Published on: 24 September 2021
Last Updated on: 31 October 2024
Many people suffer from dust, pet dander, pollen, mold, and other allergy-causing substances. These allergens can be found throughout your entire home, including the air you breathe, the floors you walk on, and the drapes you open. Sadly, allergy-causing substances are unavoidable, but you can do something about the severity of your allergies.
We’re here to help you find the top tips that will make your home more allergy-free.
Hide-and-seek: hidden allergens in your home
Allergens are everywhere! They live in our bed, clothes, carpet, and walls. The air we breathe can contain allergens, and staying indoors can make the problem worse. Even if you avoid allergens, you may be exposed to them in other people’s homes or places you visit. It’s true that the highest concentrations of allergens are in your home, but they can also be found in restaurants, grocery stores, and many other places you visit.
Now that you know where allergens are hiding, it’s time to figure out how to get rid of them. While getting rid of all allergens in your life can be next to impossible, there are some things you can do to keep your home clean, reduce allergens in your life, and keep yourself healthy.
Why are allergens dangerous?
Allergens are small particles in the air that cause people to produce an immune system response. People with allergies will react to these particles and release histamines, which cause the body to work harder and release more of the allergy molecules. This can cause asthma attacks and other autoimmune problems. On top of that, they can cause rashes and just be difficult to live with.
Allergens are especially bad for people with asthma, and other respiratory problems, but they can also trigger sneezing, coughing, or itchy eyes. The best way to rid your home of allergens is to remove them, by regular home cleaning and using allergy-friendly products.
How to reduce allergens in your home?
Did you know that keeping your home clean can help eliminate allergens? There are plenty of easy ways to keep everything clean without any hassles or extra work! If you’re looking for ways to reduce allergens from your home, check out the following tips.
Wash your bedding, curtains, and comforters frequently in hot water.
Limit the number of carpets, rugs, and other floor coverings. If you can’t remove them, wash them often.
As you see, there are many steps you can take to reduce allergens in your home. By implementing a few of these tips, your home will be a safe, healthy environment for you and your family.
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When we think of air quality issues what comes to mind is often industrial factories or people blowing smoke in our face. But anything you use to build or decorate your home can have a positive or negative impact the air quality inside your home. Air quality can be directly linked to life expectancy so it’s an issue that should
1. Check your Paint:
Choosing the right paint is important. We sleep in rooms covered with paint every night. As the paint dries volatile organic compounds (or VOCs) escape into the air and can negatively impact the air quality in your house. These chemicals can cause headaches and dizziness and the long-term effects of exposure are not yet known.
Choosing non-toxic paint for your living quarters will have positive health benefits for years to come. Low or no VOC paints are the best choice for an eco-friendly home. Over the last several years paint companies have introduced many excellent options.
2. Check Your Flooring:
Vinyl and synthetic carpets emit loads of VOCs. If you’re looking for non-toxic, allergy-friendly flooring try cork, linoleum, or ceramic tile. Hardwood floors have become quite popular, but if you want the beauty without the toxic chemicals buy hardwoods sealed with a water-based polyurethane or presealed hardwoods.
3. Consider purchasing an air purifier:
Buying a quality air filter can be a good tool in your arsenal in the fight against toxic chemicals. Be sure to buy a model with a HEPA (high-efficiency air particle absorbing) filter. Don’t skimp and buy the cheapest filter you can find, view this purchase as an investment. The CADR (clean air delivery rate) of your purifier is also important. The higher the CADR number the more air is moving through the purifier. Air purifiers with high CADR numbers can be used to purify the air in larger spaces.
4. Plug Your Leaks:
Mold and mildew can have a significantly negative impact on your home’s air quality. Make sure your home is free of leaks. It’s important to check the places that get the least traffic in your home. Make sure your basement, attic, crawl space, and utility closet are free of water and moisture. It’s a good idea to call a professional who can help you pinpoint problem areas.
5. Test Your Home for Radon:
Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause lung cancer in healthy humans. Radon is the gas produced by the decay of uranium in most soil. If there are gaps or holes in your home’s foundation radon gas can seep into your living space undetected. Any home can have a radon gas problem. You can buy an inexpensive test kit at your local hardware or home improvement store. There is no safe level of radon exposure.
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So you want to downsize to a smaller apartment?
If you’re banging your head against the wall trying to figure out how to make a move go smoothly, you’re not alone. We’ve all been guilty of having too much stuff!
Give yourself a break and start thinking of solutions. Stay inspired by focusing on the many benefits of downsizing!
Moving into a smaller apartment gives you the chance to start over and get rid of things you no longer need. It can also help you to get organized and keep only the essentials.
Even better, you won’t have to clean nearly as much space and can live as a minimalist! That in itself has some serious perks. Your stuff won’t own you and you’ll have more time to enjoy life.
Do you see where we’re going with this?
Get ready, because, in this article, we offer seven expert hacks to help make the process of moving into a smaller apartment easier.
