From some of the emails we have been getting it is sounding like many of you are doing a great job of getting up and getting busy cleaning and organizing. I applaud you because that is no easy task this time of year when it is cold and dreary outside and we have fight the urge to hunker down and snuggle in.

I had to practice what I preach this morning. Some how my kitchen table had managed to get piled high. You know how it goes, you clean it off and turn around for a moment and there is another new mound on it before you even have time to blink.

Anyway you may be losing steam about now after your first New Year, energy, filled spurt to clean so let me give a tip that may encourage you to keep up the good work for your family’s health if nothing else. A lot of you have read my article on dust mites and here’s some things to think about along the same line.

In families with allergies we often will pay huge amounts of money to have our air ducts cleaned hoping that will help with our families allergies but it doesn’t help one bit. There have been many independent studies that have proved time and again this makes no difference in the air quality in your home.

There are only 2 things that really help and that is changing your air filter every 3-4 months (although that only helps by 3-5%) and the other most important thing for good quality air is…… you guessed it, to clean your house. They said the biggest thing in helping with clean air is to dust and vacuum often.

I know those are painful words to hear for some of you but they had to be said. :) Just think how much money is spent with doctors visits, medicines, time home from work, having your air ducts cleaned etc. when all you really need to do is just dust and vacuum once or twice a week.

Don’t fall for all those ads and sales pitches about cleaning your air ducts. Sometimes they can make things worse too because of the moisture left behind from their cleaning products can cause mold to grow where there wasn’t any before. So just be aware.

This is just one more way that a clean house can help you save money. Don’t become overwhelmed with this either. As I keep saying once you get things in order it really takes little time to keep it that way. You actually will have more time but that is another whole story in and of itself.

Well even though the temperature is -7 wind chill today and there is snow on the ground I guess I need to close and once again practice what I preach and go clean. :(

Jill