Allergies may be known as a springtime affliction, but in reality it seems as if we’re not safe from pollen during any of the warmer months of the year. Allergens may be a small price to pay for beautiful blooms and gorgeous greenery, but after over ten years’ experience in the cleaning business and a lifetime of the seasonal sniffles, we’ve come up with some tricks to keep your home allergen-free so you can enjoy your summer with minimal allergy symptoms. Keep reading to learn the best ways to hold your own in the battle against pollen, pet dander and other household allergens.
1) Invest in a HEPA filter
HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters, which go in your vacuum cleaner, are proven to trap 100% of pollen and 99.9% of all other allergens, as well as dust. Experts widely regard this tool as the best way to rid your home of particulate matter. In the meantime, if you don’t have a HEPA filter, try dusting before you vacuum, rather than as a separate measure or after; when you dust, you inevitably leave some material to drift to the ground, which a vacuum can then pick up.
2) Brush your pets regularly
After the chill of winter gives way to spring and then summer sunshine, your pet starts to lose its heavier winter coat to help cool down during the warmer months. The end result is, of course, more pet hair to remove from your home, as well as dander, a trigger for many people’s seasonal or general allergies. To help avoid the spread of dander in your home, brush your pets one to two times a day with a fine-bristled brush to contain the loss before it has a chance to infiltrate your home and air filters. Consider laying an old towel where your pets sleep, and make sure to lint roll it daily and wash it several times a week.
3) Get those hard-to-reach places
Dust is not stationary, and if you miss it in the corners of rooms, between the wall and furniture, under your bed, under your stove and in other spots where you might not think to clean, it can easily drift down to infect your living space and cause your symptoms to flare back up. Swiffers and Wet-Jets can reach ceilings and hard-to-reach fixtures (don’t forget the tops of fan blades!) and vacuum extensions can take care of the floor beneath furniture.
4) Avoid letting clutter accumulate
Clutter provides dust, dander and pollen with an excellent place to hide. Particulate matter will cling to any surface, and piles of boxes or clothing can become a hidden source of allergens in your home. Put away your things as often as possible instead of letting them sit out to reduce the total amount of available surface space for dust to settle on.
5) Wear a mask when you clean
Whenever you embark upon an allergen-ridding mission in your home, don’t forget to wear a face mask to avoid accidentally inhaling the very materials you’re trying to avoid. Go for a walk after cleaning the house as well; it will give any residual particles the chance to settle.
Allergy season can be overwhelming – let Minch Professional Cleaning Services, LLC, a premier cleaning company in Bucks County, lighten the load for you. Call us at 267-202-4412 for a free estimate on house cleaning, or check out our website for more information on what we offer.
