Go Green Bedding

Archive for September, 2009

There are some many nursery rhymes out there. I remember several:

“Rock a bye, baby, in the tree top. When the wind blows, the cradle will rock. ”

And of course,

“Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep. ”

One that is especially popular now-a-days”

“Good night, sleep tight, Don’t let the bedbugs bite,
Wake up bright in the morning light
To do what’s right with all your might.”

The scary thing is that this last one is legitimate! Bed bug numbers are on the rise. They are not just in developing countries or impovrished neighborhoods, they are everywhere it seems. You want to make sure and protect your little ones (and yourself) from these vicious creatures.

The most important thing is to know where the mattresses in your home are from. It is best to buy new mattresses. You will not have to worry about bed bugs with these. Somina products are the top of the line! They are all-natural memory foam, made from soy-bean oil. The foam breathes with your skin and does not get hot and sticky like petroleum based foams do.  Made from lyocell, kapok, and elastic, the cover is designed to compliment the foam. Lyocell and elastic are natural products so you do not have to worry about sleeping on synthetic fibers. Kapok is a naturally bitter fruit that, when used in material, repels spiders, mites, fungus and such!

But if you choose to buy a gently used mattress for budgetry reasons or otherwise, be sure you purchase a mattress encasement. Protect-A-Bed’s encasements are designed to keep anything and everything that is already in the mattress there. They have a Bug Lock secure seal on the zipper. Be sure that you get an encasement, not just a cover. You want the entire mattress enclosed.

Nursery rhymes are supposed to ease your child into sleep, not stir up fears in the parent’s mind. Put those fears to bed by taking the precautions listed above.

Allergies can be quite annoying. You feel fine; you just can’t breathe. Whether is is pollen or dander or mold, it’s out there causing havok on your health. There are several ways you can combat this.

Start with your home:You want (well need) to be able to breathe easy at home. This is your sanctuary afterall. You should use a Large UV-C Sanitizer Wand to make sure all of your surfaces are clean. Then, for the air, you have several options. There is the Pluggable Air Sanitizer, UV-C Air Sanitizer, Table Top Air Purifer, and the Complete Air Cleansing System. Depending on how severe your allergies are, you will have to decide which product would be best for you.

• The Pluggable Air Sanitizer and the UV-C Air Sanitizer harness the natural power of UV-C light rays to kill airborne mold spores and 99% of bacteria. It also fights odors from pets, mildew, etc. The pluggable is ideal for a small room, like a bathroom, while the other is good for larger areas.
• The Table Top Air Purifer also uses UV-C light rays to do the above. It also has a charcoal filter to remove odors and smoke, a HEPA filter to capture airborne allergens, a PCO filter to capture and dissolve mold and mildew, and an Ionizer that emits negative ions to freshen the air.
• The Complete Air Cleansing System does all of the above and also has a pre-filter for larger particles such as pet hair and lent.

You should also use a pillow protector and a mattress encasement. These will not only protect your investment in your pillow and mattress, it will also trap dust and allergens inside of these items. It also allows for easy cleaning of these items. Simple remove the covers and throw in the washer each time you wash your bed linens.

When you are at the office, you should use the same precautions: getting an air purifier and a sanitizer wand. The number of people you work with and the set up of your office will help you determine which of the air sanitizers above would be the most prudent at work. I would recommend a table top air purifier because it will get everything but the larger particles (and most people don’t have furry pets at work anyway). You can get a mini sanitizer wand so it will fit perfectly in your pen cup or top drawer.

In the car, you can keep your mini wand with you. This way you can sanitizer your steering wheel, door handles, etc. Especially if you have children, think about when you last cleaned those knobs. A sanitizer wand is the perfect daily tool that is quick and effective. If you are in a car pool (or you are soccer mom transporting lots of kids), you should invest in a personal air purifier. Other people’s germs will always be a risk to you, more so in close quarters. Simple wear it during the drive to ensure easy breathing.

If you are like me, you will resort to medication as a last resort. It makes sense with allergies because there are amazing products out there to keep you tip top without having to introduce foreign chemicals into your system. (I still use medication, I just reserve it for more severe times. I urge you to try the products above first. If will save you money over time as you find your health is stronger because the quality of air you breath is purer.

We are on the second wave of the H1N1 infections. According to a report from ABC and the CDC (Center for Disease Control) N1H1 Page shows the South being hit hardest. As a note the CDC also has a page that gives a situation update- it’s concise and easy to understand. The same precautionary efforts should be taken for this strand of influenza that you would take when dealing with all colds and the flu.

Wash your hands. This is the most important things. You touch so many surfaces everyday that are covered with germs. Then you use your hands to hold silverware and eat. One way to minimize the number of germs your hands come in contact with is by using a mini UV-C Sanitizer Wand. It is more convenient that disinfectant wipes and more effective. Keep it in your purse or pocket and your are golden. You simple wave it over any surface you will touch and it kills 99.9% of germs! (Science is pretty awesome.) Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible. This is a major way germs get into your body.

Of course, cover your mouth then you cough and be aware of others around you. If they are sick, then the virus could be in the air. A smart step to take is to sanitize the air. You can buy a plug-in unit for $70. This will keep your healthier and keep your place fresher. For your college students, a Clean 2 Vacis probably more practical. Along with being a cordless handheld vacuum, the charging stand is also an air sanitizer.

The N1H1 Strand generally is more severe than the typical flu strand, but the same precautions should be taken for both. With little effort, you will be able to keep your family healthy throughout this flu season.

As parents – especially moms, your mind is finely tuned to see the dangers that are awaiting your family. This doesn’t shut off when your child goes away to college. You can see the excitement and anxiety in your child’s eyes are you unpack their dorm room and then you say your goodbyes. I am sure that you have covered the basics as far as their needs go: bedding, towels, detergent, dishes, etc. There are some hidden dangers that lurk in dormitories as well.

Here are some of the most common:

Meningitis: The CDC has recently added meningitis to the list of vaccines college freshman should get. Read more about it.

Mononucleosis and Influenza: I’m sure that the flu is already on your list, with all of the coverage of the swine flu and flu shots and health statements being handed out by most colleges this year. I remember from college, that mono – the kissing disease – made its round about once a year. Both of these things can be prevented easily. The washing of hands regularly and not sharing drinks are top on the list. Add to that disinfecting surfaces regularly, and you are good to go. One of the easiest ways to disinfect surfaces is with a UV-C Sanitizer Wand and the air with a Clean2 Vacuum (which serves double duty as a cordless vac.)

Bed bugs: One survey found that one quarter of examiners found bedbugs on college campuses. While there is not much you as an individual can do about it –as it should be handled by professionals. You should always wash your linens in hot water and use a mattress protector as precautions as the infestations occur for not apparent reason most times.

Mold and Athlete’s Food: Both of these thrive in moist conditions – so be sure to keep bath and kitchen areas dry and clean. For your feet – always wear flip flops in the shower and don’t run around the hallways barefoot (just leave a comfy pair of slippers with your freshman).

And as far as social hazards, these aren’t as easy to guard against. Your best defense is to be open with your student about the risks so they know. The top three social hazards are sleep deprivation, binge drinking, and STDs. So leave your child with a comfortable bed so that the hours they do get are quality and trust that you have raised your child well.