Secrets to Superior Cleaning for Allergy Sufferers

Burst of colour everywhere and spring is in the air. As the average house collects an estimated 18kg of dust each year, it is no wonder that you feel like you want to clean, freshen up and clear out. You owe it to yourself and your family to give your home more than a dirt-deep clean. You need a superior deep clean. Spring cleaning is important for everyone, particularly if you are an allergy sufferer.

Having a healthy home isn’t as hard you may think. Just follow our top 13 spring cleaning tips and tricks for allergy sufferers in 2022

1. Make a schedule and have a strategy

Cleaning your home from top to bottom can be overwhelming, time-consuming and tiring.  It is easier to approach the cleaning room by room. Scope it out: What areas need the most work? Where do you skip during routine cleaning? Create a cleaning checklist for each room.  Regardless of where you start, having a plan will keep you focused on the task at hand. Eat that elephant bite by bite - just go room by room.

2. Have severe allergies? Protect yourself before you start

Cleaning will more than likely unsettle all the winter dust on furniture and fixtures. If you suffer from allergies or are using heavy-duty cleaners, be sure to read the labels. For safe spring cleaning, wear rubber gloves and masks. Protective clothing will help guard against skin irritations and allergic reactions.

If you are unsure whether you might suffer from dust mite induced allergies, read our blog post What are dust mite allergy symptoms.

3. Organise and de-clutter

One of the biggest necessities of spring cleaning is to get rid of clutter. Studies show that a disorganized home adds to your stress level. It signals to your brain that work isn’t done.

The scientific implications of inhaling dust, combined with the stress of coming back to a cluttered living space, can take a toll. Organise your home by first understanding WHY there is so much clutter and determine a solution.  Look through that dreaded junk drawer, unread magazines, items under that bed and piles in the house; organise your clothing and linen cupboards.  Sort your belongings into trash, give away, store or put away.  Move the clutter immediately.  Drop off a donation box at Vinnies, list it on BuySwapSell or plan a garage sale.

You may be surprised how fresh you feel after you eliminate unnecessary stress from your life.

4. Minimise your cleaning products

Don’t go all out and buy every single cleaning product on the supermarket shelve.  The leftover cleaning products will just add to unnecessary clutter when you done. Try all-purpose cleaning products and microfibre clothes (I love Norwex and use this wonderful consultant).  These will cover most surfaces in your home.  Only purchase specialty cleaning supplies as needed.

Where possible, for allergy suffers use natural products as far as possible.

Here is a simple natural cleaning solutions which can be used on quartz, granite, and marble counters, plus appliances and sinks:

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup water

• 3/4 cup rubbing alcohol

• 5 to 10 drops peppermint, lemon, or orange essential oil

• 1 squirt natural dish soap

Steps

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well.

2. Spray onto the surface and wipe with a clean cloth

5. Don’t do it alone

Make the spring cleaning effort a family affair. Young children can be excellent helpers (and especially if there is a reward waiting at the end – ice cream anyone?).  Assign age-appropriate chores so that everyone feels included. How about pumping up the volume and dance to some music.

6. Use a HEPA vacuum

You can remove more than just dust build-up when you vacuum. A high-quality HEPA vacuum is one of the best spring cleaning supplies to arm yourself with. It catches tiny airborne particles you cannot see but can stir up allergy symptoms. They trap things like pet dander, allergens and other household particles.

Be sure to move your furniture too (or at least vacuum under it).

7. Work from top to bottom

When you think about how to spring clean your home, it’s important to start from the ceiling down. This will force debris downward and keep you from having to re-dust or re-clean your space. Grab an extendable duster or vacuum with extension hose to attack ceiling fans, hanging and recessed lights and moldings. Make sure you start the cleaning here so that you don’t have to vacuum the floor twice.

Move on to dust your furniture and other items before vacuuming all the dust and debris off your floors. It will save you time.  Dust, clean, and vacuum, in that order.

