8 tips to allergy-proof your home this holiday (BPT) – Before you know it, you’re knee-deep in preparing for holiday celebrations and family visits. If you’re hosting guests with allergies and you have pets - you have a few more things to consider when getting your home guest-ready. No problem! Here are eight cleaning tips to help allergy-proof your home for the holidays.
1. Bare the floors Carpets and rugs are notorious for collecting dust mites, pet dander (dead skin cells that are naturally shed by your pets) and other allergens, which can trigger allergy-sensitive guests. Remove rugs and carpeting from your guest room as wooden or bare floors are easier to clean!
2. Don’t be blind to your blinds
4. Come clean with your pets
Those window blinds that protect your privacy are also dust magnets in need of regular cleaning and dusting. Try mixing equal parts vinegar and Arm & Hammer (TM) Baking Soda to a spray bottle of warm water. Spray the blinds until they’re fully soaked (make sure you have a towel underneath to catch the drippings!) and then wipe clean.
Pet dander, urine and saliva are the main culprit to allergies - not pet hair. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says pet hair isn’t an allergen, but since dander can stick to hair and hide underneath a furry coat, it’s partially to blame for allergy misery. A weekly wash and scrub - using warm water and a dander-reducing shampoo - can greatly reduce allergens! You can also put your pet in a cute holiday sweater to keep fur from flying.
3. Love your lamp shades Lampshades are tricky to dust, so they’re often skipped over during cleaning. Use a lint roller or packing tape; their sticky surfaces work faster than a cloth to collect dust on lampshades, holiday décor and other neglected areas.
5. Designate petfree zones Pet hair can get everywhere, but you can dramatically reduce these fly-aways by keeping your pets out of certain areas of the house where your guests will be. This can help keep pet allergens from getting into fabrics and rugs all over your home. Be sure to close the doors to guest rooms and install pet fences where appropriate.
6. Defend against dander Dander can get everywhere and affect your allergy-sensitive guests. Run your clothes
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and bedding in the dryer before you wash them to remove pet hair, which carries dander. Before making up the guest room, wash blankets and duvets to make them fresh and dander-free. Consider using a dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic detergent that’s gentle on skin and free of dyes and perfumes, like Arm & Hammer(TM) Sensitive Skin Free & Clear detergent. They say “old habits die hard” because people generally use products that have been in the family for generations, but what happens once those products start irritating the skin? Symptoms of irritation can include redness, dry skin, burning, or hives. Sensitive skin laundry detergents really do get clothes clean. Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin detergent has been extensively evaluated among people who have sensitive skin. So, don’t worry, it’s gentle on skin, but will get your laundry clean and fresh.
7. Put out some plants The American Society of Horticultural Science and other organizations have performed studies that show how indoor
plants significantly improve and clean a room’s air quality. Setting out plants like aloe, golden pathos and bamboo palm can help filter out common volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor air; bright flowers like azaleas, chrysanthemums and peace lilies can do the same. Unfortunately, floral plants like poinsettias (yes, your favorite holiday décor) can trigger skin reactions for those sensitive to latex or rubber.
8. Freshen the air Air purifiers and filters can work wonders in reducing airborne allergens and keeping your surroundings feeling fresh through the holidays. Pur-
chase air filters that have a small-particle or HEPA filter for your guest room and common areas and start running them a few days before guests arrive for best results. While these eight tips can help, it’s impossible to eliminate all the allergens in your home. Just in case, have some Arm & Hammer Simply Saline Instant Relief on hand to help your guests stay comfortable. Its drug-free formula safely flushes out contaminants, quickly relieves congestion and is safe to use along with their allergy medications. Now, with all your bases covered, you can make the holidays even happier for you and your guests. Complete Selection Of Books, Dolls from Around the World & Other Collectibles.
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Prevent frozen pipes while traveling During winter, many people plan vacations to warmer climates so they can enjoy a relaxing respite from the snow and ice. While travelers are enjoying the sand and surf, their homes may be in danger from extreme weather conditions. According to the State Farm Insurance Company, frozen water pipes affect a quarter-million families each winter. Both copper and plastic pipes can freeze. State Farm notes that a single 1⁄8-inch crack in a pipe can result in up to 250 gallons of water leakage per day. Flood water can contribute to serious structural damage, mold and a host of other problems. Water expands as it freezes, so pipes can be put under strain if the pressure from expanding water has nowhere to go, offers the American Red Cross. Pipes that tend to freeze most frequently include those exposed to severe cold, such as outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool lines and water sprinkler systems. However, even pipes inside a home, such as those in unheated areas or those that run against exterior walls, can freeze.
