If you’re an allergy sufferer, cleaning the house can have a different goal than just your typical declutter session: it means keeping you healthy and free from your allergy symptoms as much as possible. As an allergy sufferer, you know that it’s important to keep a clean house and office, but cleaning things the conventional way doesn’t always make it so that you are free and clear of your symptoms. We’re going to explore some simple yet effective ways YOU can take action right now to help improve the way you clean things around the home and office so that your allergy symptoms are kept in check.
That’s one area that most people (without allergies) don’t think to clean: the air. Yet, that is the most problematic area for people with allergies. If you aren’t staying on top of your house’s air filtration and doing things to clean the air, then you may be exposing allergy sufferers in your home to unnecessary hardship. First, you’ll want to make sure that the filters in your central air system are not only changed monthly, but are HEPA compliant. That is the only way to ensure that most of the air that is getting circulated into your home is treated for pollen and other allergens like animal hair and dander. Secondly, you’ll need to keep your house cool and free of humidity. Make sure that if you’re in humid climates that you keep dehumidifiers in the bedroom and main living area to keep air from getting too moist and turning into a breeding ground for mites. Also, if you keep your house at or below 68* year round then you are helping to inhibit the growth and proliferation of mold spores and dust mites.
You’ll also need to invest in a special anti-allergen vacuum like this one on Amazon that uses UV light and powerful suction and filters to safely remove allergens from clothing, bedding, drapes, and furniture. It’s an extra step to your normal vacuum routine, but it can be very worth it to have an extra layer of defense against awful allergies.
We love talking about natural cleaning remedies like borax, white vinegar, and baking soda, but that’s because they are just a net positive when it comes to allergen free and family friendly cleaning solutions. If you use things like ammonia, bleach, and sodium hypochlorite which are all common off-the-shelf cleaners, then you could be exposing yourself to potential lung, eye, and skin irritants. If you ditch those cleaners and start using more natural and green cleaning agents, then you lessen your risk of irritant exposure which can exacerbate your allergy symptoms.
We hate to say it but the life of an allergy sufferer is not easy. To help combat airborne allergens, it is recommended that you dust the entire house, especially high traffic areas, at least once per week in order to stay on top of things. It’s also a good idea to change bedding materials like sheets and pillowcases at least weekly as well. Make sure they are never dried outside as that can expose them to pollen too! But, just think of it this way: dusting your house and washing your bedding more often means that you are getting in an extra workout each week to help you keep the weight off and energy levels higher. See, if you look on the bright side, it’s not all bad.
If you can keep these simple rules in place and stay on top of things you can make sure that your home is free and clear (as can be) of annoying allergens to help you and your family breathe a little easier.