Latest Stories

Allergies are gross. The red eyes, the stuffy heads, and that nagging vision of the commercial where a man turns into a running nose. Who needs it? This season, instead of vainly pointing to pollen in the air and popping a pill, take a look inside your own home.

We often and unwittingly give shelter to the allergens that bother us. Be aware that our homes don't discriminate by season. The shelter we offer allergens is year round.

Ordinary household products like pillows, sheets, toys, furniture, clothing, and vacuum cleaners, are all potential hotbeds for irritants.

But relief is in sight. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) makes it pretty simple for those of us looking to fight allergies and asthma. The group independently reviews products, testing for things like durability in high heat and frequent washings, and fabrics that are woven tightly enough to keep out those microscopic but frightful-looking dust mites. Pass those tests, and the product gets the foundation's seal of allergy-friendly approval.

Here are my favorite tips on how to get and keep your house allergen-free:

-- Suck it Up: look for vacuums with HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters, known to remove 99.97 percent of carpet and couch-ridden particles

-- Clear the Air: HEPA air purifiers essential to maintaining an allergy-friendly environment

-- Dehumidify: minimizing humidity levels decreases mold, dust mite growth and nasty roach intrusions -- all things that aggravate allergies and asthma

-- Bed Down: wrap your mattress, box spring, and pillows in AAFA-approved bedding free of natural materials like hemp and down

-- Toys for Tots: if it's plush that pleases, look for AAFA seals on stuffed animals; if approved cuddles aren't available, opt for plastic toys instead

-- Smart Design: Think vinyl or leather furniture instead of upholstery

Breathe easy. Evicting your allergens is all about making smart shopping choices.

Helen Malani is the chief shopping expert for Shopzilla.com, an E.W. Scripps company, and the largest comparison shopping search engine on the Web. For more columns visit www.scrippsnews.com

Taxing Times

Paying taxes unites us. It also divides us. People can pay five and even six times more in state and local taxes than other folks in similar circumstances making similar incomes.

Taxes unify Americans, but rates vary by state

Identity Theft

Who's got your number?

In one of the fastest-growing forms of identity theft, crooks are stealing tax refunds by swiping personal information and using it to trick the Internal Revenue Service.

Lawmaker offers anti-ID theft law to foil crooks who profit off dead children