For many people Spring is the season of sniffing, coughing, itchy eyes and allergies. On top of that, we have dust storms and smoke from bushfires.
With the change of season come all types of air born pollens and pollutants and while we might think staying indoors is the best solution, sometimes inside our homes is just as bad as outside.
What’s to be done?
It’s possible you might never fully eliminate odours or allergy-causing substances from your home, but there are a few simple precautions you can take that may help cut down the amount of time spent wheezing and sneezing.
Firstly, let’s talk dust. No matter how well you clean your home there is always dust around. This may be especially true for people living in hot dry areas. To help collect the maximum amount of dust off furniture, benches and other surfaces, try wiping them with a damp cloth instead of a dry one. Or use a specially-designed microfibre cloth which doesn’t leave residue behind.
Don’t forget to clean areas that might be hidden from view but can still be major dust-collecting spots. These include vertical blinds, doorframes, top of window frames, chair and table legs, behind wall units, or under beds.
Curtains and rugs are also big dust collectors, so make sure you wash them on a regular basis, or at least take them outside for a good shake.
Although you use your vacuum cleaner to get rid of dust, it could actually be spreading more dust around than collecting. To help prevent that, make sure you empty or change the vacuum bag regularly and clean the hose and vacuum filters from time to time.
Speaking of filters, don’t forget to keep an eye on the air conditioner filter, air vents and range hood. Just because these are out of sight, it shouldn’t mean out of mind, so include them as part of your regular cleaning routine.
Pets in the house can be a major source of allergy problems, so try to keep them outside in the garden. If this isn’t possible, you might think about restricting them to a section of the house with tiles or timber on the floor as this will make is easier to collect hair or any dirt they might bring in from outside. Remember to vacuum pet prone areas regularly to prevent a build-up of allergy-causing irritants.
Mould and mildew also cause serious allergy problems. Mould can be found in any dark or moist environment but is most commonly a problem in bathrooms and bedroom cupboards. A good quality mould and mildew remover will work wonders in the bathroom, just don’t forget to reapply on a regular basis.
Keeping your home free of chemicals and other artificial pollutants can also help protect your family from allergies. Where possible, opt for cleaning products, foods or kitchenware made of natural products. These days there are a wide variety of organic and chemical free cleaners on the market. If you can’t find these in the supermarket, try looking in your local health food store.
While Spring may still mean allergies for many people, by following these simple guidelines you might at least be able to reduce the discomfort of allergies in your home.