Here are 7 Expert Hacks for Downsizing to a Smaller Apartment:
1. Analyze the space you’ll have
It’s essential to know the total space of your new apartment before you start the downsizing process.
Take a look at your new floor plan and figure out how much room in feet and inches are on each wall. That way you’ll know what will fit in your apartment.
If the measurements aren’t on the floor plan, ask the leasing office to provide you with the details.
But, the floor plan or provided measurements won’t tell you everything. You need to measure the extra spaces as well:
Closets
Space under the bed (more on this later)
Bathroom storage and cabinets
Garage storage (if your apartment includes a separate garage)
Kitchen storage and cabinets
Other spaces where you might add shelving (like the top of the fridge or in a window)
When you’re done with that, measure your current furniture and decide which pieces will fit into your place and which ones you won’t need.
2. Determine your actual needs
An excellent way to figure out what your needs are is by asking yourself if everything was gone, what would you replace?
Jot down some necessary items you can’t live without such as a bed, sofa, coffeemaker, dog bed — whatever is important to you.
You should also ask yourself the following questions:
What sentimental items will I miss the most?
Does this item serve a purpose?
Do I already have something that serves the same purpose?
Can I use this item to accomplish more than one task?
Is this object in good shape, and will it last for a while longer?
This is the point where you’ll be making some headway on knowing what you’re keeping and what you can live without.
If ever in doubt of whether you should keep or donate something, go back to asking yourself these questions.
3. Set some tangible goals
When it’s getting closer to moving time, you need to come up with a game plan.
Best get started with setting some goals before time escapes you!
We’re assuming you want to declutter and possibly redecorate your new place, and if that’s the case, it’s time to set some tangible goals.
Ask yourself these questions:
(Yes, we realize we’re telling you to do this yet again.)
What do I hope to gain by adopting a minimalist lifestyle?
Do I want to keep the furniture I have or get new furniture (#1 and #4 will help with this)
How do I plan to declutter?
How will I maximize my space? (Keep reading because we cover this in #4.)
What will I do if I can’t decide to part with some items?
Should I pay for storage elsewhere to store extra belongings?
Need some help answering those kinds of questions?
Here are some goals you could have:
I want a clutter-free apartment that will give me peace.
Not fixating on my possessions will help me feel free.
I’d like to have a clean slate and keep my belongings organized moving forward.
Being minimalistic will help me put emphasis on the most important emotional and physical items in my life.
Write down a few goals that inspire you so that when you feel like giving up, you’ll be able to remind yourself of your intentions.
4. Be a master organizer by maximizing space
Since you know how much space is in your apartment, as we recommended in #2, you should already have a plan in place as to where everything should go.
With the limited storage space in your new digs, it’ll help to store things vertically.
Vertically aligning hooks and shelves helps you take advantage of every square inch of space.
You might want to use adhesive hooks at first because most are easy to adjust.
We’ll be getting into how to simplify your wardrobe next, but for now, keep in mind that multi-use furniture can solve a lot of storage problems.
Keep reading because we’re about to reveal some killer ideas.
One idea is to maximize space by incorporating storage headboards. These are pieces of furniture such as bookshelves and a hutch that’ll fit over your bed.
Incorporating these types of units will make it easier to store a variety of items from family treasures to books and jewelry.
For example, incorporating a fitted unit in your closet can make it easier to organize.
Beyond that, think of other ways you can make use of storage. Is there any room underneath the bed you’ll be moving into your fancy new apartment?
If there isn’t and you need an upgrade, buy a bed that has drawers underneath. Trust us — those drawers will be your best friend when you need to store extra items of clothing such as blankets or sweatshirts.
Keep your bed if you like it, and it just so happens that you may be able to squeeze in some bins underneath to use as storage. For example, milk crates work well when you want to store books, tee shirts, and keepsakes.
5. Simplify your wardrobe
Seriously, how do you go about simplifying your wardrobe with you have a gazillion t-shirts?
If you think your new closet is small, just think about the people who live in tiny homes. Now those are super tiny!
Don’t worry; you can do this if they can!
Here are some steps to follow that’ll make your wardrobe functional in no time at all.
Step 1: Get all of your clothing out (ALL of it!) and put it somewhere you can sort through it. Whether that’s on the floor or on your bed is entirely up to you.
Step 2: Next, divide those clothes into three different piles and decide to donate, keep, or store them.
Step 3: Ask yourself if the clothing fits you or if it's still in wearable condition. If you haven’t worn jeans, for example, due to a weight gain or loss, donate or store those items.
Don’t keep clothing that’s falling apart. That’s just a waste of precious closet space!
Step 4: Are you done going through your clothing and separating them into three different piles?
Okay good, you’re going to do it again. This time ask yourself if this clothing fits your personality and your current lifestyle.
Step 5: Mission complete! Well, almost. Organize the clothes you’re keeping, store what you plan to wear later (such as seasonal clothing), and drop off clothes you’re donating.
6. Sell or donate what you don’t want
Now that you know how much space you have, and how to simplify your wardrobe, let's dive into why it's so essential to sell or donate belongings. It's time to stop and figure out which items you can and can't part with.
