Allergies can turn perfectly pleasant days into not-so-pleasant days. The sneezing, wheezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes can be a real annoyance, especially when you want to enjoy the warm temperatures. While you can’t get rid of the pollen or other seasonal allergens outside (unfortunately), there are cleaning steps you can take to keep those annoying allergens out of your home (and away from your body!).
Remove your clothes in the mudroom or laundry room before you enter.
The first step to keeping allergens out of the home starts as soon as you get home. Designate an “allergen area” where you can remove your clothes and bag them. Ideally this would be a mudroom or laundry room so the clothes can be laundered immediately. Removing and washing clothes before entering removes allergens on clothing so they are not brought into the home.
Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.
Regular vacuum cleaning is an important tactic in the allergy sufferer’s arsenal. Vacuuming removes allergens trapped in carpet and on furniture. Research every vacuum cleaner before you buy and select a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter (purchase a similar filter for your furnace so allergens are not circulated through the ducts). Vacuum regularly or outsource the task to a service that can stay on schedule.
Wear a mask when cleaning.
As you clean, wear a mask to protect your body from contact with allergens. Use a microfiber cloth which picks up and traps allergens. Make sure that you don’t leave any surface wet; moist environments can breed mold and other allergens.
Regularly launder bedding.
Even with removing clothes before you enter the home, allergens can still be carried into the home. Wash all bedding regularly, or hire a cleaning service to launder and make the bed so you don’t have to come into contact with allergens that cause your allergy symptoms to flare up.
Deep clean flooring.
Carpeting can trap allergens. Allergens can blow around on hard flooring, stirring up annoying allergy symptoms and making you miserable. Deep clean carpets and hard floors at least once a year, or more often if you have respiratory issues. If you don’t want to be present for the cleaning (and sneezing and wheezing and…), hire a professional cleaning service to deep clean floors while you are gone.
Don’t leave any corner uncleaned.
Allergens can get caught in the most unlikely places, so make sure that you don’t leave any corner untouched. Clean under couches, behind corner tables, under appliances, and under beds. Hire a cleaning service to tackle regular cleaning tasks on a regular basis so you can live virtually allergy symptom free.
