As any San Diego County allergy sufferer knows, allergies can really disrupt your daily routine. From late-spring baseball games to mid-December holiday shopping, symptoms like sneezing, red eyes, runny nose and mental fog can derail the plans of even the most organized and energetic among us. Go beyond your normal cleaning routine and get your life back as 2014 comes to a close.

1. DECLUTTER
Even if your home is spotless except for a single catch-all closet or a messy basement storage area, a few dusty items could put you at risk. That cardboard box full of flea market finds, for example, is a magnet for dust mites and cockroaches. No one wants these insects around, but if you have allergies, keeping your home pest-free is a must.

2. KEEP IT CLEAN
Seemingly immaculate houses may still harbor airborne allergens. Wood floors are recommended for severe allergies, but if you must keep your carpeting, buy a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. Traditional vacuum cleaners can allow small particles to escape back into the air as you clean. When it comes to dusting, damp mops and cloths do a much better job of picking up tiny particles than dry ones. Reduce the amount of dirt entering your home by sweeping your walkway and porch often. When you clean any area of your home, wear a mask and leave the house for a few hours afterward, if possible. Better yet, ask a non-allergy sufferer to do the cleaning.

3. REDUCE MOISTURE
Keep your bathtub scrupulously clean to avoid mold and mildew. Hang a squeegee from a hook, and encourage everyone in the household to use it after showering. Don't forget to toss the shower curtain into the washing machine, as it can become a breeding ground for mold when moisture collects in its folds. Finally, avoid using cleaning machines on your carpets. Any remaining wetness can cause mold to form in the mat and fibers.

4. AVOID FRAGRANCES
Scented fabric softeners, detergents and cleaners may smell nice, but they can irritate your allergies. Look for fragrance-free cleaning products to keep sniffles, sneezes and watery eyes at bay as we wrap up 2014.

5. LAUNDRY TIPS
Wash sheets and children's stuffed toys weekly at 130° F to kill dust mites. Though it may not be as much of a temptation in December, forego drying laundry outside. Air-drying can cause pollen to gather, so use the dryer instead.

Reconnecting with friends and relatives from nearby San Diego County or across the globe is the highlight of the holiday season. The prospect of welcoming Christmas visitors warms the heart as the end of 2014 approaches. Make sure your home is up to the task by creating a cozy, warm environment this December.

1. Holiday Cleaning

If you look forward to decorating for Christmas every December, you probably anticipate pre-holiday cleaning with an equal amount of dread. Resolve to make this chore a little more cheery in 2014 by playing holiday music and getting the whole household involved. Add these seasonal tasks for extra sparkle:

• Clean tile and wood floors on your hands and knees
• Hire a carpet cleaning service or rent a shampooer
• Wash or dry clean curtains, pillow covers and slipcovers

These small touches make a great foundation for your Christmas decorations.

2. The Little Things

Before you start decorating, consider the details that make a home look warm and inviting. Change out LED bulbs and other bright lighting for dimmer, more flattering bulbs. Everyone will love you for making them look even better. Candles are the ultimate in face-flattering lighting, so place them in guest rooms, at the dinner table and in areas where people gather.

3. A Warm Welcome

Your home shouldn't just appear warm; it should feel cozy as well. If you have a fireplace, make sure it's clean and safe to operate. Avoid nighttime chills by keeping extra blankets at the end of guests' beds or in another obvious place.

4. Be Prepared

Inevitably, an overnight guest will forget toothpaste or some other toiletry. Having extras on hand is imperative. Use pretty Christmas mugs, jars and other decorative containers to store cotton balls, extra toothbrushes and other essentials in guest rooms. If you don't have a convenient, highly visible place for coats and other December gear, hang extra coat hooks or place coat racks in your entryway.

5. Christmas Entertaining

Make 2014 the year that everyone mingles. Arrange furniture in small groups to encourage conversation. Hit the discount stores and invest in a number of small tables so that all seating offers a handy spot for stashing drinks. Finally, don't forget to enjoy yourself. Make sure you leave time to catch up with all your Christmas guests this December.

Are you busy preparing your home for the upcoming holiday? If so, we want to know some practices you use at your home.

Avoiding allergens and irritants outside the home is almost impossible. They live in the air, and they are everywhere. Fortunately for you, limiting exposure to allergens in your home is within your control. By maintaining a clean home, free of dust mites, pet dander and pollen, you can eradicate most allergens and irritants and live a happier, less irritated life.

