Can Nasal Irrigation Help With Cold Relief?

We all suffer the same fate with a cold or bout of flu – a stuffy nose and blocked sinuses. It can be uncomfortable and even painful, but it can be difficult to know what to do about it besides relying on menthol rubs and handkerchiefs. Nasal irrigation works by washing out the nasal cavity with saline solution to remove any excess mucus and allergens. It can soothe a stuffy nose and can reduce the blockages in your sinuses which can be painful. You’ll need a container in which to store your saline solution – a bulb syringe can be found at your local pharmacy. If you’ve chosen a pre-filled bottle of solution, you’re good to go. If you’d prefer to mix your own, you’ll need to buy some saline solution powder and follow the directions on the packet. If you would rather make your own from scratch, mix a quarter to half a teaspoon of non-iodized salt to one to two cups of warm water, and add a pinch of baking soda to soften the salt. Use sterile or previously boiled water to ensure that it is infection-free. If you’re using a squeezy bottle or a syringe, you can no apply the solution.

Lean forward over the skin at around a 45 degree angle, and tilt your head so that one nostril is pointed towards the skin. Don’t tilt your head back though. Place the spout of the syringe just inside your nose, but don’t put it any further in that the width of your finger. Keeping your mouth open, gently squeeze the bottle or tilt to pour some of the solution into your nostril. Remember to breathe through your mouth rather than your nose.

The salt water will run through your nasal cavity and drain out of the other side – it may also drain into your mouth slightly. Remember to spit it out rather than swallow it. It won’t do any harm if it does go down your throat, but it won’t taste particularly pleasant! Gently blow your nose to remove the remainder of the solution, then repeat the process on the other nostril. Throw away the remaining solution when you’re done and thoroughly clean any equipment that you’ve used, before letting them air dry. It shouldn’t sting or burn, but if it does try using less salt in the solution and make sure that you’re using warm water – it shouldn’t be hot or cold. Keep your mouth open and make sure that you don’t accidentally ‘snort’ the solution. You may only have to follow this process a couple of times before you see results.

Studies have shown that long-term nasal irrigation can help to reduce the symptoms of colds and flu, as well as reducing sinus symptoms. Using a saline solution once a day can help to thin mucus and decrease post-nasal drip, as well as cleaning bacteria from the nasal cavity. Once your symptoms have disappeared you should be fine to use the solution just three times a week. If you find that you’re suffering with regular sinus problems or suffer quite badly with colds in the winter time, you may find that nasal irrigation is the right form of treatment for you. If you have an ear infection or a nostril which is blocked and hard to breathe through, you should refrain from this remedy. If you’re unsure if nasal irrigation is right for you, speak to your GP before embarking on this form of treatment.

Categories: colds, irrigation, mouth open, nasal, nasal cavity, nasal irrigation, remedy, saline solution, solution, stuffy nose, warm water

Germ-Free Tips for Cleaning Your Kitchen

Are you worried about maintaining a hygienic atmosphere in your kitchen? Well here’s presenting some tips that can help you clean the room well. Paying extra attention on how you rinse and wash the kitchen can keep the bacteria way.

 

Counter top

What happens: While you are baking a cake, you might spill some egg batter on the counter top and there is a possibility you don’t wipe the area well. Later you make yourself a turkey sandwich right there on the unclean surface.

Solution: Opt for a disinfecting spray after cooking any food. Choose a product that claims a 99.9 percent germ kill as this will keep the bacteria away.

 

Chopping board

What happens: The board is used to cut soft or hard pieces of vegetables as well as roast beef.

Solution: Wash the board with hot soapy water and rinse. Also spray the board with one teaspoon of bleach mixed with 16 ounces of water. Wash the board nicely in hot water of keep it in the dishwasher on high. Opt for a plastic or a glass board. Discontinue the usage of board if it has lot of knife cuts. If you prefer using a wooden one, see to it that your dishwasher has been treated with micro-ban, an antimicrobial compound.

