Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Spring is Coming and so are ...

When I was a child, I remember my mother?s major spring cleaning projects. Everything was cleaned down to the inside and outside of every window, rug, and curtain. I admit when I was raising my eight children and grandchildren, I thought I was lucky just to keep everything tidy and in order, forget about the windows that no one saw because they were covered with curtains.

However, spring cleaning is necessary and not because our mother?s did it out of habit. With spring, often come allergies. If you have allergies or have children or grandchildren in your home with allergies, you probably already know the importance of clean air and a clean home, especially if there are pets in the home.

After a home has been mostly closed up throughout a cold winter, mold develops, dust and dust mites are settled in the carpets and rugs, crud from cooking coats the fan above the stove, and the air is stale. Often the air quality in our home is worse than outside. We might not be able to personally fix the world?s environment, but we can be in control of our home?s environment.

TIPS for Spring Cleaning (Be sure to enlist your grandchildrens help if they live with you.)

1. Check for mold and moldy smells ? whether around the bathroom tub, under the rubber tub mat, in a basement, or anyplace where mold grows.
2. Clean carpets or rugs. That is why I like hardwood floors. I have one Oriental rug in my living room.? Hardwood floors and tile are my favorite and easiest to keep clean.
3. Clean the fan above the stove. Move the fridge and stove and clean behind them.
4. Clean all humidifiers or dehumidifiers with bleach water. If you have air filters, clean them regularly. When you replace the filters, you get to see just how dirty the air in your home really is. Also, replace the filter to your furnace regularly.
5. Wash your curtains and blinds. I look at my lace curtains that have blinds behind them, and I think they look okay. Then I soak them in the bathtub and realize how disgustingly dirty they really are.
6. Vacuum furniture and mattresses.
7. And check the tops of your ceiling fan blades. These are often missed because they are hard to get to.

I love walking into my home when it smells fresh and inviting, but feel less enthused when it smells like my dog or musty. Spring will soon be here, so now is the time to plan the spring cleaning. Your sinuses and your lungs will appreciate it. And of course, allow no smoking in your home. That is a definite killer.

So take care of yourself and your grandchildren by breathing clean air.

Karen Best Wright, B.S. Holistic Health & Wellness Educator

www.TheWellnessWay.org

Source: http://www.grandparentingblog.com/2012/02/spring-is-coming-and-so-are-allergies.html

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