According to the Asthma Foundation, around 40 percent of Australians have some allergy.
That’s an awful lot of sneezing! For many of those allergy sufferers, their allergies can lead to serious health risks like asthma and anaphylaxis.
If you live with someone allergic to dust mites, mold, pollen, pet hair, or any one of the hundreds of allergens in household products, a clean house is not enough.
How to cover all clean house tips?
A house needs to be extra-clean and allergen-proof to help make allergy sufferers as comfortable as possible.
The alternative is sneezing, wheezing, coughing, and watery eyes, all brought on by the presence of irritants that you can keep at bay with some extra attention.
Here’s how to get on top of some common irritants at your place:
1. Use allergy-friendly products
- Avoid using aerosol sprays as they are a common trigger for asthma sufferers. Even if you’re not standing near anyone, the high-pressure mist that the aerosol omits means the contents can spread a long way.
- Track down products that are labeled ‘sensitive’ or ‘hypoallergenic’. These products are less likely to irritate sensitive skin.
- Try to use environmentally-friendly products – what’s good for the environment is often better for us too.
- Avoid using products that contain harsh chemicals like ammonia, formaldehyde, and sodium lauryl sulfate. Hunt out products that are free from these irritants or make your own natural cleaning products.
2. Keep a dust-free bedroom
It’s the dust mite droppings that many people react to (and news that there is dust mite poo in our bedding causes a reaction in the rest of us!).
To keep a clean house, you will need to wash all bed linen regularly, preferably weekly. A man-made fiber like polyester is less likely to trap dust than natural fibers like donation or linen.
Air out mattresses, donnas, pillows, and blankets daily, hang them over the clothesline, and beat them with a tennis racket to allow as much dust as possible to escape.
Wash donnas and pillows at least monthly. Click here for step-by-step instructions for cleaning donnas and pillows.
Use a hypoallergenic mattress topper, done inner cover, and pillow protector and wash these at least monthly and replace them annually.
Keep stuffed animals to a minimum and wash those that remain regularly. Click here for instructions for washing fluffy toys.
Pull the bed out and vacuum underneath at least once a week, preferably daily. Don’t forget to dust side tables and vacuum underneath those as well.
3. Vacuum daily
Wooden or tiled floors are much easier to keep dust-free, but if you have carpet, a daily vacuum, especially in bedrooms, is a must.
Use a vacuum cleaner made especially for allergy sufferers – most will be fitted with HEPA filtration and a powerhead.
Make sure you vacuum around the skirting boards and crevices and vacuum around all beds at least twice. Empty canisters or vacuum bags regularly, sealing the bag well before disposal.
4. Empty bins daily
The rubbish bin can omit toxins without you even realizing it, and they are a breeding ground for mold and germs.
Empty bins every evening and disinfect them with a hospital-grade solution before lining them with a plastic bag.
5. Beat doormats every day
Pollen and dust are tracked into our homes constantly. Make sure you have a doormat on the outside and inside at every entry point to your home and shake these out regularly.
Vacuum each indoor mat when you do your daily vacuum run. It’s a good idea to place a mat in the doorway of an allergy-sufferers bedroom for extra protection. Better yet, leave shoes outside.
6. Inspect for mold weekly
Mould is a common allergy trigger and it’s present absolutely everywhere.
Don’t give it a chance to breed – wipe away small mould patches as soon as you find them with a paper towel and throw the paper towel in an outside bin.
You can use a solution of three cups of water to five drops of Oil of Cloves (find it at your pharmacy) in a spray bottle to kill mould spores and prevent mould from growing.
Make sure you test for an allergy to the Oil of Cloves first, of course! Tea tree oil is also a good antiseptic against mould – a teaspoon of oil to a cup of water wiped over mould-prone surfaces should do the trick.
Other mould preventatives:
- Air your home regularly.
- Pour away any standing water and eliminate drips and dampness.
- Squeegee away the condensation that collects on windows and in bathrooms.
- Use mold-resistant paints where possible.
- Use a humidifier if dampness is a problem.
- Clean the ceilings with a stiff broom at least seasonally.
- Clean your toothbrush holder every other day.
- Clean drains at least monthly. Try pouring a cup of bicarb soda followed by a cup of vinegar down the drain.
7. Clean filters in your air-conditioning unit
Make cleaning the filter in your heating or cooling system a weekly task. A quick brush outside with a dust brush should do the trick.
Inspect the filters for damage and replace them when necessary.
8. Look for hidden dust
It’s not just the bedrooms that we need to keep dust-free, there are lots of hidden dust traps around the home. Check for dust:
- On electrical appliances – electronics like the TV and computer create a static field that attracts lots and lots of dust.
- On blinds and curtains – regularly wash blinds and curtains to keep them dust-free. You can dust timber slat blinds by putting a pair of pantyhose over your hands and running them along the slats.
- Wash ornaments regularly and brush them with a soft toothbrush.
- Vacuum books using a low vacuum setting and the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner.
- Pack away clothing and bedding that is not in regular use – use dust covers for blankets and pillows.
- Beat fabric couches and armchairs and vacuum them often – better yet, replace them with leather if you can.
- Dust the tops of picture frames and skirting boards weekly.
- Tackle down the side and behind your fridge at least monthly.
- Lift rugs and vacuum under them weekly.
- Dust your house plants monthly.
- Pull out couches and heavy furniture and vacuum and clean behind them at least monthly.
9. Clean your cleaning tools
We get so busy cleaning the house we often forget to clean the cleaners.
Germs and dust can build up in our appliances, rendering them less effective and often making them an allergy trigger, too.
Regularly clean your vacuum cleaner, washing machine, dishwasher, and other appliances.
10. Keep the bathroom pristine
Bathrooms are damp, closed spaces that can become a breeding ground for mold and germs that spell trouble for allergy sufferers.
Clean the bathroom every other day, using hypoallergenic products and lots of elbow grease.
- Wipe down all surfaces so they don’t collect dust.
- Shake out bathmats daily and replace them weekly.
- Replace towels every other day and dry them out thoroughly between uses (a heated towel rack is a godsend).
- Scrub away any traces of soap scum or mold.
- Use a squeegee after every shower to eliminate excess water.
- Make sure you clean the extraction fan regularly so it works properly.
- Ensure your bathroom is well-ventilated to prevent mold.
- Put some loo cleaner or straight vinegar into the toilet last thing every night and flush away in the morning.
Here are some tips for cleaning the bathroom while your kids are in the bath.
11. Air your home every day
Open your home and let fresh air flow at least once a day. Even on a rainy day, the air quality outside the house is generally better than inside (unless you live on a main road or under a flight path, in which case keep the windows closed!).
Check your home for cross-ventilation and call in the experts to move windows and doors if you have to.
Fresh air is absolutely essential for a healthy, happy home.
In conclusion, maintaining a clean and tidy house is essential for creating a comfortable and hygienic living environment.
Regular cleaning not only promotes good physical health by reducing the presence of dust, allergens, and germs but also contributes to mental well-being, as a clean space can help alleviate stress and improve productivity.
Keeping the house clean requires consistent effort and organization, but the benefits of a neat home are well worth it.
A clean house fosters a sense of pride and contentment, making it a place where one can relax and enjoy the company of family and friends.
Embracing the habit of house cleaning ensures that our homes remain a welcoming and inviting sanctuary for years to come, so do not hesitate and book a clean house service now
