The sun is out, the weather is warming up, and it’s time to throw open our windows to spring. (Figuratively speaking, of course, there’s pollen out there!) It’s also time for spring cleaning. Whether you dread this process or find it strangely satisfying, it’s got to be done, especially if you’re an allergy sufferer. The air in your home is about 10 times dirtier than the air outside, and allergens have been accumulating during the months of winter. Pollen season has already reared its ugly head, but you can strengthen your defenses by getting rid of other indoor allergens and the best way to do this is a deep, thorough spring cleaning.

What kind of indoor allergens are lurking inside your home? Well, there’s definitely dust, dust mites, animal dander, mold, and mildew, for starters along with your ordinary household dirt and grime. But don’t worry; we’re going to give you some pointers on how to transform your home into a clean and healthy place to live.

Before you break out the cleaning products, there are a few other tasks you may want to accomplish first. Many people organize closets, drawers, and shelves as part of their spring cleaning, and they often go through old belongings to see what can be thrown away or donated to charity. This is an important first step for allergy sufferers, too. Getting rid of excess knickknacks, decorations, and collectibles will cut down on dust throughout the house, making your cleaning job easier. For a truly spotless home, consider hiring House Cleaning Baltimore MD professionals to help tackle those hard-to-reach places and ensure every nook and cranny is dust-free. A clutter-free environment is not only easier to maintain but also promotes better air quality for your health.

Here’s a checklist to help make sure that this year’s spring cleaning leaves your home sparkling, spotless, and allergy-free:

• • Destroy Mold and Mildew indoors by cleaning under the refrigerator, washing/disinfecting garbage cans, thoroughly scrubbing bathrooms, and cleaning or changing shower curtains. Our Mold & Mildew Clean-Up Kit With Gloves works wonders when it comes to mold and mildew cleaning! If you have a basement, you should examine and clean it thoroughly. Mold and mildew flourish in damp environments. Dehumidifiers also help inhibit mold and mildew growth.

 

• • Clean Your Yard Frequently! Remembering not to ignore the mold and mildew outdoors is important as well. Mold spores easily become airborne particles that can float indoors and aggravate your allergies. Removing any wet piles of leaves, grass, mulch, or debris will help keep mold spores near your home at bay. This is also true for any outdoor cushions and furniture, keeping them dry will help prevent mold and mildew growth significantly.

 

• • Clean Your Bedroom! Wash all your bedding, using hot water. Special laundry additives and detergents help kill dust mites and eliminate other allergens. If you haven’t already encased your bed in allergy relief bedding, take this opportunity to do so (while your bedroom is nice and clean).

 

• • Dust mites live in carpets and upholstery, too. Treat Carpets and Upholstery with a Carpet Powder that neutralizes or kills dust mites. We do recommend using only dry cleaning methods on carpets. Wet extraction methods can leave carpets damp, creating an ideal environment for mold and mildew spores, which you’ve been working so hard to eradicate.

 

• • Clean Blinds & Drapes Thoroughly. Better yet, get rid of them and replace them with vertical blinds or washable window dressings. Window blinds can be major dust traps. Remembering to wash your drapes with an Anti-Allergen Laundry Detergent or Dust-Mite Laundry Detergent can help reduce the places allergens can linger. As a result, allergens won’t have a chance to redistribute themselves back into the air if the drapes are disturbed or moved.

 

• • Vacuum Consistently as if your life depends on it! Move aside furniture to reach every nook and cranny. Those rarely vacuumed spots may not look dirty, but invisible allergens have a way of collecting in these undisturbed corners. If you don’t already have one, consider browsing our selection of get a HEPA Filter Vacuum Cleaners. We offer various brands including Miele, Dyson, and SEBO.

 

• • Dust Everything Frequently. We recommend using an electrostatically charged cloth, which traps dust, or a vacuum attachment designed specifically for dusting. Normal dusting cloths spread too much dust around in the air without actually getting rid of it. Don’t forget to dust above your head as well light fixtures, ceiling fan blades, and the tops of cabinets and armoires.

 

• • It’s a good idea to Keep Your House Well-Ventilated While Cleaning. If the pollen outside is stopping you from opening windows, consider running the air conditioning and indoor air purifiers to keep the air well-ventilated and clean.

 

• Don’t forget to Frequently Change The Filters on your air conditioners, air purifiers, dehumidifiers, windows, and vent registers. Since you just cleaned your house, you want the incoming air to be clean, fresh, and breathable! Consistently changing your filters will go a long way to keeping the air allergen free! You may also want to hire air conditioning services to thoroughly clean your ac unit further ensuring clean indoor air for the whole family.

 

Finally, there’s one more aspect of cleaning to consider this spring: not simply what you clean, but how you clean. Standard cleaning supplies often contain harsh fragrances and chemicals that irritate allergies. We recommend cleaning with all-natural, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free cleaning products. You may also want to consider wearing an allergy relief mask while cleaning indoors and outdoors to protect yourself from fumes, dust, and allergens.

Even hypoallergenic cleaning products can irritate some allergy sufferers. If this is the case, there are three natural cleaning products that most can find in their own kitchen: vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. Vinegar, when mixed equally with water, makes the perfect all-purpose cleaning solution and disinfectant. Use it on kitchen and bathroom surfaces as you would a general spray cleaner, but do not use it on marble. If you’re unsure of whether or not you can use it on a certain surface, then first test it in an inconspicuous area. Lemon juice can be used as a polish on copper and brass; it is also useful for dissolving hard water stains and soap build-ups. Baking soda works well as an abrasive cleaner on surfaces such as sinks, tubs, ceramics, aluminum, chrome, and stainless steel. Baking soda is also an excellent deodorizer.

Learn more about healthy and natural cleaning products and supplies in the featured products section of this newsletter or on our allergy relief cleaning supplies website.