If you or a family member suffer from seasonal or year-round allergies or asthma, you know home cleaning is one of the most crucial aspects to take care of every day.
Luckily, you have now plenty of means to keep allergens away from you, from protective linen and pillow covers that fend off dust mites to special air filters for your air conditioner, heater, and other appliances.
But since spring is the cleaning season and the allergy season above all, let’s see some in-depth cleaning tips and advice to make your home allergy-free.
1. Dry Deep Cleaning of Carpets
While you should not host many carpets in the house if you have allergies to dust, mites, pollen, or pet dander, even the low-pile carpets you use in the most trafficked areas need some deep cleaning once in a while.
The dry cleaning of carpets is a method aimed to remove the most stubborn of dirt, dust, allergens, and pet hair. It helps you keep not only carpets but other surfaces sanitized without involving much water or moisture.
One of the first things you should know is that even if it’s easy to dry clean at home, you need distinct dry cleaning compounds for carpets or upholstery and, most of the time, a powerful vacuum.
Whether you choose the encapsulation method, the dry compound one, or even the dry ice method, make sure you get the right product for your carpets, fabrics, or stain-removal needs.
Dry cleaning at home includes the disinfection of carpets, upholstered furniture, even some mattresses, or other soft surfaces.
Read the labels and follow the instructions. This method is fast and yields excellent results.
2. Splurge on a Good HEPA Vacuum
When it comes to allergies and their triggers, you should always have the best vacuum at hand for your run-of-the-mill weekly cleaning or monthly deep cleaning operation.
Using a HEPA filter in a vacuum cleaner to keep allergens at bay is a true-and-tested solution in the relief of allergies or asthma symptoms.
If you did not know, HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters could trap the smallest of particles of dust, pet dander, dust mites, bacteria, and other tiny allergens, cleaning your air and making it healthier to breathe.
Experts also recommend you use HEPA filters with your air-cooling or heating systems, air conditioners, etc. Most importantly, change them monthly.
HEPA vacuums are cheap, but they make an excellent investment in the long term.
Use a vacuum cleaner with enhanced suction power and features that make it the right cleaning solution for both carpets and hard floors.
If you also have pets, make sure you use your vacuum once a week. For correct deep cleaning, vacuum your upholstered furniture as well, together with all pet blankets.
| Read also: How To Disinfect Your Office Space During Flu Season |
3. Hot-Cleaning of Textiles
Bedding, pillows, throw rugs, curtains, and drapes – they are the breeding ground of dust mites and other indoor allergens.
Since we spend a lot of time in the bedroom, keeping these rooms allergen-free is mandatory. The deep cleaning of textiles for allergy alleviation includes:
- Wash your pillows, blankets, duvets, sheets, etc. in hot water (130 degrees minimum) and dry them in the dryer to kill all dust mites, bed bugs, and other allergy triggers.
- Do not forget to wash the shower curtains as well.
- Clean the kids’ plush toys from time to time in the washing machine. You may think there is nothing to worry about, but the plushies collect dust and mites like no others. Not to mention that they mostly reside on floors, beds, couches, shelves, etc.
- Make sure you also wash with hot water (according to the manufacturer’s instructions) all the towels and bathrobes in the home. They are ideal breeding grounds for molds and bacteria and you certainly do not want them on your face and body.
Make sure you get anti-allergen covers for all the pillows, comforters, or other non-washable items.
If you are uncertain about washing in the machine your drapes and window treatments, send them to the dry cleaners as often as you can.
Other Deep-Cleaning Tips to Consider
When it comes to seasonal deep cleaning or cleaning-against-allergies, most people think about home cleaning products containing harsh chemicals.
However, they are not your best friends if you have allergies, asthma, or other respiratory issues. On the contrary, they can worsen your symptoms.
So, instead of using ammonia, chlorine, formaldehyde, and other irritating substances, go for the less harsh ones.
Make some of your natural cleaning products or buy those coming with an “eco-friendly” label to them.
Other allergy alleviation tips for this season include:
- The prevention (immediate removal) of mold and mildew from all rooms;
- Keep your windows closed as much as you can to avoid pollen entering your home;
- Use traps, boric acid, and other natural methods to keep pests out (insect control sprays and foams are problematic for people with asthma and allergies);
- Use humidity controllers and air purifiers;
- Control pet hair and dandruff.
Bottom Line
Controlling respiratory issues, allergies, asthma, and other problems is no easy feat.
However, deep cleaning routines, products, and tools can help you live a healthy life without severe disruptions.
Remember always to wear a mask when you vacuum, dust the furniture and clean the bathroom and kitchen. Related.
About The Author:
Carla Smith is the founder of Safe and Healthy Life. Her main objective is to provide informative articles, reviews, and analysis of health & fitness topics to her readers that help them to make their life easier and happier. Connect with her on Twitter.
