I have suffered from allergies since I was a little girl but did not get treated for or even diagnosed until I was almost into my teens. Since that time, I’ve had to learn to adapt my living environment. From keeping the windows in our house closed to avoiding dust stirring up, let’s just say-it’s not easy. Knowing that my girls are likely to have similar allergies as me, I take it seriously!
Filtrete air filters have created the Allergen Reduction Air Filter to help individuals like myself that suffer from allergies. When you think about how many things are floating through our air, it’s kind of creepy. Think about all that junk in the air we can’t see.
The Filtrete Elite Allergen Reduction Air Filter helps by-
- Captures 94 percent of large airborne particles such as pollen, smoke, dust mite debris and pet dander from the air as it passes through the filter
- Captures up to 40 times more microscopic particles than ordinary fiberglass filters
- Helps maintain airflow in heating and cooling systems, which may help prevent stress on the system and reduce the amount of energy needed to warm your home this Fall and Winter
Filtrete is also offering a Clear Advantages Program, giving e-mail newsletter subscribers a chance to receive savings coupons as well as tips in keeping your home environment cleaner.
3M and Filtrete wanted to offer you all the following information about how to keep your house clean.
When it comes to the routine of cleaning, homeowners tend to be more concerned with stacks of dirty
dishes (66 percent), piles of laundry (58 percent) and dust balls on their carpet (57 percent), according to a
survey commissioned by 3M, maker of Filtrete air cleaning filters. But they often forget about other areas
of the home – such as bedding, shower doors and even stuffed animals – that can be breeding grounds for
bacteria, mildew, dust mites and foul odors.
Healthy Housekeeper Laura Dellutri offers these tips for cleaning your home from top to bottom and
making it healthier in the process:
Start at the Top: Ceiling fans, tall mantles and bookshelves, and the tops of door frames tend to subscribe
to the “out of sight, out of mind” motto. These areas often harbor dust, so it’s important to wipe them
down regularly to help remove dust buildup. Start at the top and work your way down, collecting all of the
dust and dirt that falls to the floor while you’re cleaning.
Wipe Down Windows and Walls: Don’t clean windows the old fashioned way – newspaper can cause
ink residue and paper towels leave lint behind. Your best bet is to use microfiber cleaning cloths and a
professional window squeegee to get a streak-free, spotless shine. To prevent streaks on shower doors and
walls, apply lemon oil to the door twice a month. This will help repel soap scum and shampoo, while also
adding a nice shine.
Think Horizontally: Dust mites are nearly everywhere. In fact, the American Lung Association estimates
that roughly four out of five homes in the United States have detectable levels of dust mite allergen in at
least one bed. Reduce dust mites by encasing your mattress and pillows, and wash your bedding in hot
water about once a week. Also, since dust mites are microscopic, place strips of duct tape on the mattress
case to prevent the dust mites from sneaking through.
Clean the In-between: While cleaning what you can see, don’t forget to clean what you can’t see – the air
you breathe. Use a high performance air filter in the home, such as the Filtrete 1” Elite Allergen Reduction
filter from 3M, to help capture particles such as pollen, smoke, dust mite debris and pet dander from the
air that passes through the filter. Be sure to change your filter at the start of every season, or every three
months.
Freeze the Fur: Stuffed animals can harbor dust mites so it’s important to pay special attention to them.
Place stuffed animals in a large plastic bag and freeze them for four to five hours. Remove them from
the freezer and plastic bag, and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to remove any leftover dust particles.
Finish With Floors: To keep floors in tip-top shape, vacuum and clean them weekly. You can easily make
your own floor cleaner by adding a few drops of mild liquid dish detergent to a gallon of water. Hot water
can break down floor finishes after time so use water that is barely warm. Finally, don’t forget to clean the
floor under large pieces of furniture, which may require you to temporarily move them elsewhere. Corners
of rooms and the back of closets often are overlooked, so be sure to clean these areas as well.
About Laura Dellutri
Laura Dellutri is today’s hero for busy working families. She is a public speaker, radio and television
personality, and the author of four books, including her new book, “The Overworked Mom’s Stress Free
Homekeeping.” Laura travels across the country to share her homekeeping and lifestyle savvy tips, and
you can watch her twice weekly on the nationally syndicated television show The Daily Buzz.
What things are you doing to make your life better?
(Click through to download and print this rebate to save on Filtrete Air Filters!)