Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Living Well with the Carrie Connection

If the people in your household have allergies it is important to keep your house clean. Dust mites in bedding and carpet are especially harmful to persons with breathing problems, so keep your bed linens clean and floors vacuumed to help those affected. Being closed in during the winter months makes these allergies really noticeable.

Wash, do not clean, electric blankets. The chemicals in the dry cleaning process may damage the wiring in the blanket.

Read and follow the care label instructions. If you don't have the instructions use the following procedure. Machine wash the blanket using a gentle cycle and a short agitation time (about two to three minutes). Hang the blanket over two lines or lay it flat to dry. Do not dry in a dryer unless the care label recommends it.

Remember when changing your bed linens to vacuum your mattress and box springs to remove dust mites.

Laundering pillows and large comforters and blankets in a large commercial washer at a washateria may be easier than laundering them at home.

To see if your pillow, comforter or blanket is too large to wash at home place the item in the empty washer tub. If it fits loosely in the washer and the top row of tub holes is visible, it's safe to wash it. If the top tub holes are not visible the item is too large and should be laundered in a commercial washer.

Vacuuming may seem like a dull, repetitive task, but it provides important health benefits, according to the Soap and Detergent Association. Keeping carpets and floors clean without spreading dust back into the air is one way to protect the indoor air quality.

Hallways, stairs, entryways and similarly heavy trafficked areas should be vacuumed often. Minimally, this means twice a week to remove soil while it's loose, before it gets ground into the carpet.

For best results inspect the vacuum periodically to be sure it's functioning properly. Hoses and attachments should be free of obstructions. Brushes should be clean. If worn replace them. Belts should be working properly. Keep a spare on hand at all times for quick replacement. It's important to change the vacuum bag when it becomes more than half full. As the bag becomes full, soil removal efficiency is reduced. Follow the vacuum manufacturer's instructions as to the type of bag and the changing procedure.

For more information concerning a healthy household contact the Nevada County Extension office at 887-2817.