Dust mites are tiny creatures that are so small, they are impossible to see with the bare eye. They feed off flakes of human skin and thrive in dwellings. While their eating habits are unsavory, they are not directly harmful. They do not bite, sting, or pinch. Their waste is what causes the allergy. In some cases, high levels of dust mites and their waste can cause people who do not have allergies to develop an allergy.This is a serious concern for many people and for those who already have allergies, just the thought of visiting someone’s home can cause anxiety.

Pet dander is also microscopic but it is, instead, flecks of skin shed by animals with fur or feathers. Pet dander, unlike dander from cockroaches or dust mites, is light and small and can remain suspended in the air for long periods of time. Because of their size and uneven shape, they easily attach to furniture and other fabrics in the home. Thus, making it easier to spread outside the home.

Pollen is typically brought into the home when windows and doors are left open. It can also make its way on the bottom of your shoes and on your clothes. The amount of pollen in the home will vary depending on the time of year, and what is in bloom.

Keeping a clean home is a tedious, on-going chore. But, it is also very beneficial for your health. To help reduce the amount of allergens and irritants in your house, try some of our tips below.

• Blankets: Encase your pillows and mattresses in covers that are impenetrable by dust mites.
• Flooring: If you have carpet, and your vacuum offers the option, use the low-pile carpeting feature. Wash your carpet at least once annually.
• Furniture: Choose furniture that is easy to clean. The less upholstery, the better.
• Pets: Most of your time at home is probably spent in your bedroom. Keep pets off of your bed and out of your room, if possible.
• Around the House: Pick up items that should not be on the ground. Dust will collect in these areas.

Do you have any tips on how to maintain an allergy free home? Please let us know in the comments!

Halloween is an especially fun and festive time of the year; it seems to kick off the Holiday season! You probably employ many safety tips and rules for your children on Halloween, but have you also thought about keeping your pet safe? Here are our top 8 ways to keep your pet safe around Halloween:

• Keep Halloween candy away from your pets. Chocolate (any kind) is especially dangerous and can even kill pets. Chocolate poisoning symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and seizures. Also, the artificial sweetener, Xylitol, can also be lethal for dogs and is found mostly in sugar free candy and gum. If you think your pet has ingested something toxic, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right away.
• Keep your pet safely contained in another room away from the door. The constantly ringing doorbell during peak trick-or-treating can cause anxiety, and some pets may even become aggressive if they see people in costumes that they don’t recognize. Not to mention you don’t want to worry about your pet darting out the door every time it opens!
• If you cat normally goes outside, try to keep them in several days before Halloween and a several days after. Sadly, some pranksters have been known to tease, injure, steal, and even kill pets on Halloween night (especially black cats).
• Don’t use or be extremely careful with cobwebs, string, and dangling cords and or lights. These things are particularly attractive to cats and can be choking hazards or electrocution hazards.
• Use caution when using lit candles inside pumpkins; though very festive and fun, candle-lit pumpkins can be easily knocked over by a dog’s tail or a curious cat and either start a fire or burn your precious pet. Battery-operated lights are a great alternative!
• If your pet enjoys being out trick-or-treating with you and the kids, make sure they wear a leash and/or harness. Even dogs that enjoy the action can get spooked and run away quickly.
• Ensure your pet has an identification tag or microchip. Just in case they do accidentally escape the house and/or run away.
• Pet costumers can be especially fun; some pets love them and some don’t. If yours is okay with it, just make sure it fits properly, doesn’t impede breathing or movement and doesn’t have anything that can be chewed and become a choking hazard. If your pet doesn’t love the costume, please don’t force them to wear it.

That is our list; we hope you found some useful tips. Have a happy Halloween and enjoy!

Homemade dog treats are easy to make, healthier for your dog, and can be a fun project to do with your kids or grandkids. We’ve rounded up a selection of the best, so you don’t have to spend your time searching for the best pet treats. We’ve covered all the bases, with frozen and baked options, as well as grain-free for those pups that have all-too-common allergies. Enjoy!

Frozen treats

• Frozen Peanut Butter Banana Pops from Andrea Archambault at the Arch blog look delicious and refreshing for your hot dog!
• Chicken Broth Dog Treats from Aimee at Irresistable Pets. These cool treats have only two ingredients and can be made in ice cube containers. Great for dogs that go crazy for ice cubes!
• Frozen Banana Peanut Butter Holes from Sugar the Golden Retriever. Two ingredients that almost every dog loves.
• Icy Bones: A Non-Dairy Frozen Treat from My Dog’s Breakfast. Choose from Apple Cinnamon or Berry flavor and make this cool treat on a hot day.
• Layered Strawberry Frosty Paws also from Sugar the Golden Retriever. These tasty treats have yogurt, which can help with upset doggy tummies.

