According to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma.

Allergy and asthma symptoms can range from mild to severe and are usually triggered by exposure to allergens.  Believe it or not, most of these allergens are found right in your own home.  A survey from the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found at least six allergens were detectable in about 50 percent of homes.  Allergens, such as dust mites, pet dander, mold, and cockroach droppings, can be carried in the air and found on furniture, floors, and other surfaces around the home.

Removing allergy triggers from your home can reduce allergy and asthma symptoms.  Cleaning your home with natural cleaning products routinely can help reduce the exposure of allergens in your home.

Because dust mites thrive in dust, getting rid of dust will help reduce indoor allergens.  When cleaning, wear a dust mask.  Be sure to clean with a microfiber cloth which collects dust instead of scattering it.

Vacuuming also helps reduce allergens.  Pollen, dust mite, and cockroach droppings are heavier than pet dander so they are more likely to settle on furniture and other surfaces.  Using a HEPA filter vacuum will trap small particles and prevent them from spreading into the air.  Using HEPA filters in your air conditioner can also reduce allergens.

For the pet owners out there, keep your pet off the furniture and out of the bedroom as much as you can to lessen pet dander.  Vacuum regularly and wash your pet weekly if possible.

Molds and mildew love damp areas like basements and bathrooms.  Mold spores are allergens found in the air.  Clean mold with a vinegar/water/hydrogen peroxide mixture.  Use dehumidifier if needed to keep the humidity around 40 percent.

Dust mites live in bedding, pillows, and rugs, so be sure to wash your blankets, sheets, and pillowcases in hot water (around 130 degrees) once a week and dry them in a hot dryer to kill the dust mites.  Use allergy-proof casing for your mattresses and pillows.

To prevent pollen from entering your home, keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.  Avoid going outdoors when the pollen count is high, and in the early morning hours (between 5 am and 10 am).  Taking a shower and changing your clothes when coming in from outside also helps get rid of any pollen you might have picked up while outdoors.  Do not hang laundry out on the clothesline to dry since pollen can collect on them.

Many toxic household cleaners can trigger symptoms in those who have asthma or allergies.  Consider making your own cleaning products using ingredients like vinegar, lemons, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide.

Let’s face it….

Green cleaning is the way to go these days.  Green cleaning products are less toxic and much safer for our families and our environment.

Making your own green household cleaners is easier than you think.  The ingredients are cheaper and most of them may already be sitting right in your cabinets at home:

White vinegar is an anti-fungal that also kills germs and bacteria.

Baking soda eliminates odors and works as a gentle scouring powder.

Borax eliminates odors, removes dirt, and acts as an anti-fungal and possible disinfectant.

Hydrogen peroxide is a great non-toxic bleach and stain remover.  It is also a proven disinfectant.

Club soda can be used as a stain remover and polisher.

Lemon juice is a bleach alternative that cuts grease and removes stains.

Liquid Castile soap works as an all-purpose cleaner, grease-cutter, and disinfectant.

Corn meal works great on carpet spills.

Olive oil can be used to polish furniture.

Here are great recipes to get you started…

All-purpose cleaner:   Pour two tablespoons white vinegar and one teaspoon borax into a spray bottle.  Add warm water and shake to mix.  Then add 1/4 cup of liquid Castile soap.

To clean hardwood floors, combine 1/4 liquid Castile soap, 1/2 cup white vinegar or lemon juice, and 2 gallons of warm water in a large bucket.  Use a microfiber mop or cloth for cleaning.

To clean and disinfect carpets, mix together 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 cup borax, and 1 cup cornmeal. Sprinkle mixture over rug and rub with a microfiber cloth. Let sit overnight.  Vacuum the next day.  To remove tough carpet stains,  mix 1/4 cup liquid Castile soap and 1/3 cup water together in a blender until foamy. Spread the mixture on the carpet and let it sit for five minutes.  Scrub stain with a microfiber cloth.  For larger stains, pour cornmeal on the spill, wait 15 minutes, then vacuum.

To clean windows, just add club soda to a spray bottle and spray.  Wipe down with a microfiber cloth or terry cloth rag.  For tough windows spots, add 1 teaspoon lemon to the club soda.

To clean the bathroom,  try using the all-purpose cleaner (stated above).  For plumbing fixtures, clean with club soda.  For a mild scrub, use borax or baking soda combined with liquid soap.  To clean the toilet, sprinkle baking soda or borax, or pour white vinegar into the toilet.  Let sit for about ten minutes. Scrub with a toilet brush.

