Home Care & Maintenance

Safety | Indoor Air | Cleaning | Laundry | Mildew | Maintenance/Repairs | Septic Systems | Other Resources

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Household Hazards and Safety

• Poisonous Plants - In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Carolina's Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.
• Wild Mushrooms and Poisoning
• Healthy Homes- Tips on making your home safe and healthy
• Hazardous Household Products
• Reducing Hazardous Products In The Home
• Disposal Of Hazardous Household Wastes
• Health & Safety of Household Products - US Dept. of Health & Human Services
• Improving Petroleum Storage - Is your groundwater protected from your petroleum storage activities? Farm- A - Syst
• Assessing Liquid Fuel Management - Home A -Syst
• Pressure Treated Wooden Playground Equipment- What you need to know
• Selection and Care of Christmas Trees
• Selection and Care of Living Christmas Trees
• MONOXIDO DE CARBONO - SU HOGAR SEGURO/Carbon Monoxide - Your Safe Home (University of Minnesota)
• Lead - Center for Disease Control & Prevention
• Lead In and Around the Home: Identifying and Managing Its Sources - Home-A-Syst
• Protecting Young Children - NC Cooperative Extension
• Protecting Young Children in the Home from Unintentional Injury  - University of Missouri Extension
• Home Safety Checklist for the Elderly 
• Reducing Household Waste In Local Landfills (FCS 379)

Indoor Air Quality

• Indoor Air Quality: Reducing Health Risks and Improving the Air You Breathe
• Air Filters and Cleaners
• Lead In and Around the House: Identifying and Managing Its Sources - Home - A - Syst
• Indoor Air Quality in Home Environments - NC Department of Health and Human Services
• Environmental Considerations in Real Estate Transactions
• Radon Web Site - NC Division of Radiation Protection
• Radon and What You need to know - US EPA
• Specific pollutants of Indoor Air Quality - Center for Disease Control & Prevention

Energy Efficiency

• Lighting
• Windows
• Insulation and Air Leaks
• Heating and Cooling
• Tax Options
• Water Heaters
• Home Appliances

• EPA's EnergyStar Site
• Energy Savers Web site - Department of Energy Site on saving energy at home
• Insulation Fact Sheet - Department of Energy
• Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor — a web-based tool from US Dept of Housing and Urban Development

Home Cleaning

• Cleaning Recipes for a Healthy Home
• Cleaning  Alternatives to Toxic Cleaners
• Alternative Spring Cleaners
• Stain Removal Solutions - University of Illinois

Laundry

• Quick 'n Easy Stain Removal
• Water Quality and Laundry Problems
• Laundering Pesticide-Contaminated Clothing
• Stain Removal Solutions - University of Illinois

Mildew, Mold and Moisture Control 

• Moisture Control and Prevention Guide NC Cooperative Extension
• An Overview of Mold - Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN)
• Rid Your Home of Mildew
• Crawlspace Ventilation - Should I leave the vents open or closed?
• Storm-Related Pest Problems In and Around Homes
• Mold, dust mites, fungi, spores, and pollen: Bioaerosols in the human environment
• Mold in Homes - Minnesota Department of Health
• Mold & Human Health - Public Health in North Carolina
• How to Prevent & Remove Mildew-Home Methods/University of Missouri Extension
• How to Prevent & Remove Mildew - University of Florida Extension

Home Maintenance and Repairs

• Preventive Home Maintenance Guide
• Manufacturer's Customer Service Numbers
• Identifying Lead - Home -A- Syst
• US EPA Lead Program
• Fly Specks on Home Siding (Cannon Fungus)
• Carpenter Bees
• Protecting Your Well Water Supply

Septic Systems

• Septic Systems Owners Guide
•  Why Do Septic Sytems Fail?
•  Septic Sytems - What You Need to Know

• Septic Systems and Their Maintenance
• Investigate Before You Invest

N.C., U.S. and Other Resources

• Carolinas Poison Center , a division of Carolinas Medical Center, is the designated Statewide Poison Center for North Carolina and certified as a Regional Poison Control Center by the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). In case of an emergency poisoning call 1-800-848-6946 toll free. For more information about poisonous plants, visit the North Carolina State University Poisonous Plant Web site.
• Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program - North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Food and Drug Protection Division
• Consumer Product Safety Commission - Consumer information about safety including product recall information
• "Learn About Chemicals Around Your House" - EPA interactive web site " designed to teach children about ordinary household pesticide products that may contain harmful chemicals. It includes information about toxic substances stored in different rooms in the house, answers commonly asked questions on safe use and storage of these pesticides and other toxic products, and contains relevant educational games.
• You Can Make Simple Home Repairs
• Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned? - (EPA Fact Sheet)
• Remodeling Your Home? - EPA remodeling improvements
• Indoor Air Quality Program, California Department of Health Services
• Texas Institute for the Indoor Environment - Current research and information on indoor environmental quality and building design.
• Radon in North Carolina - NCDENR
• A Citizen's Guide to Radon - EPA Booklet on Radon
• Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction - EPA
• Mold - Centers for Disease Control
• Mold Resources - United States Environmental Protection Agency
• Mold in Homes - Minnesota Deparment of Health
• Moisture Control Techniques - EPA
• Mold in the Workplace - California Dept. of Public Health
• Web site for PBS's fix-it program Home Time
• Soap and Detergent Association
• The Carpet and Rug Institute
• Paint Quality Institute