Guide to Reducing Asthma Symptoms & Creating A Healthy “Green” Home For Residents of Melrose Commons Site V Resident Packet: Review : Reducing Environmental Asthma Triggers In the Home Stain Removers Green Cleaning Recipes

Review: Reducing Environmental Asthma Triggers In the Home  Asthma is a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe because the lining of the airways swells.  Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness.  Asthma often needs to be controlled by medications.  Environmental Asthma Triggers: Triggers are things that cause asthma symptoms to worsen.

Review: Reducing Environmental Asthma Triggers In the Home  Asthma can’t be cured, but symptoms can be reduced by decreasing exposure to “triggers”.  Common indoor triggers:  dust  animal fur  cockroaches  rodents  mold  tobacco smoke  some chemical products

Tips to Reduce Asthma Triggers in the Home Cockroaches & Rodents  DO:  Store food in sealed containers.  Clean clutter.  Clean spills and crumbs right away.  Keep garbage in a closed container.  Fix leaky faucets – cockroaches are attracted to pools of water.  Clean dirty dishes right away.

DO:  Use baits or boric acid.  Contact building management if there are cockroaches or rodents in your home.  AVOID:  Pesticide sprays.  NOTE: Boric acid and baits should be kept out of the reach of children. Tips to Reduce Asthma Triggers in the Home Cockroaches & Rodents

 DO:  Keep indoor humidity low, between 30-50%.  Use air conditioners or dehumidifiers when needed.  Fix any plumbing leaks.  Dry damp areas immediately.  Clean bathroom tubs and sinks often.  Use fan or open window in bathroom when showering. Tips to Reduce Asthma Triggers in the Home Mold/Mildew

 DO:  Clean mold with a detergent and water mixture.  Wear face masks (N-95) and gloves when cleaning mold.  Contact building management if you see a lot of mold.  AVOID:  Humidifiers. Tips to Reduce Asthma Triggers in the Home Mold/Mildew

 DO:  Wash bedding weekly in hot water. Dry on hot cycle.  Vacuum and dust often. Use a HEPA filtered vacuum.  Use allergy control covers on pillow and mattress.  Wash stuffed toys monthly in hot water. Keep them off the bed.  AVOID:  Hanging curtains. Instead, put up blinds or shades.  Wall-to-wall carpets. Tips to Reduce Asthma Triggers in the Home Dust Mites

 DO:  Use natural or homemade cleaning products.  Buy unscented products:  Laundry detergents  Body lotions /Soaps  AVOID:  Using products that produce strong odors:  Air fresheners/plug-ins  Bleach  Ammonia Tips to Reduce Asthma Triggers in the Home Chemical Products

Open doors and windows. Use a stove fan when cooking. Leave baking soda in open containers in refrigerators, closets and bathrooms. Simmer cinnamon and cloves. To whiten clothes, instead of bleach, use washing soda or hydrogen peroxide-based liquid bleaches. To soften natural-fiber clothing, add 1 cup vinegar or ¼ cup baking soda during final rinse cycle. To reduce “static cling” in synthetics, line dry clothes or remove clothes from the dryer while they are still slightly damp. Air Fresheners Laundry (adapted with permission from Public Health- Seattle & King County and Klickitat Country)

Stain Remover Recipes Fruit : Option 1: Soak in cold water for 30 minutes; rub soap in remaining stain; then wash; “bleach” with lemon juice and sunlight if needed Option 2: Soak in vinegar Grease: Option 1: Apply a paste of cornstarch and water. Brush off when dry. Option 2: Cover spot with baking soda or cornmeal. Let absorb the grease and brush off. Perspiration : Try sponging stain with a weak solution of white vinegar or lemon juice and water. Blood : Saturate with hydrogen peroxide. Let sit a couple minutes and wash. Ink: Option 1: Saturate stain with milk Option 2: Sponge stain with rubbing alcohol Cleaning products should be well labeled and kept out of the reach of children. Fruit : Option 1: Soak in cold water for 30 minutes; rub soap in remaining stain; then wash; “bleach” with lemon juice and sunlight if needed Option 2: Soak in vinegar Grease: Option 1: Apply a paste of cornstarch and water. Brush off when dry. Option 2: Cover spot with baking soda or cornmeal. Let absorb the grease and brush off. Perspiration : Try sponging stain with a weak solution of white vinegar or lemon juice and water. Blood : Saturate with hydrogen peroxide. Let sit a couple minutes and wash. Ink: Option 1: Saturate stain with milk Option 2: Sponge stain with rubbing alcohol Cleaning products should be well labeled and kept out of the reach of children. (adapted with permission from Public Health- Seattle & King County and Klickitat Country)

