How often should you clean?
It is important to conduct a regular weekly cleaning of your house to manage the allergens. The most important part is to learn how to properly clean when you are an allergy sufferer. The you are cleaning improperly, this can trigger even more allergy reactions as dust and other particles get stirred up and spread all over your home even more.
If you tend to neglect cleaning for several weeks, it is best to wear a protective mask to not suffer while cleaning.
We will explore useful cleaning tips further in this article.
Watch out for these five ingredients
Many people have allergies on cleaning products and they don't even know it. Some cleaning solutions have chemicals that are irritants that cause the same symptoms as allergens. This is why it is important to check the ingredients of cleaning products and choose the ones that have the least chemicals.
Here are some chemicals hat can be potentially irritating and trigger an allergic reaction:
1. Synthetic fragrances
People tend to pull towards products that have floral or citrus smells that leave your house smelling like a spa. But those heavily scented cleaners are the ones that result in headaches, respiratory problems, and skin irritation.
It is best to stay away from any cleaning sprays and other products that have a strong smell and fragrances.
2. Ammonia
High concentrations of ammonia can cause throat, nose, and respiratory tract burning. This ingredient is mostly found in glass cleaners and liquid dish soaps, so make sure to check the ingredient list every time you ago shopping for those supplies.
3. Bleach
This is a very common ingredient in disinfectants, laundry detergents, and many other cleaning supplies. It is a common ingredient because bleach kills bacteria and germs. Even though it is a great product for disinfection, bleach causes skin irritation and inhaling this product can cause respiratory issues that cause coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath.
4. Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is commonly found in shampoos and commercial cleaning products. Formaldehyde releasers tend to irritate the skin and your upper respiratory tract.
5. Sodium lauryl sulfate
SLS is mostly included in foaming personal care items like shampoos and soaps, and cleaning products like detergents and dish soaps.
Five best cleaning tools to reduce allergens
Steam cleaner
A steam cleaner is a great tool to have in a home with allergy sufferers. This machine is able to kill germs and bacteria up to 99%, kill dust mites and other insects, stop mold growth and remove any natural molds, and much more. The high heat and high pressure of steam is able to combat against the toughest dirt and the clingiest dust that sits on your floors and furniture.
Investing in a steam cleaner will not only help you make your home allergen-free, but also remove stains like no other stain removal products. You can use steam on all non-porous surfaces as well as fabric and glass.
One of the best options is the portable Fortador Volt Mini. This steamer comes with a bunch of accessories that make cleaning every crevice of your house very easy. All you need to do is connect it to power and start the cleaning process. This device will cut down your cleaning time by half while also leaving your house spotless.
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Vacuum cleaner
The type of vacuum you get makes a huge impact on reduction of allergens.
A vacuum that has a hepa filter is a great option. You can also look into bagless vacuum like Samsung Jet that has a sealed cleaning station that automatically empties the dust cup. Another great option is robotic vacuum like Rumba that will clean your house without you lifting a finger. Such continuous cleaning tool will keep any allergens at bay.
If you don't want to invest in such tools, use a double bag for your vacuum to trap allergens as much as possible.
Washable microfiber cleaning cloths
Microfiber cloth attract dust more than paper towels or random rags. You will not only save money by buying washable microfibers, but also clean more efficiently with such tools.
You should always dampen any microfiber tools before using them to attract the most dust. Once you are through will cleaning, you can just throw them in a washer for thorough cleaning.
Disposable dust wipes
Synthetic dusting wipes and wands, like by the brand Swiffer, create a static cling that holds the dust until you dispose of it in the trash. This tool is very useful if you have dust allergy.
Air purifier
Air purifier will keep your house from spreading dust and other particles in the air that are allergy triggers.
The Rabbit Air purifier is a great option since it has a HEPA filter that helps from allergies.
Masks and gloves
When you are cleaning, it is best to wear protective gear that will save you from coughing or sneezing from any product you are using to clean. All the flying dust can get into your mouth and eyes and make cleaning a very painful experience. In order to prevent that, get disposable masks and rubber gloves.
