FOR BREaAKING tNEWS VIhSIT WWWo.QNS.COmM e OCTOBER 15, 2020 •AT HOME • THE QUEENS COURIER 43
How to get your home guestready,
even if you have pets
If you’re hosting guests with allergies -
and you have pets - you have a few more
things to consider when getting your
home guest-ready. No problem!
Dr. Elizabeth Mullans, a board-certifi ed
dermatologist and founder of Uptown
Dermatology in Houston, Texas, off ers
eight cleaning tips to help allergy-proof
your home.
1. Bare the fl oors
Carpets and rugs are notorious for collecting
dust mites, pet dander (dead skin
cells that are naturally shed by your pets)
and other allergens, which can trigger
allergy-sensitive guests. Remove rugs and
carpeting from your guest room as wooden
or bare fl oors are easier to clean!
2. Don’t be blind to your blinds
Th ose window blinds that protect your
privacy are also dust magnets in need of
regular cleaning and dusting. Try mixing
equal parts vinegar and Arm & Hammer
Baking Soda to a spray bottle of warm
water. Spray the blinds until they’re fully
soaked (make sure you have a towel
underneath to catch the drippings!) and
then wipe clean.
3. Love your lamp shades
Lampshades are tricky to dust, so
they’re oft en skipped over during cleaning.
Use a lint roller or packing tape; their
sticky surfaces work faster than a cloth
to collect dust on lampshades, décor and
other neglected areas.
4. Come clean with your pets
Pet dander, urine and saliva are the
main culprit to allergies - not pet hair.
Th e Asthma and Allergy Foundation of
America says pet hair isn’t an allergen,
but since dander can stick to hair and
hide underneath a furry coat, it’s partially
to blame for allergy misery. A weekly
wash and scrub - using warm water and
a dander-reducing shampoo - can greatly
reduce allergens!
5. Designate pet-free zones
Pet hair can get everywhere, but you can
dramatically reduce these fl y-aways by
keeping your pets out of certain areas of
the house where your guests will be. Th is
can help keep pet allergens from getting
into fabrics and rugs all over your home.
Be sure to close the doors to guest rooms
and install pet fences where appropriate.
6. Defend against dander
Dander can get everywhere and aff ect
your allergy-sensitive guests. Run your
clothes and bedding in the dryer before
you wash them to remove pet hair, which
carries dander. Before making up the
guest room, wash blankets and duvets
to make them fresh and dander-free.
Consider using a dermatologist-tested,
hypoallergenic detergent that’s gentle
on skin and free of dyes and perfumes,
like Arm & Hammer Sensitive
Skin Free & Clear detergent. Th ey say
“old habits die hard” because people generally
use products that have been in the
family for generations, but what happens
once those products start irritating
the skin? Symptoms of irritation
can include redness, dry skin, burning,
or hives. Sensitive skin laundry
detergents really do get clothes
clean. Arm & Hammer Sensitive
Skin detergent has been extensively
evaluated among people who have
sensitive skin. So, don’t worry, it’s
gentle on skin, but will get your
laundry clean and fresh.
7. Put out some
plants
Th e American
Society of
Hor t i c u l t u r a l
Science and other
organizations have
performed studies that
show how indoor plants
signifi cantly improve and
clean a room’s air quality.
Setting out plants like
aloe, golden pathos and
bamboo palm can help
fi lter out common
volatile organic
compounds
(VOCs) in indoor
air; bright fl owers
like azaleas, chrysanthemums
and peace lilies
can do the same. Unfortunately,
some fl oral plants can trigger skin
reactions for those sensitive to
latex or rubber.
8. Freshen
the air
Air purifi ers and fi lters
can work wonders in
reducing airborne allergens
and keeping your surroundings
feeling fresh. Purchase
air fi lters that have a smallparticle
or HEPA fi lter for your
guest room and common areas
and start running them a few
days before guests arrive for
best results.
While these eight tips can
help, it’s impossible to eliminate
all the allergens in your home.
Just in case, have some Arm
& Hammer Simply Saline
Instant Relief on hand to
help your guests stay comfortable.
Its drug-free formula
safely fl ushes out contaminants,
quickly relieves congestion
and is safe to use along with
their allergy medications. Now, with all
your bases covered, you can make your
next gathering even happier for you and
your guests.
— Courtesy of BPT
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