To avoid returning from a relaxing winter escape to find a home in need of repair thanks to frozen pipes, homeowners can take these steps. • Add insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces to help maintain higher temperatures within the areas where some water pipes may run. • Pipes themselves can be insulated with special coverings or sleeves. Homeowners also can explore heat tape or wrap pipes in heat cables controlled by their thermostats.
snaps of weather. • Set the thermostat to a consistent temperature, ensuring that the temperature indoors will not drop dramatically overnight. The temperature should be no less than 55 F.
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• Personalized to your needs: One of the cornerstones of AI is learning, which means the more you use these smart devices, the better they operate for you. Because they use the data to learn your preferences and routine, they create a customized user experience that best meets the needs of you and your family. • Responds proactively: The most intelligent smart devices on the market also alert you of issues before they turn into full-fledged, costly problems. For example, ThinQ(R) on all LG devices is connected to the brand’s exclusive customer support program, Proactive Customer Care, which provides useful tips to keep the appliance in good condition and sends timely alerts about potential problems. For example, users can receive tips on when to clean the drum of a washing machine and recommendations on which detergent is best for their clothing. • Uses energy efficiently: Many users of intelligent devices appreciate saving energy. Not only do AI-enabled products track energy usage, but some can also be programmed to maximize your energy conservation. For example, LG ThinQ(R) devices
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• Check around the house for drafty areas that can contribute to colder temperatures in garages, basements and crawl spaces.
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• Consider relocating pipes that are exposed to the elements to provide increased protection.
• Disconnect outdoor hoses, and drain water from pipes leading to outdoor faucets. Turn • Ask a neighbor to off the indoor valve periodically check on to shut off the water the house to ensure supply to the outdoors, that pipes are in good but leave the outdoor working order. bib in the “open” position to allow water Homeowners who to drip and relieve know where the main wapressure should some ter shut-off valve in their freezing occur. homes is located and who act quickly can prevent • The same technique can be applied indoors. serious damage should a pipe burst. In such instancA trickle of hot and es, leaks can be contained cold water can keep and extinguished as quickpipes from freezing ly as possible. during extremely cold
shouldn’t be complicated, period. Along with operability that’s practically self-evident and mistake-proof, well-designed AI should be smart enough to fit seamlessly with your existing smart home technology. So, if you have a favorite voice-assisted technology, your new AI-enabled appliance should be easily integrated into your system of choice.
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• Open cabinet doors to allow heat to reach under sinks and appliances.
How AI is transforming life at home by thinking of you (BPT) – We all love the idea of having a washer, refrigerator or smart appliance that gives us important messages and guides our next steps. But not all smart technology is alike. The last thing you want from your investment is a gimmicky gadget that does nothing more than turn your mobile device into a glorified remote control. So how do you identify the brands with game-changing technology that will be relevant and useful for years to come? The most advanced smart home technology is equipped with artificial intelligence and allows for a great deal of helpful tools to make your everyday life easier. AI and the vision of a more connected living experience were highlighted at the recent AI & Big Data Expo North America event in Silicon Valley, at which key speaker Samuel Chang, corporate vice president of LG’s Silicon Valley Lab, discussed the company’s innovations and its focus on improving quality of life. LG’s vision is manifested in LG ThinQ(R), the AI technology embedded into each of the brand’s smart products and solidified through three pillars guiding the company’s artificial intelligence aspirations: Evolve, Connect, Open. These tenets outline LG’s easy to use, proactive products and services that offer a connected experience through personalized and efficient AI for users with diverse needs and tech preferences in their homes. The goal is always focused on elevating the quality of life at home and beyond, Chang said, “so users can live free and stay focused on what matters.” Here’s a look at how this highly evolved smart technology equipped with AI is transforming how people are living.
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come with settings, such as Save Mode and Vacation Mode, that synthesize the analytics, sensors and usage data to maximize both your energy savings and pocket savings. These individual benefits of AI intelligence - from learning your behaviors to proactive alerts and energy savings - come together to transform your daily life! This technology streamlines your routine, takes the guesswork out of everyday tasks, and frees up time for things you’d rather be doing.
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