How to Control the Growth of Dust Mites in Your Home

Vacuuming and dusting should be top priorities at every house. This is because household dust produces a broad spectrum of harmful microorganisms. These contaminants create significant health risks by harboring bacteria, causing allergic reactions, and aggravating those who suffer from asthma.

Household dust, and the problems associated with it, is caused by a number of factors affecting the home environment. One of these factors is dust mites. Dust mites are considered to be the most common cause of asthma and allergic symptoms worldwide. In fact, together with their partially digested food and fecal matter, dust mites are considered significant sources of allergens, involved in allergic asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and dermatitis. Their bodies, made of chitin, are likewise allergens. Dust mites flourish in the controlled environment provided to them by buildings - such as our homes. They survive in all climates, except at high altitudes where reproduction is halted. Sufficient absolute humidity is a necessary condition for their growth (digestion and reproduction). They can be transported airborne by the minor air currents generated by normal household activities. They are minute to be seen without the air of a magnifying glass.

Male dust mites can live for up to 30 days, while a mated female dust mite can live for 10 weeks, laying 60 to 100 eggs in the last 5 weeks of her existence. In that 10-week life span, a dust mite will produce approximately 2,000 fecal particles and an even larger number of partially-digested enzyme-infected dust particles.

Dust mites reproduce quickly enough that their effect on human health can be significant. If someone in your household is affected by dust, take steps to control your home environment. If the problem is caused by dust mites, take these measures to keep them at safe levels:

- Wash sheets, blankets, and bed covers weekly in hot (at least 54 degrees celsius/130 degrees fahrenheit) water. Or to kill mites while lengthening the life of your linens, place bedclothes in the dryer for 20 minutes on medium and then wash in warm water.
- Use comforters and pillows made of synthetic fiber, such as Dacron or Orlon - instead of down, feathers, or cotton - and wash these in hot water regularly. Replace your synthetic pillows every two years. For people with severe allergies, their mattress, box spring, and pillows should also be enclosed in airtight or allergen-proof covers.
- Remove carpeting wherever possible, especially in the bedroom.
- Keep your home uncluttered to minimize dust buildup. Store knickknacks, books, and compact discs in drawers or closed cabinets.
- Keep an allergic child's stuffed animals in a cabinet, and clean them regularly. Don't let the child sleep with the toys, especially if they are placed near the face.
- Vacuum weekly and wipe surfaces with a damp cloth (a dry cloth will just release the dust back into the air). Wear a dust mask, if you're allergic.
- Buy leather or vinyl furniture instead of upholstered, if possible.
- Install a humidistat to measure indoor humidity; dust mites thrive in moist conditions. Use central air conditioning and, if necessary, a dehumidifier to keep humidity below 50 percent.
- Clean and ventilate your kitchen, bathrooms, and basement frequently.
- Install high-efficiency particulate air filters in your vacuum cleaner, air purifier, and heating system. They remove dust particles from circulating air.

Remember that dust mites cannot be totally eradicated. But with your health on the line, you've got to take measures to check their growth in your home. [Read the Original Article]

How to Grow Your Own Fern Garden

They are living fossils that have been growing on this Earth for more than 300 million years and, today, there are about 12,000 different kinds of them. They are ferns, and each one of them have a special kind of gentle beauty that makes them favorites in gardens all over the world.

The old English word for fern is "fearn", which means 'feather' to describe the feather-like appearance of fern leaves or "fronds". Unlike most plants, ferns do not produce flowers, fruits, or seeds. They grow from dust-like "spores" found under mature fronds. Most ferns only grow to a height of a few feet. One special type is known as "tree fern". No, it is not a fern that grows on a tree. It is a fern that looks like a tree. It can have trunks that grow to a height of 6-1/2 to 23 feet (two to seven meters) and a diameter of up to 3-1/3 feet (1 meter). Still, it isn't a real tree, and its trunk is not made of wood. Instead, its trunk is really roots that have grown longer and interwoven together tightly around a thin stem.

Ferns have many uses. Their spongy trunks can absorb a lot of water and are used in growing orchids as an anchor and base for the orchid roots. The trunk can also be sawn as slabs or broken into small pieces, then added to garden soil for pots and plots. A special kind of fern, called "mosquito fern", can turn nitrogen in the air into plant food. It is often placed in rice paddies to make the farm soil richer.