Baked Treats

• The Homemade Dog Cookie that makes Dogs Go Squirrely from Stephanie at Garden Therapy. Pssst: if you don’t have a squirrel cookie cutter, you can buy one at Cost Plus World Market for .99 cents!
• Apple Cheddar & Bits Biscuits from Andrea at The Cottage Market. Your dog will be begging for these tasty biscuits with bacon!
• Pumpkin Peanut Butter Treats from Kelly at live laugh rowe. These treats have two of dogs’ favorite ingredients and will be sure to set your pup’s tail a wagging.
• Delicious Doggie Pupcakes from Christine at First Home…Love Life. Celebrate your dog’s birthday in style with these delicious looking doggie cupcakes. Actually, I don’t see any reason why you can’t share one too!
• Pop’s Pizza Treats also from Andrea at The Cottage Market. What dog doesn’t drool over pizza? Give your pup the taste of pizza without the mess.

Grain-Free Treats

• Sweet Potato Dog Chews from Angel at K9 Instinct. Dogs love these but they’re ridiculously expensive to buy at the store. The solution: make your own; they’re easy and quick and affordable.
• Chicken and Beef Jerky from HellaWella. Skip the storebought jerky from China, filled with lots of artificial ingredients, and make these easy, peasy, healthy treats instead. Bonus: no special equipment needed!
• Spinach Green Apple Biscuits from Pretty Fluffy. These biscuits are chock full of healthy almond flour, peanut butter, and green apple, which makes a tasty treat for your four-legged friend.
• Woof Loaf from PopSugar. It’s actually more like a homemade dinner alternative, but that’s a treat, right? Loved by either dogs or cats!
• Sweet Potato Cookies also from Angel at K9 Instinct. Made with coconut flour, sweet potatoes and carrots, these cookies are sure to please your pup and loaded with nutrients.

With that in mind, here is a list of the best ways we know of to remove pet hair from floors and upholstery:

Remove Pet Hair from Floors

• For hardwood floors, an electrostatic broom or microfiber dry mop is best. Of course, we’re partial to the WISP; that is what it is designed for! Electrostatic brooms will capture the hair that vacuums or “regular” brooms will just push around.
• Invest in a good vacuum. Regular and thorough vacuuming is the best way to clean pet hair off of carpets. Use the attachments to get in the crevices between the carpet and the walls; you’ll be amazed at how much pet pair builds up there! If you have draperies, vacuum those regularly as well.
• If you have low pile carpet, in between vacuuming, try raking the carpet with the WISP. It will loosen the hair into clumps that are easy to pick up. You can also do this before vacuuming as well, reducing your vacuuming time and making it much easier.
• We’ve also heard of people having good luck with using their FURminator (a pet grooming tool) lightly on rugs, which scrapes up hair and doesn’t damage the carpet.
• Use a squeegee on your carpets or rugs; simply rake it along the carpet and you’ll be amazed at the hair it accumulates. Great for hard to clean stairs, as well!

Remove Pet Hair from Furniture and Upholstery

• The miniWISP is our number one recommendation. Our customers say it is the best at removing pet hair from furniture!
• Try rubbing a dryer sheet over your furniture for a quick pick-up of stray pet hair.
• Another quick pick-up tip that people have success with is to dampen a rubber glove, then rub it over your furniture. You don’t want to get your furniture really wet, just make sure the glove is damp, not dripping water. The static electricity generated by the rubber will loosen and attract pet hair, making it easy to get off the furniture.
• Brush a slightly damp sponge one direction across your furniture; it helps ball up the hair and you can pick it off of the sponge.

Remove Pet Hair from Clothes

• Toss in a pair of pantyhose into the dryer with your wet clothes. They’ll act like a fuzz magnet and attract pet hair, lint and anything else that usually ends up on your sweats and black clothes.
• Spray your clothes with Static Guard each morning; it repels pet hair
• Run a damp rubber glove over your clothes each night when you are removing them. This will pick up a majority or all of the pet hair and leave them clean for the next wear, or will reduce the hair that goes through your washer and dryer.
• Stash lint rollers by the door and in each car for last minute pet hair removal.

