I found this information online, and copied it....interesting stuff.
How to Minimize Dust in the House
Whether you have allergies, asthma, or nothing at all, you should make an effort to minimize the dust in your home. Even if only for friends and other guests, keeping a dust-free home will minimize breathing trouble, allergies, and a generally unkept look. Keep reading for some basic tips on how to minimize the dust in your home or office.
Central Filter is Key
Many people choose to save a little money and go with a cheap, throw-away air-filter. These filters, however, do not do a proper job of protecting you and your family from harmful airborne particles. Instead, choose a newer, more modern filter. This will not only protect you by catching and holding onto much more of the dust, but they will also last much longer than other, cheaper filters.
Clean Consistently
One of the most common ways to build dust in your home or office is to avoid cleaning in general. Even a light dusting once or twice a week is vastly better than just letting it accumulate. If you have the time, be sure to clean and wipe down your furniture, countertops, electronics, and other stationary items. Don’t forget to check hard-to-reach places like cabinets, ceiling fans, and light fixtures. Utilizing newer dusters will help you to accumulate the dust on the duster instead of just brushing it into the air.
Keep it Outside!
One of the most dangerous types of house dust commonly found in homes is the dust that gets in from outdoors through air leaks. To get into the house, a lot of air must pass through areas that can be dangerously full of contaminated pollutants. Because you could also be losing significant amounts of money on cooling and heating your home, it would be wise to have an infiltrometer door test done to your home to find any leaks.
Vacuum
Although you might group this with cleaning, consistently vacuuming is important all on its own. Because the floors are where most dust settles, it is constantly being moved around and kicked into the air and into your lungs. Using your vacuum on a weekly basis is necessary if you are trying to lower the amount of dust particles in your home or office. No matter what kind of vacuum you are using, be sure to cover all areas whether they are carpeted or not. Dust can collect anywhere! Also, it is wise to utilize the attachements that come with your vacuum. Using them, you can actually reduce dust in hard-to-reach areas of your home such as on top of tall cabinets and appliances, fabrics like curtains, and even the ceiling fan.
Change Your Sheets
The bed is one of the most common places for dust to collect, in part because of the shedding of human skin cells throughout the night. You must keep in mind that even though you don't see it, it can still be there. To lower your dust count, change your sheets and pillowcases on a weekly basis. Brush and dust off blankets, cleaning them occasionally as well.
Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-minimize-dust-in-the-house#ixzz0szue3OJk
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Summer Storage tips for a small space
"A place for everything and everything in its place." Wouldn't that be ideal? In the perfect home you'd have a place to put everything where it would either look beautiful or be out of sight until you needed it.
If you have more "things" than you have space you'll find some great storage ideas here. You'll get suggestions for making the most of the space you have and find ways to create storage areas where you might not have thought.
Instead of opening a cupboard and finding a pile of things that do not go there, you can be so organized in your home that you could open a cupboard or door and find exactly what you're looking for. When you're finished using the item, you would be able to open the door again and put the item back. Case closed! Storage should be easy. Is it easy in your home?
Or are you just waiting to move into the more perfect home that will have more closets, a bigger garage or attic, or perfect built-in storage?
Don't wait for a day that may never come. Use some of our storage tips and strategies right now to get your things in order.
You should start your storage project by deciding what you really need in each room.
Everything that you don't need should be moved out of the room. Either throw it away, give it away, or move it into the garage or basement, out of sight.
Once you've decided what you really want and need in each room, look around the room for areas of storage. Is there any open, empty space? Don't just look on tables or closets. Look up, look down, under, and next to - your furniture, your bed, your closets, your cupboards. Any open space can be potential storage space for you.
For example, do you see an open space in a china cabinet, under a sofa table, or under an entry table? Use this space to stack wooden chests, beautifully covered cardboard boxes, or lidded baskets to store memorabilia, magazines, family photos, games, videos or computer disks.
•Look Up
There is probably nothing higher than 5 feet in your room, but there's lots of space above. Install shelves 12" to 18" below the ceiling to display collectibles, plants, hats, or photos. (Note: You can buy ready-made shelves and mounting brackets at any building supply store. If you live in an earthquake-prone area, be sure to use a sticky wax product to hold your collectibles in place.)
•Over the Window
Mount a shelf above the windows of the room for displaying things you don't use but love to look at.
•Wall Space
Find standard open wall shelves of any size at a home improvement center for an inexpensive storage solution for books and decorative objects. A structured wall unit or entertainment center can house books and electronic equipment and provides space for decorative displays. If you're going to stay in your home for a while, you might want to invest in custom-made shelves or cabinets. Any of these solutions gives lots of storage space without protruding too much into the living area.
•Behind Closed Doors
It's ideal not to have to look at the things you're storing, unless they're decorative. Increase available storage space by enclosing shelves and cupboards behind doors. Instead of using an open one, choose a bookcase with doors. A 12" deep shelving unit gives great storage without taking up much floor space. Choose a table for the end of a sofa or beside a bed that has a closed base with drawers or shelves rather than spindly open legs. Find a knee-hole desk with drawers for files and office items rather than an open writing desk.
If you have more "things" than you have space you'll find some great storage ideas here. You'll get suggestions for making the most of the space you have and find ways to create storage areas where you might not have thought.
Instead of opening a cupboard and finding a pile of things that do not go there, you can be so organized in your home that you could open a cupboard or door and find exactly what you're looking for. When you're finished using the item, you would be able to open the door again and put the item back. Case closed! Storage should be easy. Is it easy in your home?
Or are you just waiting to move into the more perfect home that will have more closets, a bigger garage or attic, or perfect built-in storage?
Don't wait for a day that may never come. Use some of our storage tips and strategies right now to get your things in order.
You should start your storage project by deciding what you really need in each room.
Everything that you don't need should be moved out of the room. Either throw it away, give it away, or move it into the garage or basement, out of sight.
Once you've decided what you really want and need in each room, look around the room for areas of storage. Is there any open, empty space? Don't just look on tables or closets. Look up, look down, under, and next to - your furniture, your bed, your closets, your cupboards. Any open space can be potential storage space for you.
For example, do you see an open space in a china cabinet, under a sofa table, or under an entry table? Use this space to stack wooden chests, beautifully covered cardboard boxes, or lidded baskets to store memorabilia, magazines, family photos, games, videos or computer disks.
•Look Up
There is probably nothing higher than 5 feet in your room, but there's lots of space above. Install shelves 12" to 18" below the ceiling to display collectibles, plants, hats, or photos. (Note: You can buy ready-made shelves and mounting brackets at any building supply store. If you live in an earthquake-prone area, be sure to use a sticky wax product to hold your collectibles in place.)
•Over the Window
Mount a shelf above the windows of the room for displaying things you don't use but love to look at.
•Wall Space
Find standard open wall shelves of any size at a home improvement center for an inexpensive storage solution for books and decorative objects. A structured wall unit or entertainment center can house books and electronic equipment and provides space for decorative displays. If you're going to stay in your home for a while, you might want to invest in custom-made shelves or cabinets. Any of these solutions gives lots of storage space without protruding too much into the living area.
•Behind Closed Doors
It's ideal not to have to look at the things you're storing, unless they're decorative. Increase available storage space by enclosing shelves and cupboards behind doors. Instead of using an open one, choose a bookcase with doors. A 12" deep shelving unit gives great storage without taking up much floor space. Choose a table for the end of a sofa or beside a bed that has a closed base with drawers or shelves rather than spindly open legs. Find a knee-hole desk with drawers for files and office items rather than an open writing desk.
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