Spring Cleaning to Reduce Indoor Allergies

Spring is here and it’s a time when many of us do a thorough cleaning of our homes. If you suffer from allergies, you know that keeping triggers away is a must. Cleaning your home is one of the best ways to reduce indoor allergies.

Before you begin, be sure to protect yourself from all the dust and mold that you will be cleaning by wearing a mask. Also keep in mind that harsh chemicals and scented agents used to clean with can trigger allergies. Choose unscented and natural cleaning options, or use simple recipes with baking soda, vinegar, or lemon to clean with instead.

Now, let’s review some cleaning tips to help reduce indoor allergies so you can enjoy not only the nice spring weather, but also your days indoor.

5 Cleaning Tips

1. Wash and change pillowcases and sheets.

Wash sheets, pillowcases, blankets and comforter covers in hot water and dry in a hot dryer. Avoid drying outside on a clothesline to eliminate these items being covered in pollen. Remember to change your pillowcases and sheets with cleaned ones every week to reduce dust mites. Consider using encasements for pillows, mattress, or box spring if dust mites are a particular allergy trigger for you.

2. Vacuum carpets and dust.

Dust before you vacuum. Dust mites live and thrive on dust. Cleaning dust will help reduce dust mites and help with your allergies. Clean dust on tables, picture frames, vases, books, window blinds, and other furniture and window treatments where dust can gather. Use a damp cloth with a nontoxic cleaner to clean and collect the dust. Vacuum your carpets, rugs, cushions, and crevices in furniture to remove all dust.

3. Reduce mold in bathrooms.

Bathrooms are damp areas where mold can thrive and produce mold spores. The mold spores can float in the air and trigger allergy symptoms. Select a cleaner that can help reduce mold growth and scrub away mold from tiles and bathroom surfaces. Use the exhaust fan and a dehumidifier to circulate air and reduce moisture in the bathroom. Discard shower curtain if they are moldy and replace with a clean new one.

4. Clean the refrigerator.

Mold can also grow in the refrigerator. Remove all food and drink from the refrigerator and clean all spills to stop mold growth. Clean the mildew that can develop on the rubber stripping around the refrigerator door.

5. Change filters in your home.

Remember to change out the filters for the HVAC system in your home. Switching to new filters can more efficiently and adequately filter out allergens such as pollen, dust, and pet dander. The filters should be changed regularly every 90 days to control allergens within your home.

The time you invest on spring cleaning will help improve the indoor air quality and reduce the allergens in your home. If you’re looking for other strategies to remedy your indoor allergies, contact Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group at 805-658-9500 for an appointment. Don’t wait to get the allergy relief you want!