Miscellaneous Pet Hair Removal

• Dust with dryer sheets; they are a magnet for pet hair! Used ones work just as well as new ones, so don’t throw your old ones away when they are fresh out of the dryer.
• Groom your pet regularly; whether it is once a week, once a day or twice a week, this is the best pre-emptive way to reduce the amount of pet hair floating around your home. The FURminator gets great reviews from many pet owners!
• Feed your pet high-quality, grain free food. Many say this reduces shedding in their pets.

Do you have any tips on removing pet hair that you would like to share? Please let us know in the comments!

1. La Petite Maison Custom Dog House – Mexican Hacienda -- $10,000

Offered by online pet boutique BitchNewYork, this custom hacienda has spacious interiors with wallpaper options for dogs or cats. An elegant entrance helps create a showcase home. Well placed windows allow for significantly more light and views than the average doghouse. This custom designed doghouse has a red clay roof, is large enough to accommodate a human and comes complete with terra-cotta floors. And if this doesn’t meet your needs, BitchNewYork can design a custom doghouse for you; they even have the ability to replicate a client's own home.

2. La JeuneTulipe Diamond Dog Pet Collar -- $150,000

If your pooch craves bling, La JeuneTulipe is touted as “one of the world's most exquisite and valuable dog collars”. A 1.52-carat marquise-cut diamond is the focal point of this gorgeous piece, with its intricate arrangement of marquise, pear, and brilliant-shaped diamonds. It is handcrafted and sold exclusively at The Posh Puppy Boutique.

3. Doggy massages – $770 for ten sessions

If you live in L.A. or Orange County, you can pamper your pooch with weekly dog massages, said to entail the same benefits as human massage: stimulates blood circulation, improves digestion, strengthens immunity, relieves stress, and promotes muscle relaxation. Choose from Swedish, TTouch, Acupressure, Stretching, and Myofascial Release massages. If you’re inclined, you can add Cold Stone Massage, Aromatherapy, or Yoga Ball Exercise for an additional cost.

4. Spa Paws Hotel – Up to $200 per night

Treat your pet like royalty with a stay in Fort Worth’s Spa Paws Hotel, which, according to their owner, is “the only hotel in America like this.” Spa Paws is a super-premium hotel and luxury spa exclusively designed for guests with four legs. They use holistic techniques to pamper their furry guests with 24 hour care. Along with the basic services and amenities like filtered air, custom bedding and nightly tuck-ins, dogs can also order room service items like fillet mignon or get dressed up for a professional photo shoot. Spa Paws also hosts canine weddings, birthday parties and memorial services.

5. 22k Gold-Thread Pet Mattress -- $3,000

If your dog loves sleeping in the lap of luxury, a gold-threaded pet mattress might be in your future. Magniflex has offered a 22k gold-thread mattress set in its inventory of luxury sleep offerings for people for awhile now, at a cost between $24,000 and $30,000, depending on the size. After a customer requested one for her Maltese, the company realized there’s also a market for pampered pets. Gold Pet Mattresses can be special ordered directly from the Magniflex.

6. Green Dog Gold Ultra Luxury Dog Food with Lobster, Swordfish, Caviar and Truffle -- $900/month

Only the best for your dog’s palate? This super-premium dry food contains no additives or artificial colors, is GMO-free, and takes up to 12 weeks to prepare.It is said to rival restaurant cuisine for its “impeccable” quality, and a single month’s supply will set you back over $900 dollars. Green Dog Food MD Simon Booth said Green Dog Gold was created in response to repeated requests for an “ultra-luxury” product from the company’s celebrity customers.

Now go forth and pamper your pet!

With their ergonomic design, The WISP ^® and WISPpan^® are designed with consumers in mind. Quickly 'Wisp' away debris from underneath furniture, along floorboards and other hard-to-each areas -- all while standing up. The WISP^®'s lightweight design also means that all Wisping can be done one-handed.

At a glance the WISPpan^® looks simple in design, but after just a few minutes of use, it becomes clear just how well it works with its counterpart, The WISP^®. Effortlessly collect and channel debris by placing one foot on the back of the WISPpan^®. The leading edge seals tightly to the floor to ensure that all debris makes it into the pan and its retaining lip keeps it there.

One of the major features that sets The WISP ^® apart from other cleaning tools is its BRISTLE SEAL™ TECHNOLOGY which allows users to clean up everything from pet hair and coffee grounds to liquids in one quick "wisp." Each WISP^® has short, durable polymer 90° bristles that create a squeegee-like bond to the floor for maximum debris collection and channeling.