Ferns can also be eaten. The young tender leaves are sometimes eaten fresh as salad ingredients. Ferns called "ostrich ferns" and "bracken" are cooked as vegetables. Some people believe that eating ferns can also improve your health because of some medicinal properties. In some native cultures, the leaves of ferns are boiled and the concoction is drunk to stop the bleeding caused by childbirth. Others say this mixture is good for cough. Some kinds of ferns are used to treat intestinal worms. However, the most common use for ferns is as decorative plants. Fern fanatics especially like the way the fern fronds unroll slowly from a graceful and delicate spiral.

If you want to grow ferns, you can start with planting a whole plant on the soil. However, it is actually very easy to have an abundant and flourishing fern garden because you can start growing them from the spores. Here are the eight simple steps:

1) You will find these spores under the leaves of mature ferns. You can collect the spore-laden frond and keep it between two pieces of paper to keep it from getting damaged.

2) At home, lay the frond in a warm, dry place that is free of wind or draft. Keep it there for one or two weeks.

3) Carefully open the two pieces of paper and you will find the spores and the dried-up leaves sticking to the paper. Tap the paper lightly. The leaves will fall off but the spores will stick to the paper.

4) You need to grow your fern in a clear plastic container, and you should use good, soft soil. Humus is best.

5) Dampen the soil a bit. Then sprinkle the spores on top of the soil. Do not bury the spores under the soil.

6) Place the cup near the window, but not in direct sunlight.

7) Ferns, like mosses, can soak up a lot of water so keep the soil damp - but not too much, as the spores may rot or be washed away.

8) After 6 to 8 weeks (yes, it's a long wait), you may begin to see small, flat, leaf-like plants growing from the soil. This is not yet the fern plant growing, but they will soon be. The true ferns will replace these fern-like plants after another 6 weeks.

During this entire time, make sure the soil is damp and does not dry up. With patience and loving care, you will soon have lots of ferns, enough to fill your own fern garden. [Read the Original Article]

How to Use Household Cleansers Safely

Added with a little elbow grease, household cleansers make kitchens and bathrooms sparkle and keep floors spotless. Regular cleaning, with the aid of cleansers, also destroys germs on food-preparation areas and rids home of mold, mildew, dust, and other allergens that can cause asthma and hay fever.

The bad news is that many cleaning products also have the potential to damage the health of people who use them. Some products emit hazardous fumes or are poisonous if swallowed. Some can burn the skin or present a fire hazard if mis-used or spilled. If poured down a storm sewer or a basement drain, cleansers can pollute local waterways.

Most homes have a collection of cleansers, and each product contains a specific hazardous element. For example, detergents contain ammonia, which is excellent for removing grime and grease; its fumes, however, can irritate eyes and lungs. If spilled on the skin, it may cause rashes, redness, or a chemical burn. Another example is chlorine bleach (present in mold and mildew remover) which, if splashed in the eyes, can cause serious irritation. Lye, found in many oven and toilet cleaners, can burn the skin on contact, irritate the respiratory tract when inhaled, and damage the esophagus and stomach if swallowed.

Cleaning-product labels are not required to list all the ingredients of a product, except for ammonia, chlorine, and other hazardous chemicals. So you may not know what's in the cleansers you buy. To minimize the health risks when using household cleansers, follow these safety tips:

- When using any cleanser, follow the label's directions. Never mix cleaning products unless the labels state you can; otherwise, you may brew up poisonous fumes.

- Many products should be used in well-ventilated areas: open the windows and use a fan if necessary.

- Never eat or drink while using cleansers; you might ingest traces of the chemicals.

- Keep all flammable products away from heat or flame, and, of course, don't smoke when using them.

- Remember that even cleaning products not labeled as poisonous can be toxic if they are swallowed. Although those that pose the most serious danger must have child-resistant containers, all cleansers should be stored out of the reach of children and pets, preferably in a locked cabinet.

- To avoid mistaking cleansers for something else, keep them in their original containers and make sure that their labels remain attached.

- Dispose of these products properly. If you can't use up a product, give it to a friend, neighbor, or non-profit organization. If this is not possible, you can pour ammonia, bleach, disinfectants, glass cleaners, and toilet-bowl cleaners into the toilet or the sink's drain and flush them away with plenty of water - unless you have a certain kind of septic system. If you have a septic system, call the wastewater-treatment plant in your area, or the municipal water department, to find out whether you can dispose of cleaning products in this way.

Keep in mind that most of the household cleaning products rely on one of three main ingredients: chlorine bleach, ammonia, and lye. If used properly, these products pose little risk to your health. [Read the Original Article]