As you know, whether you're moving to a different city or relocating to a separate apartment at the same complex, moving takes a lot of work.
You should do everything in your power to simplify the moving process.
Eager to make some money to help with moving expenses?
One way to do that is by selling belongings and furniture you no longer want.
Try Craigslist, eBay, garage sales, Facebook, consignment stores, and more.
Before you even start packing, you should sell, donate, or recycle stuff you can live without. This will eliminate packing everything up only to decide later that you didn't need that item of clothing or five extra plates.
If you have problems deciding whether you want to keep, sell, or donate an item, take a hard look at everything you own.
Think about whether another person would find use out of that item.
If the item is useful, you can either donate it or sell it, depending on its value.
Who knows, your trash may turn into someone else's treasure.
7. Digitize nonessential media
Next let's dive into how you can digitize and save documents, pictures, videos, cassettes, videos, DVDs, and CDs.
While it's important to keep hard copies of documents such as your social security card and birth certificate, try to save and scan everything else.
Transfer CDs and DVDs to digital files by using free computer programs such as Freemake Video Converter, Movavi, and WinX.
Scan documents to your computer or save them as PDF files. After you're done scanning everything, use services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft One Drive.
Online storage sites are lifesavers when your goal is to digitize media.
Think of all of the space you'll free up in your new apartment by getting rid of boxes of videos, paper, and more by going paperless!
It'll take some time, but it'll totally be worth it. And boom! Suddenly you'll realize you're there.
So, do you think it’s time to move? Even though downsizing may seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be. Moving to a smaller apartment has its perks, such as decluttering your life and organizing your new place with fewer belongings.
Simply put, downsizing to a smaller apartment means:
Enjoying lower monthly expenses and living costs
Not having to clean nearly as much since your place is smaller
Living a minimalist lifestyle without meaningless belongings getting in your way
Instead of sweating the small stuff, take the moving process step by step. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying your new digs, relieved that you took the time to eliminate the clutter.
Carolina Creek is a great townhouse-style community located about a mile from Eastern Carolina University's campus. The community consists of 2x3 and 3x3 apartments and contains a full amenity suite including a fitness center, pool, business center, and game room. The community is the best value in the Greenville NC student housing market.
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Given the volatile nature of the economy, the demand for affordable housing has increased by leaps and bounds. Consequently, multifamily housing investors are facing stiff competition. Multifamily housing investors are not leaving a stone unturned to turn a profit from their existing or newly acquired rental properties. Many of them are undertaking occupied property renovation programs to gain a competitive edge. Renovating a rental property not only adds value to the existing property but also plays a key role in influencing renter’s willingness to rent more for the property. That being said, when investing in any construction or renovation of occupied property, it is important to come up with a plan that helps you realize seizable returns from your investment.
This blog post lists four common mistakes that multifamily housing investors/owners must avoid to make the most out of occupied property renovation program. Read on!
Going for the Cheapest Bid
Once you have decided to get your multi-family rental property renovated, the first thing you need to do is to approach several contractors and ask for their renovation quotes. Though the cheapest bid may sound enticing to many, choosing it may cost heavy on your pocket in the long run. A contractor may not be efficient in getting the job done or may cut corners and use poor quality material during the job. That being said, straight away going for an expensive bid is not a sensible decision either. To pull off a great deal, you must contact at least two to three contractors and get written estimates from each. Ensure there is no hidden cost involved in the project.
Hiring the Wrong People
Renovating a rental property is a complex process, and therefore, requires professional assistance. Before embarking on the renovation project, the professional contractor conducts due diligence to help control cost and eliminate potential obstacles down the lane. Nonetheless, as a property owner, you should not overlook the little details about the people you are hiring. There have been instances of fraudulent renovation practices in the past, which is why it is important to hire a reputable contractor and ask for their certification or record of their previous work.
Bossing Around
Though many housing contractors work in collaboration with property owners to provide customized renovation services, many property owners are in a habit of poking their nose in every step of the project. Making changes every now and then in the middle of the project can delay the renovation project, thereby stalling the rentability of the units. Always remember that you have chosen an experienced contractor with a record of successful projects in the past. It is important to let your contractor do what they think is best for your business. Having said that, it is also important to keep a check on what is being done so far and what is about to be done to complete the project.
Setting Unrealistic Budget
Budget plays an important role in the completion of your rental property renovation project. Before hiring professional multifamily, it is important to have contingent fund ready to meet unprecedented needs in the middle of the project. In projects as big as multifamily housing renovation, it is likely that you may want to spend a little extra to add value to your project. That’s when having a contingency budget in place ensures seamless renovation.
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Wrapping up
A properly planned and executed multi-family housing program not only helps you gain a competitive edge, but also helps you achieve your ROI goals. Always hire a reputable contractor, known to provide quality services. Go through their work portfolio to get an idea of their previous work. Lastly, ensure that there are no hidden fees involved in the project, before you sign on the dotted line.
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