Cleaning out the garage? Keep child safety in mind

An organized garage is safer and healthier.

The garage is a place where a lot of “stuff” accumulates.

Old paint cans, windshield wiper fluid, recreational equipment, tools, and so many other things can easily take over any semblance of organization or functionality.

But because of the the type of products often stored there, which include a lot of chemical and health hazards, organization and functionality are important to make sure the garage is safe – especially for households with children.

Cleaning out the garage regularly is a great way to prevent clutter, according to professional organizers, and homeowners should keep three bins in the garage at all time, labeled “sell”, “recycle” and “throw away.”

By going through the items in the garage every few months and emptying the bin once they get full, you can keep the clutter at bay.

Locking up hazardous materials or chemicals will keep children safe, and it might be a good idea to divide the garage into kid and adult zones as well as gardening, household supplies and auto care sections (or whatever other sections are needed) to make it easier to find things and to keep everything organized.

Keep things that need to be moved regularly (garbage bins, bikes) near the garage door.

Here are some other tips:

• Get rid of toxic and hazardous materials if you can. Instead, look for non-toxic or alternative products such as low or zero VOC paints, non toxic household supplies and greener fertilizers.
• Check expiration dates and drop off hazardous household items at drop-off spots or drives.
• Reorganize the garage so that dangerous tools and products are out of reach of children.
• Attach cabinets and shelves safely to the walls.

When it comes to paint cans, solvents, chemicals and similar products, the fumes can not only be a hazard in the garage, but they can become a health threat if they make their way into the home.

Making sure that connecting doors are safe and shut tight should be a priority.

Source: The Oregonian

Cleaner air in the home and the garage

Indoor air quality is important, whether it’s in the garage or in the home.

A portable air purifier with activated carbon and HEPA can help remove those airborne chemicals, odors, fumes, particles, allergens, dust, bacteria, viruses and molds that are floating around in the ambient air.

AllerAir has developed highly efficient air purifiers for general purpose air cleaning as well as for specialized IAQ concerns, including mold, allergy and asthma and heavy chemical and odor control.

Contact AllerAir for more information and options.
 

Renovating? Use low-VOC paint for better indoor air quality

Low-VOC paint helps reduce indoor
air pollution and chemical concerns.

When it comes to home renovations and updates, we all like to spend as little as possible but still get great results.

And just finding that perfect shade of paint for the room can be exhausting in itself, so it’s no wonder many people don’t spend much time thinking about the kind of paint they will be putting on their walls.

But the fresh paint smell many people simply take for granted can be quite a health hazard, especially for people with asthma and allergies as well as other sensitivities.

The smell comes from high levels of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, that are emitted from the liquid and drying paint (and even a long time afterwards, though less noticeable).

Thankfully, there is a much bigger selection of low-VOC as well as zero-VOC paints available, which can make a great difference in the air quality of a newly renovated home.

The EPA regulates the amount of VOCs that are allowed in latex paints to 250 grams per liter. Low VOC paints are not regulated but generally carry a rating of 50 grams per liter or less.

Adding color pigment to paints can increase the VOC count since many tints contain the volatile organic compounds.

A growing public awareness about the dangers of airborne chemicals and VOCs and a strong green movement have brought down the cost of low- and zero-VOC paints, while their quality has improved.

Now the healthier paints are just as durable, just as washable and the cost is comparable to traditional paints as well.

Source: Indy Star

Improve indoor air quality all the time with high quality air purifiers

During and after renovations it is especially important to keep indoor air quality in mind, but even in between projects, residents can be exposed to a wide range of indoor air contaminants coming from household products and furnishings, building materials, personal care products and many more items in the home.

AllerAir's room air purifiers can remove VOCs,
odors, allergens, particles, mold and more.

Running an energy-efficient, portable air purifier with the right air filters will help improve indoor air quality and reduce exposure to potentially harmful contaminants.

