The season is turning and we’re fast approaching the time of year when spending the evening at home in the warmth is a more preferable option. For you to really be able to sit back, relax and enjoy your time at home, you’ll want it to be free and clear of any potential allergens that could cause reactions and respiratory issues. Cutting down on allergens in your home isn’t as difficult as you may think and we’ve made it easier by providing you with this 5 point checklist!
A Regular Cleaning Schedule
The importance of a regular cleaning schedule should not be underestimated. If you’re a regular reader of our blog you’ll understand that the majority of allergens can be reduced through a simple yet thorough cleaning schedule. You want to focus on areas that will experience a build up of dust as well as preventing mould in wet rooms such as your bathroom.
If possible, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to reduce spreading allergens and avoid using chemical cleaners when cleaning wet rooms.
Pets
It’s common knowledge that the pets we adore are themselves walking balls of allergens. What most people are not aware of are the allergens your pets can bring into your home from their travels throughout nature. Regardless of the cause, your pets pose a risk to anyone with an allergy. The most ideal solution would be to restrict all pets to outdoor areas only. If that’s not an option for you then consider limiting the areas to which they have access, preferably to areas which are hardwood floored and easily cleaned.
Remove/Replace Fabric Furnishings
You may not realise it, but there are a number of furnishings in your home which will harbour very large amounts of allergens. Any soft furnishing and fabrics will retain a lot of allergens. If you have a lot of carpet, consider replacing it with wooden flooring. Fabric drapes are also a large offender, the folds are an ideal place for allergens to hide, changing them for lightweight fabric that is easily removed and cleaned should help drastically. To top it off fabric sofas, pillows and cushions can also cause issues, all covers should be regularly removed and run through the washing machine on a hot wash
If you can’t get rid of your carpet be sure to steam clean rather than shampoo, most carpet shampoos are not strong enough to remove all allergens.
Throw Out That Clutter
It’s common for us all to want to store those empty boxes and general clutter in out of sight areas. Unfortunately your well intended clean up could be creating a dust trap that can cause all kinds of respiratory issues. Be sure to clean all clutter from places like the space under your bed. You want to keep them as clear as possible so that you can easily run the vacuum through and get rid of all the dust and allergens.
Ventilation Maintenance
Another point that we’ve outlined numerous times here, and one we’ll continue to make as it really is just that important. The ventilation of your home is of paramount importance, if not kept clean and in good working order you run the risk of wasting money on non efficient machines, spreading allergens all over your home and undoing all of the hard work you’ve put into cleaning your home. At least once a year you should have a trained professional take a good look at your air conditioners, ventilation ducts, dryer vents and extraction fans. In the grand scheme of things it’s a small price to pay for good health and avoiding costly repair bills when things go wrong.
Follow these steps and you should be able to cut down on the risk of aggravating any allergies you may have. What steps do you take to keep your home clean and clear of allergens?
Image – William Brawley