For those who suffer from seasonal allergies, maintaining a clean home is essential for your comfort. Many people with allergies have a specific cleaning routine they perform in their homes. This ensures the house is free from dust, mold, and pollen, which trigger allergic reactions.
Here are tips on how to use a regular cleaning routine to allergy-proof a home for the season. Take your spring cleaning a step further to improve comfort and reduce allergy sufferers’ symptoms.
Allergy-Proof a Home: Bedding
Use dust-proof coverings on pillows, mattresses, and box springs. Once a week, wash sheets, pillows, and blankets in water at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54 C). Install a comforter cover that you can wash regularly. Many allergy sufferers have fewer reactions when switching to synthetic materials instead of wool or feather-bedding.
Allergies and Carpeting
Remove carpeting and replace it with hardwood, tile, or vinyl flooring. Add washable area rugs for warmth and color. If it isn’t possible to do without carpeting, choose a low-pile carpet. Vacuum at least twice a week using a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Shampoo the carpet regularly; every three months is recommended for allergy sufferers.
Clean Window Blinds and Curtains to Allergy-Proof a Home
Use curtains made of all cotton or synthetic materials that are safe to launder in your washing machine. Install washable roller shades instead of horizontal blinds, which trap dust, dirt, and pet dander. During pollen season, close the windows and use your air conditioner to maintain the indoor temperature and keep humidity in check. Wipe dust from window frames to further allergy-proof your home.
Furniture
Choose leather, wood, metal, and plastic for tables, chairs, nightstands, and beds. These easy-to-clean materials can be wiped down without damaging the furniture. Upholstered furniture pieces trap dust, pollen, dander, and mold in the fibers.
Declutter to Allergy-Proof a Home
Remove objects such as trinkets, tabletop decorations, books, and magazines that gather dust. Declutter your home to get rid of items you don’t want or need. Fewer things mean fewer places for dust to settle, and cleaning the house is more manageable. In a home with children, plastic bins are great for storing toys and stuffed animals to keep them clean and dust-free.
Indoor Pets
If you suffer from allergies and have a pet, keep your pets out of the bedroom. Bathing your pet once a week lowers the number of allergens you’re exposed to. Regular brushing and bathing help keep pet fur and dander to a minimum.
General Tips to Prevent Allergies in the Home
To help reduce allergy symptoms in your home, here are a few more helpful tips.
- Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter.
- Dust regularly and don’t overlook window frames and ledges.
- Don’t use candles or incense indoors.
- Smoke and fumes from wood-burning fireplaces and stoves can aggravate respiratory allergies.
- Wipe down ceiling fans at least monthly to prevent the accumulation of dust and allergens on the blades.
- Change the HVAC filter monthly.
- Use a dehumidifier to control moisture and prevent mold growth.
Following the above recommendations will help you keep the home clean and reduce allergens. With a few improvements to the regular house-cleaning routine, you and your family will breathe easier.
Delta Home Inspection provides inspection services to customers in Mobile and Baldwin Counties in Alabama. Contact us to request an appointment.