AllerAir’s air purifiers for the home and office contain deep-bed activated carbon filters for the removal of airborne chemicals, VOCs, gases, odors and fumes, HEPA filters for particles, dust and allergens and optional UV lamps for the neutralization of biological contaminants such as mold, bacteria and viruses.

For more information and options, please contact AllerAir today.
  

Renovations Contribute to Poorer Air Quality in Winter

Ever since I started working at AllerAir, renovations at our place just haven’t been the same. And as the team here begins to research topics and content for our December newsletter, we discover that indeed, winter is prime time for renovations… while meanwhile, at home, we are knee-deep in paint, jip rock and… is that mold?

We are renovating a bedroom for our 4-year-old son, and there is a lot of work to be done. As my husband rips out a great chunk of waterlogged jip rock, I hover above him, inspecting the wood behind it, asking… Is that mold? What’s that? Is that normal?

Once assured that we are mold-free, we jip rock, plaster and sand, and there are dust particles everywhere. The next day the paint comes out, and while we have invested in some low VOC paint for the walls, we use remnants of some regular white paint to do the trim and the ceiling.

And it stinks. Does it stink more than the million other times we’ve painted rooms, or is just me? Karen Hand, one of our Indoor Air Quality Experts here at AllerAir, recommends we do not turn on our air purifier during the actual renovations because the amount of toxins being released are overwhelming, even for the most sophisticated technology and activated carbon. Instead, she says, open the windows, and wait between 2-5 days before turning on your air purifier. So we open our windows and the cold Montreal December air blows in, and away we paint with our mittens, hats and coats.

I am now frightfully aware of what these renovations do to my indoor air quality in my home. Research shows that air quality is worse in the winter, and that one definite contributor is renovations. People also stay indoors more often in the winter with windows sealed tight, and fresh air kept to a minimum. And with nowhere to go, air pollutants quickly gain presence, slowly but surely diminishing your air quality.

We recommend air purifiers in every home, all season long, but winter is an especially good time to invest in cleaner air, especially if you know you’re going to be doing renovations, refurnishing or working with toxic chemicals.

General Purpose Home and Office AllerAir Air Purifiers:

5000 Exec: General Purpose
6000 DX Vocarb: Odors & Chemicals
5000 DS: Ideal for homes effected by cigarette smoke, and wood burning & fireplace smoke

In addition to your air purifier, here are 5 other tips that will help you keep your indoor air quality as high as possible, especially during the winter:

1. Air Out your Home when Weather Allows
Depending where you are, it can get pretty cold in wintertime. Air out your homes on warmer days, especially in mid-afternoon when the sun is hot! This allows fresh air in, and gives the opportunity for accumulated chemicals and particles to escape.

2. Control DampnessControl dampness to minimize the growth of mould and fungi. House dust mites, the source of one of the most powerful biological allergens, thrive in damp, warm environments.

3. Plants Love Chemicals!
Though chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide are toxic to human health, plants thrive on them, while also removing them from the air. Ideal plants include the peace lily, bamboo palm, English ivy, mums, and gerbera daisies, all of which are easy to find and easy to care for, so even if you don’t have a green thumb, you can still have a green home or office.

4. Choose Products with Low Pollutant Emissions
Whether you’re buying household cleaners, paints for renovations, or anything else, make sure to choose products with little or no particle emissions. Choose all-natural cleaners instead of ones with chemicals, rugs instead of carpets and plant or mineral based paints that are low in VOC’s.

5. Choose Friendly Furniture!
Avoid furniture that is marketed as stain-resistant, and do not apply stain-resistant treatments onto fabrics. Avoid products that contain PVC, such as inflatable furniture, artificial leather, PVC-coated fabrics, and vinyl furniture covers. Choose products that do not contain toxic flame retardants (PBDEs), which are often used in furniture upholstery and foam.

For more information on air purifiers, visit www.allerair.com or call 888.852.8247 to speak to one of AllerAir's Indoor Air Quality Experts.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful winter!