you the ugly truth behind Dust Bunnies and if you suffer from allergies to this not so cute problem, you really should re-evaluate your pillow situation.

How long have you had your pillow? Consider this: After about 10 years about 10% of your pillow's weight comes not from the fluffy stuffing, but from dust mites, mold, fungus and bacteria. Gross, huh?

Try these tips to keep your pillows:

Replace all household pillows (even those in guest rooms) every three years.
Wash your pillows in the washing machine on hot and then throw then in the dryer. Drying immediately is important to stop any mold growth.
Storing pillows in attics (basements, storage lockers, etc) is not the best idea as dark damp places are breeding grounds for allergens.
Try to keep pillows off the floor, dust bunnies and mites congregate on the floor (especially hard wood floors).
Consider buying a pillow encasing like SatinSoft Supreme Allergy Pillow Cover ($8.99). Buy them on the National Allergy Website.

Fit's Tip: Next time you start a pillow fight, imagine accidentally busting open a 10 year old pillow on your best friend's head. Ewwwww.

Dust Bunnies are Not Cute

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 13:30:00 PST

We find them hiding under our beds and in the forgotten corners of our home. Dust bunnies aren't just balls of fluff. Lurking inside are tiny microscopic arachnids we call dust mites.

They feed on dead skin cells that are sloughed from our bodies (and probably crumbs from cookies and such). Dust bunnies are just colonies of dust mites hatching, growing, eating, pooping, mating, and laying eggs. That is disgusting with a capital "D".

Many people develop severe allergies to dust mite droppings (ewww). Lie on a dust-infested rug, and you might break into hives. Breathe in those little suckers and you might break into an asthma attack.

Want to know how to stop dust mites before they start?

You can purchase covers for your mattress and pillows that are made with anti-mite material. Pretty cool.
Wash your sheets, duvet covers, and other bedding in hot water to kill dust mites and their eggs. This is something you should do once a week - not once a year.
Get rid of clutter. Dust mites love to hide in quiet dark places.
Ditch your carpets and rugs if you can. You don't even want to see what's living underneath them.
Use a wet washcloth to wipe down corners and stairs, instead of a broom that just pushes those critters around.

Fit's Tips: Sounds like a lot? Don't fret. Worry about cleaning your bedroom first - that's where you spend most of your time.

Do You Replace Your Pillows?

Julia Millay Walsh — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:00:00 PST

CasaSugar Community member Sherrilee recently wrote in the Organization Tips group, "I found it's worth it if you change your pillows often. I buy new ones when they lose their plumpness. They aren't sanitary anymore, and I feel safer as it prevents dust mites and other germs. It's worth investing in." Do you do the same? Do you swap in new pillows when they're no longer plump or clean?

Nighttime Habits That Are Ruining Your Sleep and Health

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:28:16 PST

You slip under the covers, turn off the light, and rest your head on your pillow. Seems simple and perfect, but here are some things you could be doing in bed that harm your health.

Grinding your teeth: Formally called sleep bruxism, many people unknowingly clench their jaw or grind their teeth at night, which can lead to tension headaches, earaches, irritated tissue on the inside of your cheeks, jaw pain, and permanent damage to your teeth in the form of chips and worn-down enamel that cause sensitivity or cracks. Stress can be a factor, so reducing the amount of worry in your life can help. If it doesn't, see your dentist about designing your own personal mouth guard to sleep with. Not exactly the sexiest thing to wear to bed, it's sure to offer you a more restful and less painful night of sleep.
Sucking on a cough drop: If you suffer from a chronic cough, cold or sinus infection, or postnasal drip, sucking on a cough drop every night may be the only way you can get some sleep without coughing keeping you up. Although soothing to your throat, exposure to a bath of sugar all night long is sure to lead to tooth decay and cavities. Here are other natural remedies for your nighttime coughs. If the cough persists, it's time to see your doc.

Keep reading to find out what else you're doing at night that's wrecking your health.