 

Knife block

What happens: You are using a knife to cut a fish or meat. As soon as you are done chopping you wet the knife with water and keep it back in the block. This will cause mold that grows in less than a two days time.

Solution: Scrub the knife with soapy water or use the dish cleanser liquid. Hot water is preferable. Dry the knife properly with a cloth and keep it back in the block. You can also keep the knives in a drawer or a magnet strip.

 

Faucet filter

What happens: While you are preparing food, you may throw a dirty rag at the faucet or spill some food over there. In that case your faucet is attacked by bacteria. If you are using hard water, lime scale residue can also appear.

Solution: Once a week, soak the filter in white vinegar.

 

Sponge

What happens: You use the sponge to wipe almost everything from meat juices to small tidbits. You might keep it on the edge of your sink or in its holder.

Solution: Keep your sponge germ free by soaking it in water and bleach. You can also keep the sponge in a bowl of water and warm it in a microwave for 2-3 minutes. Don’t use this trick for a metal scrubber sponge.

 

Dish towel

What happens: Salmonella alert! While you are busy making a delicacy, you might rinse your hands on the dish towel right after cleaning or washing chicken pieces.

Solution: While you are cooking a raw meat, opt for paper towels and dispose them. Wash your hands immediately with water using soap.

 

Sink

What happens: All the utensils rinsed in the sink leave behind veggies or meat substances like blood or juices, a perfect environment for bacteria to grow.

Solution: Rinse the sink with bleach and water right after you cook. Especially if raw meat, poultry or eggs on the menu for the day.

 

The leftovers

What happens: You might get involved in cleaning the kitchen and the rest of the food is sitting right there.

Solution: After a meal, place the leftover food in the refrigerator. Bacteria grow faster between 40 to 140 degrees. See to it that the hot food kept outside cools down to less than 40 degree. While reheating the food, make sure the temperature goes beyond 165 degrees.

Categories: clean, dish towel, Food, germ, germ free, Hot Water, kitchen, nbsp, raw meat, soapy water, solution, Water

Cleaning Tricks You Never Knew Existed Until Now!

Housework is a bore at the best of times, but when it comes to cleaning the trickier areas of the home, it can be daunting too. If you’re looking for some inexpensive ways to clean those stubborn parts of the home, from the showerhead and beyond, here are some tricks you’ll be eternally thankful for.

1 – Washing your fruit and veggies can be tiresome, especially if you buy in bulk. Put them in a clean sink topped up with water and a dash of white wine vinegar and let them soak for a minute or two to kill off the bacteria and leave your produce ready to eat in no time.

2 – You can magically remove floor cuffs easily with the use of WD-40 – this unknown household trick could save you plenty of time scrubbing the floors to no avail. Simply spray a little on the mark and scrub with a dry brush for a few minutes to lift the stain.

3 – For a clean shower head that’s free of limescale, mix 1/3 cup baking soda with a cup of white wine vinegar and put in a plastic storage bag. Place the bag carefully over the head of the shower and tie to the shower pipe, leaving for a couple of hours to let the solution break down the build-up. Be careful when putting the solution in the bag, as it’s a chemical reaction. Once it’s had time to sit, remove the bag and rinse the solution off the shower head.

4 – Got a spare sock and some white wine vinegar? If you have blinds which gather dust and can be tricky to clean properly, simply add a splash of vinegar to an old sock and place over your hand – you can now grip the bars of the blind carefully and slide the sock over the plastic to remove the grime and dust easily and effectively.

5 – If you’ve lost an earring behind the sofa or kitchen cupboard, don’t consider it lost forever. Simply tie the foot of a pair of tights over the end of your vacuum tube and switch it on – you’ll be able to suction it back up without losing it in the vacuum.

Categories: cleaning, Family, household, shower, shower head, simply, solution, Vinegar, White, white wine, wine vinegar