Posted on October 5th, 2020
Most of us automatically associate “home” with a safe, healthy place to be. However, the home environment can be a minefield of symptom triggers for allergy sufferers. Some of the most common allergens, like dust mites and mold, frequently exist in higher concentrations indoors than outdoors. For the 50 million Americans with mold or dust mite allergy, this can lead to year-long sniffling, sneezing, and itching. In susceptible individuals, these allergens can also cause repeated asthma attacks, sinus infections, and respiratory infections.
Before you reach for medication to manage your chronic allergies, it’s essential to realize that you aren’t powerless to control allergens in your home. Thorough, regular cleaning can significantly reduce the density of allergens in indoor air, providing symptom relief for many allergy and asthma sufferers. Check out this blog for expert cleaning tips for allergy sufferers, according to the best maid services in Indianapolis.
6 Ways to Conquer Allergies by Cleaning
1. Vacuum often, and use the right techniques.
Vacuuming regularly (at least 2-3 times per week) is one of the best ways to keep allergens from building up in your home’s air, particularly if you have carpets. Choose a powerful model of a vacuum cleaner equipped with a genuine HEPA filter, and vacuum slowly in rows. (Don’t use short, fast strokes.) Change the filter and bag in your vacuum cleaner whenever necessary to keep it working optimally. If you own a bagless vacuum cleaner, empty it outside to avoid releasing allergens back into the air.
If you have a severe allergy to dust mites, you can try using pre-treatments to make vacuuming even more effective. Carpet treatments, like Allersearch X-Mite carpet powder or Ecology Works DustMiteX, kill dust mites before vacuuming to ensure greater allergen removal. Simply dust the powder onto your carpets and furniture, let it sit for a few hours, then vacuum as you normally would.
2. Wash your bedding at least once a week.
Like carpets and upholstery, bedding provides an ideal home for dust mites. To keep these common allergens from disrupting your sleep, machine wash your sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and bedcovers or throw blankets on a hot cycle at least once every week. Ensure the water reaches a temperature of 130 F (54.4 C) to kill dust mites. Alternatively, if you don’t want to use such a hot wash, you can dry your bedding in the dryer for 15 minutes at the same temperature.
3. Declutter your home.
Clutter contributes to poor indoor air quality because all your stuff can be magnets for dust mites. One of the best cleaning tips for allergy sufferers is to declutter. Get rid of unnecessary items that you haven’t used in a year or more. (You can, of course, make exceptions for items with sentimental or monetary value.) If your home still feels cluttered after you’ve decided what to keep, consider dust-free ways to store your excess belongings. For instance, you could place them in sealed plastic bins or in a personal storage unit.
4. Supplement your cleaning efforts with an air purifier and dehumidifier.
No matter how clean you keep your home, new allergens can enter anytime. Even if you keep your windows closed, pollen and outdoor mold spores can filter through the cracks around doors and other small openings in your house’s exterior. Dust mites are also notoriously difficult to control, because they feed on dead skin cells – and the average person sheds between 30,000 and 40,000 skin cells per day.
Consider installing a high-efficiency air purifier in your home to help eliminate allergens that would otherwise build up between cleanings. Air purifiers constantly cycle indoor air through a specialized filter (usually a HEPA filter) designed to catch and trap allergens and other small particles. This process greatly slows the deposition of allergens on your floors, carpets, and furniture and keeps your indoor air healthy.
If you live in a damp climate, installing a dehumidifier is another worthwhile step to consider. By keeping humidity levels low, you’ll prevent the growth of mold and mildew in your home.
5. Dust frequently.
Even if you vacuum often and use an air purifier, you’ll still need to dust your home at least once a week to keep allergens at bay. To reduce your exposure to dust as you work, wear a pair of rubber gloves and a dust mask before you begin dusting. Use a damp microfiber cloth to remove dust from walls, shelves, and other surfaces throughout your home. Unlike dry dusting methods, damp dusting won’t stir up dust particles and release them into your home’s air. If dusting aggravates your symptoms despite taking these precautions, ask a family member or professional maid to do the job for you.
6. Get your home deep-cleaned by professionals at least twice a year.
No matter how fastidious you are about keeping your home clean, allergens can still accumulate in hard-to-reach places and within carpeting. (Most vacuum cleaners aren’t powerful enough to completely remove allergens from the deeper layers of carpets.) For this reason, it’s important to have your home cleaned professionally at least twice a year if you suffer from allergies.
Professional cleaners have access to powerful equipment, like hot water extraction cleaners, that can effectively remove even the most persistent allergens. Unlike steam cleaners, hot water extraction cleaners won’t leave mold-causing moisture behind in carpets or upholstery. Their high cleaning temperature also kills dust mites and bacteria, creating a healthier environment for everyone.
Keep Your Home Allergy-Free With Our Deep Cleaning Service
Hopefully, these cleaning tips for allergy relief can help you manage your condition. But if your allergies make it difficult for you to clean, DeluxeMaid is here to help! Our expert cleaning partners can clean your home and free from potential allergens. We highly recommend a regular cleaning service to consistently keep them at bay or a one-time deep cleaning service for a more intensive process.