Soot particles are small enough to be breathed deeply into the lung and even pass directly through capillary walls into the blood stream. The particles may contain carcinogens – such as benzo[a]pyrene – and can also act as “surrogate allergens.” The medical community recognizes that the cornstarch powder in latex gloves (used to keep the rubber from sticking to itself) can acquire latex allergens. When the powdery granules become airborne and are inhaled by someone who has latex allergy, that person can experience an allergic reaction – sometimes severe. Similarly, the microscopic particles of soot that settle on surfaces that contain mold or pet dander can become contaminated with allergenic substances. The particles can then become airborne again and be inhaled when surfaces are cleaned or otherwise disturbed in some way. Read the rest »

Your family is growing in size and you have to find a roomier home. You may feel lucky if the person moving out is leaving behind a refrigerator or some stylish carpeting, but beware. Many things left behind in a house should be cleaned or removed prior to occupancy, especially if you or someone else in your family, particularly a child, has allergies, asthma or other environmental sensitivities. Read the rest »

In a blink of an eye our challenge is about to end. If you are opening up this page eager for the next assignment because everything is completed from week’s prior, you are better off than most (or me for that matter)! Let’s face it, we’re all super busy parents and it is hard to set aside time during the day to take care of these tasks, which may not seem like an immediate priority. Please keep in mind; I don’t set out making these challenges to make your life more difficult, rather so it is EASIER! So, if you are anxiously waiting to see where I am going to send you off this week with your bucket of hot soapy water and a micro-fiber cloth…please bear with me while I address the needs of the others. Read the rest »

When was the last time you had a really relaxing holiday?

I don’t mean that peaceful thirty-minute aftermath that follows a successful dinner party or the kids’ gift-opening extravaganza. I mean a holiday that is relaxing, from beginning to end. That includes travel, dinner preparations, and shopping.

All it will take is a little organization and advance planning. Here are some tips to get you started. Read the rest »

You know that chemicals might be bad for you, but how do you live without them?

First, you have to remember that people used to live with the same pests that we fight today, before chemicals existed. When you use chemicals, the natural balance of predator and prey is upset in your house and yard.

Allowing your yard and house to come back into balance will take about three years. Since you have been artificially killing the bugs that you don’t want, you have also been inadvertently removing the food for the bug’s predators. Once you stop using chemicals, the “bad” bugs will temporarily explode in growth. You can control them through non-chemical methods; vacuuming often, using cedar chips, etc. Then, over the course of the next three years, their natural predators will return, and the predators will take care of them for you. During the temporary explosion, here are some things that have always worked for us, to discourage bugs and rodents: Read the rest »

Episode #17: OH! Organizing Hints – Trash Eve

Geralin Thomas Introduces Clever Parents to “Trash Eve”. Plus, a clever family organizer. Watch the vidcast on Clever Parents TV.

Talk about Clever: Brad and Jera Deal made up a creative way to teach the alphabet to their daughters then transformed it into a personalized gift business.

As a way to introduce the alphabet to their daughters, Brad and Jera Deal made a game of ‘letter hunting’ while out for walks or spending days in the park. Since, like most parents, they always had a camera with them, they took pictures of the letters that they spotted whether they were in nature, art or surrounding architecture. Soon they had pictures for every letter in the alphabet. Read the rest »