To clean the oven, cover the oven floor with baking soda, spray with water until very damp, and let set overnight.  Make sure baking soda stays damp overnight by spraying water on it every few hours.  In the morning, rinse and wipe.

To remove mold, combine 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar with 1 cup water. Spray on mold, do not rinse.  Mold can also be treated by spraying a mixture of 2 teaspoons tea tree oil and 2 cups water.

To polish wood furniture, dab olive oil onto a microfiber cloth and rub.

When it comes to cleaning my home, I always try and use the safest and most efficient products on the market.  I have to be especially careful because my children and I suffer from allergies, so products containing harsh chemicals are not an option.

Four products that are known for their wonderful cleaning abilities are white vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and club soda.  Not only do these products work wonders cleaning my home, but they are safe for my family and the environment.

I use white vinegar to clean the bathroom.  Vinegar helps remove soap scum and mineral deposits in the shower.  It is great for cleaning toilets too!  Vinegar can also be used in the laundry, on the dishes, and a few sprays can even keep pests away!

Baking soda is great at removing odor and sweat stains from clothing.  It also works wonders as a cleaner because it is a mild abrasive which can be used to clean tubs, sinks, counter tops and even tile floors.  Baking soda can keep garbage disposals smelling fresh and can also neutralize pet odors, especially near the litter box.

Lemon juice is a mild disinfectant that is used as a bleach alternative.  Use it to clean counters, tile floors, or to remove stains on clothes!

Club soda is carbonated water that helps to remove many stains like red wine, juice, tea, or coffee.  It can also be used in the laundry.

Because my family suffers form allergies, choosing green cleaning products to clean my home is definitely the safer choice for me.

Dust mites, mold, and pet dander are major issues for allergy sufferers, but chemical fumes from cleaning products and spray air fresheners can also be major detriments to your household’s air quality.

For allergy sufferers, the best types of cleaning products are those that are non-toxic.  “Green” cleaning products are better for those with allergies, but read the labels carefully, as some of these products still contain irritating substances.  Some of the best anti-allergy cleaning solutions can be found right in your own home.  Baking soda and vinegar work wonders in the natural cleaning world.  Homemade solutions made from these products can help keep your home spotless and clean for a minimal cost and at a minimal hazard.  If the smell of vinegar bothers you, add some drops of lemon juice to your solution.

Most toilet cleaners use very strong chemicals like hydrochloric acid or chlorine. Undiluted vinegar works just as well and won’t put a bunch of harsh chemicals in the air.

For cleaning surfaces, use a spray bottle that contains one part vinegar and one part water to naturally disinfect countertops and other surfaces.  Do not use this on marble countertops;  specific cleaning products are required for marble surfaces.

To fight nasty odors, mix some baking soda and water and apply to a microfiber cloth for scrubbing dirt and stains.

For allergy sufferers, try to avoid using chemical cleaning products altogether.  All that is really needed for efficient dusting is a good, clean microfiber cloth.

Many modern homes also contain carpeting, and while it may be pretty and pleasant to bare feet, carpet is a haven for allergens.  If you can’t lose the carpet, you will have to aggressively clean your floors to reduce the amount of dust mites and other allergens who live there.

To reduce the amount of pollen coming into your home and sticking to the carpet, try and mandate a “no shoes indoors” policy for all.  Each day, vacuum high traffic areas with a HEPA filter vacuum.  Vacuum other areas every few days at least.  Don’t forget about bath and area rugs.

Consider buying or renting a vapor-steam cleaner, which is very effective in wiping out germs, grime, and dust from floors, furniture, drapes, tiles, countertops, and more without aggravating allergies.  Be sure that the machine is a vapor steam-cleaner instead of a water-extraction cleaner which uses a chemical cleaning solution and water, since those types can contribute to mold and mildew.

Dust mites are the chief indoor allergy culprits.  They thrive on moisture and live off of human skin.  Wash all bedding and sheets on the hottest setting at least once a week to control the dust mite population in your pillows and sheets.  Don’t forget about the kids’ stuffed animals.  Launder them on the hottest setting.  If they cannot be washed in hot water, put them in the freezer for a few hours, then wash them in cold water.  This will help get rid of dust mites.