Provided by:

Cleaning for Less

Goals of Asthma ManagementGoals 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!

Three things happen in all of those millions of tiny airways during asthma:

1. Swelling

2. Mucus production

3. Muscle contraction

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

THINGS THAT MAKE ASTHMA WORSE EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT

INDOOR TRIGGERS

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.

What’s in the dust?

Surface and Airborne Triggers

SURFACE issues: Molds and Colds

Surface and Airborne Triggers

Categories of Cleaners

Totally non-toxic

Terrible Ten

Somewhere in Between

Before you Clean

Remember to: Ventilate. Never mix cleaners. Rinse thoroughly.

Clean when children are not present.

Terrible Ten

1. Drain cleaners

2. Oven cleaners

3. Toilet cleaners

4. Spot removers

5. Silver and other metal polishes

6. Furniture polishes

7. Cleansers and powdered cleaners

8. Window cleaners

9. Bleach

10. 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

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?

Don’t buy Drain Cleaner!

Fantastic Four

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)

Liquid Dish Soap

Look for: Glycerin-based Soy-based Plant derived bar soaps

Other Saf-“er” Cleaning Products

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

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!

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

Flooring

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.

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

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).

Shower Curtains

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.

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!

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.

Mold

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!

Problem Mold

Hire a specialist• Restoration• Water damage• Carpet cleaning

Special Cleaning Chores

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.

Rust stains

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.

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.

Thanks!Thanks!

You can create a healthier breathing environment by

changing the types of cleaning products you use!