Green Cleaning Recipes (adapted with permission from Public Health- Seattle & King County and Klickitat Country) All-Purpose Cleaner – Option 1 A dab of liquid soap or detergent Washing soda (1/2 teaspoon) Hot tap water (2 cups) Instructions: 1. Combine all of the ingredients into spray bottle. 2. Shake well until washing soda dissolves. 3. Spray on surfaces and wipe off with sponge or cloth. Wear gloves when using washing soda. Adapted with permission from anniebbond.com. All-Purpose Cleaner – Option 2 Baking soda (1 Tablespoon) White vinegar (2 Tablespoons) Tap water (2cups) Instructions: 1. Combine all of the ingredients into spray bottle. 2. Shake well until baking soda dissolves. 3. Spray on surfaces and wipe off with sponge or cloth. Adapted from healthychild.org

Glass Cleaner: White vinegar (1/8 cup) Water (2 cups) Newspaper, crumpled Instructions: 1.Add water and white vinegar into spray bottle. 2.Shake bottle to mix. 3.Spray on the surface 4.Rub with a lint-free rag or a torn and wadded up newspaper page. 5. For outdoor windows, use a sponge and wash with warm water with a few drops of liquid castile soap in it. Rinse well and squeegee dry. Drain Cleaner: Baking soda (1/2 cup) White vinegar (1/2 cup) Boiling water Instructions: 1.This recipe will free minor clogs and helps to prevent future clogs. 2.Pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drain first, then ½ cup vinegar. Let it fizz for a few minutes. 3.Pour down a teakettle full of boiling water. 4.Repeat if needed. 5.If the clog is stubborn, use a plunger. 6.If very stubborn, use a mechanical snake. Green Cleaning Recipes (adapted with permission from Public Health- Seattle & King County and Klickitat Country)

Floor Cleaner (vinyl tile and linoleum): White vinegar (1/4 cup) Washing soda (1/4 cup) 1 gallon warm water Bucket (pail) Instructions: Mop with mixture of vinegar and washing soda in warm water. The vinegar odor will go away shortly after the floor dries. Oven Cleaner: Baking soda (1 cup) Water Scouring pad Instructions: 1.Mix 1 cup of baking soda with enough water to make a paste. Apply to oven surfaces and let stand for about 15 minutes. Using a scouring pad for scrubbing most surfaces. A spatula or bread knife is effective to get under large food deposits. 2.This recipe will require more scrubbing effort, but it is not toxic to you or your child. Commercial cleaners can cause severe irritation or respiratory conditions. 3.Do not use this cleaner recipe on self-cleaning ovens. Green Cleaning Recipes (adapted with permission from Public Health- Seattle & King County and Klickitat Country)

Tub & Sink Cleaner Baking Soda Liquid castile soap Instructions: 1.Sprinkle baking soda on the porcelain fixtures and rub with wet rag. 2.Add a little of the liquid castile soap to the rag for more cleaning power. 3.Rinse well to avoid leaving a hazy film. Option (1) : Undiluted white vinegar Instructions: Scrub with vinegar. Rinse. Option (2) : Undiluted white vinegar (1 cup) Instructions: Machine wash cloth curtain, with a towel. Add 1 cup vinegar to rinse cycle. Green Cleaning Recipes (adapted with permission from Public Health- Seattle & King County and Klickitat Country) Mildew Remover – Shower Curtain

Healthy & Green Living is Good for the Environment Use the stairs rather than the elevator Try walking rather than taking a car or bus Eat less meat Drink tap water rather than bottled/sugary drinks Eat local produce rather than packaged/processed foods

Green Tips Dry clothes on warm or cold setting unless needed (dry bedding on hot cycle to get rid of dust mites). After drying clothes, clean the lint out of the dryer’s filter. Decrease shower time (will help prevent mold). Don’t leave sink running. Recycle newspapers, cardboard, bags and bottles to reduce clutter.

References This education is provided by the Department of Preventive Medicine in the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Center. This educational booklet was funded by Enterprise Communities Green Communities. Information was adapted from the following references: epa.gov nyc.gov kingcounty.gov klickitatcounty.org beyondpesticides.org activelivingresearch.com greenseal.org Healthy Child Healthy World Enterprise Green Communities