Cleaning for Less

1. Cleaning for Less Provided by:

2. Goals of Asthma Management • No asthma symptoms during day • No asthma symptoms at night • No missed school or work • No hospital or ER visits • Few side effects from medicines Regular cleaning in the home will help control triggers and lead to better asthma management!

4. Three things happen in all of those millions of tiny airways during asthma: Swelling Mucus production Muscle contraction

5. How do you know asthma is flaring? Early Signs: • Cough, • allergies, • tiredness, • cold symptoms, • not sleeping through the night Symptoms of an Asthma Attack (late): • Cough, • wheeze, • tightness in the chest, • shortness of breath Emergency, 911 Signs: • Color change in lips, fingernails, • Retractions • Can’t talk

6. THINGS THAT MAKE ASTHMA WORSE EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT INDOOR TRIGGERS

7. Strong Smells • Strong smells from cleaning products can cause asthma flare-ups. • Chemicals used in many cleaning products can be toxic for everyone - not just kids with asthma.

8. Surface and Airborne Triggers What’s in the dust?

9. Surface and Airborne Triggers SURFACE issues: Molds and Colds

10. Categories of Cleaners Totally non-toxic Terrible Ten Somewhere in Between

11. Before you Clean Remember to: • Ventilate. • Never mix cleaners. • Rinse thoroughly. • Clean when children are not present.

12. Drain cleaners Oven cleaners Toilet cleaners Spot removers Silver and other metal polishes Furniture polishes Cleansers and powdered cleaners Window cleaners Bleach Liquid cleaners Most contain Ammonia and/or bleach Ammonia turns into a gas that is harmful to lung tissue Mixing ammonia and bleach causes toxic gases (chloramines) Also avoid aerosols Terrible Ten

13. Example: Adjusting for Drains Recipe for unclogging drains: • Pour baking soda in the drain • Pour vinegar in the drain • Rinse with boiling water • What if your drain plug or drain stopper prevents you from using this recipe?

14. Don’t buy Drain Cleaner!

15. Baking Soda Environmentally harmless Absorbs odors Mildly abrasive (doesn’t scratch surfaces) Combats grease and acids Cream of Tartar Rust remover Removes stains from white clothing Lemon juice Antibacterial Antiseptic (prevents growth of micro-organisms) Great scent Vinegar Harmless to humans and the environment Acidic (fights stains) Acts as a disinfectant (kills bacteria and fungi) Fantastic Four

16. Liquid Dish Soap Look for: • Glycerin-based • Soy-based • Plant derived bar soaps

17. Borax Mildly abrasive Deodorizes Softens hard water Disinfectant Fungicide, herbicide, insecticide Should not be ingested Hydrogen Peroxide Bleaching agent Antibacterial Sanitizer Tea Tree Oil Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral Deodorizes **Washing soda Cuts grease Deodorizes Removes wax Other Saf-“er” Cleaning Products

18. Cleaning with Vinegar Basic Recipe: • Fill ½ spray bottle with vinegar • Fill the rest of the spray bottle with water Add lemon juice or other essential oil for scent!

19. Vinegar Spray Use vinegar spray to clean: • Kitchen counters and appliances • Cutting boards and knives • Flooring – vinegar is good for wood • Bathroom counters and facilities • Windows, mirrors, and glass

20. Use vinegar spray for all kinds of floors! Spray floor Wipe clean No rinsing Add 1 teaspoon of glycerin soap for dirtier floors, but you will need to rinse. Flooring

21. Linoleum Floors For waxed linoleum floors: • 1 cup vinegar • 1 gallon warm water • For tough soils or grease, replace vinegar with ¼ cup washing soda • Warning: this will remove any wax coating on the floor. Re-polish when dry

22. Windows, Mirrors, Glass • Spray on. • Scrub with a squeegee scrubber. • Squeegee liquid down to one corner and wipe clean with a rag. Note: When cleaning the first couple times after switching from commercial cleaners, add ½ teaspoon of liquid soap (traditional cleaners contain waxes that need extra cleaning).

23. Use vinegar to clean plastic shower curtains Pour 1 cup vinegar with ¼ to ½ cup laundry detergent in the washing machine. Add curtain with several old, light colored towels. Use a warm water cycle with a complete rinse cycle. Shower Curtains

24. Clean with Baking Soda Baking Soda Blast • 16 ounces of Baking Soda • 4 Tablespoons natural liquid soap • 1 cup warm water Great recipe when scrubbing is needed!

25. Baking Soda Use Baking Soda Blast to Clean: • Soap scum in bathtubs and sinks • Mineral buildup around water fixtures • Tile and grout • For sanitation, spray with vinegar spray then hydrogen peroxide, let sit for a few minutes, then rinse/flush.

26. Mold Recipe Baking soda blast Add 2-3 drops tea tree oil Directions Apply paste to mold. Scrub. Let sit for 30 minutes. Wipe clean. This recipe will clean the mold, but if the water source is not corrected, the mold will come back! Mold

27. Problem Mold • Hire a specialist • Restoration • Water damage • Carpet cleaning

28. Special Cleaning Chores

29. Carpets Deodorize when needed: • Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet • Wait 30 minutes • Vacuum Clean at least once per year: • Rent a steam cleaner • 1/8 cup liquid soap • 2 gallons hot water • Add 2 cups borax or baking soda per gallon of water.

30. Combine1 Tablespoon cream of tartar with enough hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Apply to the stain and let sit for several hours. Wipe clean. Rust stains

31. Oven Oven cleaner • Sprinkle baking soda to cover all mess. • Spray with water until very damp. • Re-wet occasionally with vinegar spray and let sit overnight. • In the morning, wipe clean.

32. You can create a healthier breathing environment by changing the types of cleaning products you use! Thanks!