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Three best cleaning products for allergy sufferers
Choosing cleaning products that do not include harmful chemicals that we listed above is crucial. In this section, we will list different cleaning sprays and other such products that will ensure to leave your home spotless and make the allergens drift.
Anti-allergen spray
It is important to get an anti-allergen spray that you can use on all the interior of your home. This spray will neutralize any pollen and other particles from clinging onto your carpets, doormats, drapes, and other fabricated surfaces.
This Allergy Asthma Clean Allergen Spray Mineral Concentrate is a great option for your home. All you need to do is fill the bottle with water and get to spraying. This product reduces animal dander allergens as well as dust which are the most common allergens.
Unscented all-purpose cleaner
As we discovered previously, you should stay away from any cleaning sprays that have strong fragrance. You can make your own all-purpose cleaner by mixing vinegar, hot water, and mild dish soap or purchase an unscented all-purpose cleaner.
The Better Life Natural All-Purpose Cleaner is fragrance free and perfect to use to prevent many allergy triggers. This spray doesn't have any harsh chemicals but is able to most remove allergens.
Unscented laundry detergents
Using laundry detergents that are fragranced tend to make allergies worse. This is why it is important to choose gentle detergents that are good for sensitive skin and people who suffer with skin allergies.
The Tide Free & Gentle Laundry Detergent Liquid Soap can be found in many stores like Target, Publix, and even on Amazon. This is a perfect option that doesn't have any harsh chemicals or fragrances that will aggravate allergies. Using this product with hot water with keep all allergy reactions at bay.
Seven cleaning tips to avoid allergy suffering
We have listed all the supplies you should and shouldn't use, so now it is time to show you how to apply all the cleaning knowledge you have gained.
1. Declutter your home
Things like boxes, decorations, and plants tend to hide allergens since you don't clean those items very often. This is why it is important to declutter all the unnecessary stuff to prevent dust from collecting.
2. Dust often
If you have a lot of pets or tend to open your windows often, you might attract a lot of dust that clings onto many surfaces in your home. Not during enough will lead to dust mites and make your allergies even worse. In order to prevent the dust from sitting on your furniture and dust mites from appearing, you need to implement dusting your house with a dust collector or a damp cloth as often as possible.
You should dust ceiling fans, blinds window treatments, light fixtures, wooden furniture, window sills, and any other horizontal surface you might not clean as often. To remove dust you can use many cleaning supplies that we have previously mentioned.
Learn more about wood floors cleaning with our special guide.
3. Control indoor temperature and humidity
Dust mite and mold thrive in heat and humidity. By keeping your room air conditioners in your home between 68 F and 72 F and humidity level around 50%, you will prevent any bacteria from growing. You can also invest in a high efficiency particulate air conditioning to make your life is allergen free.
In addition, make sure to use small particle filters in your central heating and cooling systems. If the filters are not disposable, make sure to clean them often.
4. Wash your pets every week
Pets tend to bring in a lot of allergens from the outside. Pet dander and pet hair also triggers a lot of the allergies. This is why you should wash you pets as often as once a week. Use a good pet shampoo to prevent the pet dander and any outdoor pollens from getting inside your home.
5. Regular Plant care
If you have a lot of plants it is important that you not only water them but also clean them. Mold tends to grow in damp soil but you can use natural decorative rocks to prevent mold from growing.
6. Reduce moisture
Moisture control is very important in the kitchen. You can get a vented exhaust fan in. order to reduce any moisture. In addition, stay on top of any refrigerator leaks on leaks below your sink to prevent lingering pools of water and ac leaking that will cause moisture.
7. Avoid bathroom moisture
Stay on top of cleaning your bathroom. The moisture in the bathroom promotes mold growth and other bacteria.
You need to make sure you are frequently cleaning the bathroom walls, shower curtain, and clean the bathroom floors with a damp mop to get rid off all the dust and moisture.
In addition, don't forget to throw rugs in a washer with unscented detergent once a week to prevent it from collecting any dirt.
Conclusion
Frequently cleaning your house and using gentle cleaning products is all it takes to keep your allergies at bay. With the help of this article, you will notice how much better your allergies get and how much better you can enjoy staying in your comfortable and allergen-free home.
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