How Families Can Help Reduce Allergy and Eczema Outbreaks in Your Home

January 22, 2018

As many as 1 in 10 Americans are estimated to be living with eczema. Meanwhile, allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the United States, affecting tens of millions of people of all ages.

If you’re one of the families living with eczema or allergies, you know the huge impact this can have on your daily life. It can limit your child’s ability to play outside or go for a swim. It might force you to be extra cautious about chemical products in your home or even how you wash your clothing. And there’s always the frustrating itchiness or the embarrassing skin rashes.

Here are some ways you can help reduce eczema or allergy outbreaks in your family’s home:

Create a Stress-Free Home

Creating a healthy, happy home can include removing emotional factors, such as stress, which may be a contributing factor in symptoms. Stress has been shown to play a role in a variety of health problems, including skin conditions like dermatitis and eczema.

To reduce your family’s stress level, you could make your home a more soothing environment by bringing more nature into your home. Consider air-purifying plants, large windows to let in the sunshine, and artwork that depicts calming landscapes like the sea. You might also consider diffusing essential oils like lavender, which is said to be calming and relaxing.

Reduce Allergens

Scientific studies have shown that there is a link between allergies and eczema. Therefore, reducing allergens in your home could potentially help both conditions. This can be an important step in turning your home into a clean, stress-free environment.

There are some specific things you can do, including washing the sheets and linens every week. This is great advice even for those who don’t have allergies or eczema, according to Philip Tierno, a microbiologist and pathologist at the New York University School of Medicine. As it turns out, our bed sheets contain “fungi, bacteria, animal dander, pollen, soil, lint, finishing agents of whatever the sheets are made from, coloring material” and an abundant supply of bodily excrements that I won’t mention here.

If that last sentence doesn’t have you rushing to wash your sheets, I don’t know what will.

Speaking of washing, you might also consider switching laundry detergents. Many people with eczema have experienced some relief after changing to all natural, fragrance free products that are specifically created for sensitive skin.

One final word of allergen-reducing advice: if you have pets, make sure they are frequently bathed and groomed. Not only can pet dander cause flare ups; so can the environmental allergens your dog or cat might track in from outdoors.

These itchy conditions are not contagious. However, doesn’t lessen amount of physical, mental, and emotional strain they cause for the millions of children and adults who’ve been diagnosed. Although there isn’t a cure, the advice listed above can work wonders in managing symptoms, reducing outbreaks, and helping your family live happy, healthy lives.

Declutter Your Home During Major Life Transitions To Clean Out The Bad And Make Room For The Good

January 22, 2018

Major transitions provide an opportunity to overhaul your life for the better. Making a big change can be overwhelming, but it also gives you a chance to examine your life and rebuild it in positive ways. If your changes involve doing some decluttering, you may find this to be a great way to improve your overall mental wellness in addition to paring down what you own.

Declutter to simplify your world and boost your well-being

Simplifying life after a difficult time often means sorting through personal belongings. For example, you may be moving away from an ex-partner or buying a place across the country for a new job. Rather than keep everything, take the time to truly declutter. You’ll not only have less to move, but your mental well-being will get a boost and you’ll find yourself saying goodbye to some bad habits.

Clutter can become mentally consuming. It is hard to focus when you are surrounded by too much stuff and many people find themselves feeling irritable and exhausted when they live amid chaos. As you work through your stuff, perhaps putting some things in storage for a while and donating or selling other pieces, you will free yourself up to focus on positive life changes going forward.

U.S. News & World Report notes that people will often find that their anxiety and stress levels decrease when they declutter. Their sense of inner-peace builds and they often feel more relaxed. In addition, you will likely feel more free by taking control of your environment and ridding yourself of baggage, improving your state of mind.

Set the stage for positive changes by clearing out negatives from the past

Keeping only what is truly important to you will likely improve your decision-making skills, focus, and productivity. It is hard to stay positive and motivated to accomplish much if you are surrounded by reminders of negative things in your life, so cleaning house helps to clear your mind. Your creativity and confidence will soar and the sense of accomplishment you develop will spur you to make other positive changes.

Decluttering is a great way to let go of your past and focus on your future. Get rid of items connected to your ex, former job, or stressful family members and focus on keeping only things you love or that motivate and inspire you. You will also want to ditch anything that makes you feel guilty or is connected to bad habits you are trying to break.

Clear out the bad to focus on the good

Mind Body Green suggests getting rid of anything that is not central to the new life you are building. You may face some difficult memories and problems that have been bubbling under the surface as you tackle your decluttering. This can be painful, but it is also healthy for you to face these unpleasant topics and clear them out to make way for positive experiences in your future.

Evaluating what you keep and get rid of can also set the stage for healthier eating and better sleep. For example, if you need to stop eating junk food, declutter your kitchen and you’ll likely feel more motivated to cook healthy foods in the well-organized space. Clear all of the piles of clothes off of your treadmill to gain a spark for exercise again, and your mind and body can better embrace quality rest when your bedroom is a peaceful, clean oasis.

If you find yourself struggling with a much-needed transition in life, like ending a toxic relationship or moving to a new home, embrace the chance to evaluate what is and is not working in your life and make significant changes. Let go of the fears, regrets, and failures that are tied to the clutter in your home and free yourself up for positivity and progress.

Spring Cleaning Tips That Are Eco-Friendly and Chemical-Free

August 31, 2017

Keeping a clean home can be key to fighting the germs that cause illness (as well as the dust, mold and pet dander that can cause allergic reactions). However, many modern and mainstream cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that may pose more of a threat to our families than the actual dirt and grime we are trying to remove.

To keep your family safe this year, here are some of our favorite “green” cleaning tips:

Spring Cleaning

As SparkPeople says, “The last thing you want to do is dump toxic chemicals into the environment in the name of cleaning, right?” Forget the chemical-filled sprays and wipes and turn to a more natural, eco-friendly solution. “Green” cleaning supplies have been catching on, thanks to their environmentally friendly ingredients. There are currently many different brands available for purchase in-store and online.

If you’re a fan of essential oils, you’ll be happy to know that several of these all-natural oils are also excellent for cleaning your home. Commonly-used essential oils such as peppermint and tea tree are known for naturally fighting germs, such as viruses, fungal infections and bacteria. You could try mixing these with citrus oils such as lemon or orange, to add a refreshingly clean and uplifting odor to your DIY cleaning solution.

Declutter

Another environmentally friendly way to clean up your household or business this season is by decluttering, downsizing, and getting rid of any unused items. Sustainability experts recommend reducing the number of items you own, and only purchasing items that you need. If you haven’t used something in months or years, consider donating it to Goodwill or a charity that serves those in need. In addition to being a tax write-off, this also helps you reduce your carbon footprint.

Spring Home Maintenance

The seasonal transition from winter into spring can be a perfect time to finally start working on those home improvement and much-needed maintenance projects you’d been putting off all season. Consider adding projects like solar panel installation to your to-do list. Not only do solar panels help the environment by providing green energy; they also provide you with “green” money by saving you on your utility bills.

This time of year is also the perfect time to increase the insulation in your walls. Even if there is not very much shift in seasons in your area, the added insulation can allow you to turn the thermostat down a few degrees – and keep it there year-round. Again, this will save you money in the long-term.

As you can see, there are many ways to incorporate sustainable cleaning practices into your routine. Eco-friendly cleaning products are safer for our families and pets, and can even save us money. Plus, they can be a great way to help the planet, combat global warming and help reverse the trend of climate change. Best of all, the eco-friendly, chemical-free cleaning tips we’ve listed above will help you save the planet any season of the year.