8. Walls, curtains and windows need love too

We typically forget about walls, curtains and windows. Dust does not only settle on the floor you know. Use a damp microfibre cloth to wipe down walls and blinds (starting from the top), bonus points if you wipe the door frames and baseboards too. Remove and wipe down the window screens outside. Wash or dry-clean your curtains. Don’t forget to remove the hooks.

When it comes to the actual windows, use some newspaper to dry without streaks or a good microfibre cloth.

9. Transform your bedroom in a sanctuary

Freshen the beds by laundering all your quilts, doonas and pillows, but make sure you check the manufacturer’s label before tossing them into the washing machine

Kills the dust mites in your mattress.  Perfect time to pay attention to what’s under the sheets.   When last have you had your mattress cleaned?

Book a SafeSnooze treatment that effectively cleans the mattress by removing dust mite poop and cast bodies (biggest allergens) and then sanitising and disinfecting the mattress with UVC light.  A-MA-ZING treatment!!!  You will breathe better, sleep better and wake up better.  Give yourself the gift of mattress deep clean for that final spring clean touch.

10. Tackle the Kitchen

Don’t fear cleaning your kitchen ! Here are a few common trouble areas people forget about:

• Wipe down your cabinets.

• Go through your pantry and refrigerator. Wipe down the shelves and removeable trays to get rid of food bacteria and spillage, and throw away any old items.

• Steam clean the microwave - fill a large microwave-safe bowl with 1 cup of water and a chopped-up lemon, lime, or orange or several tablespoons of vinegar and stick it inside. Turn the appliance on high for several minutes or until the solution boils and the window is steamy, then let it cool for five minutes before opening the door. Remove and wipe the inside and outside with a sponge

• If you have stainless steel appliances, be sure to use gentle cleaners or a steam cleaner to avoid scratching or other issues

• Wash your brooms in soapy warm water.

• Scrub and disinfect the rubbish bins.

11. Deep clean the bathroom

• Mold spores thrive in warm, damp spaces like bathrooms. Scrub any visible mold with a special mold cleaning solution and fix any leaky pipes under the sink, the shower, bath or toilet.

• Change your shower curtain.

• Go through your cosmetics drawer or medicine cabinet and throw away any expired items.

• Clean your bathroom fan. Maintaining an existing fan or adding a new one can help to ensure your bathroom has great ventilating to remove moisture, odors and vapors.

• Scrub the grout. White grout picks up, well about everything. For a great homemade grout cleaner, mix together 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide, and 1 tsp dish soap. Apply cleaning mixture onto the grout, wait 5-10 minutes, scrub, sweep up the excess baking soda, and rinse.

12. Some things you usually miss

• Wash winter clothes to help remove allergens before stashing them away for the season. Cardboard holds moisture and is a food source for mold so be sure to store your winter wear in zippered bags or easy-to-dust plastic boxes.

• Dust also gathers on light bulbs, shades and globes.  Switch off the lights and carefully remove parts.  Wash the shades and wipe down the gloves with a damp cloth.

• Wipe down the portraits, paintings, big mirrors, book shelves. If you are a bit OCD, organise the bookshelf by alphabet, colours or size.

• Hose off and air dry outside door mat.  Vacuum the inside one on both sides.

• Wash your reusable grocery bags following the care instructions.

• Vacuum soft furniture. Use a crevice tool to remove gunk along the trim and stitching.

• Clean your washing machine by adding some vinegar to a special washer cycle.

• Remove stains in tea and coffee cups by soaking it with one part baking soda and two parts water over night.

14. Let spring cleaning set a new tone

If your space feels dark and heavy, you can make small changes to help make it fresh and light for spring. Re-arranging furniture or adding new colourful pillows or art are great ways to change up your space. Replacing items like bedding, towels, table linens, and even curtains are other ways to transform your house into a lovely sanctuary. Perhaps from now schedule 10-15 minutes of tidying and cleaning every day, so that next year’s spring clean is not such a mammoth task.

And if all else fails use some of these mantras to keep your motivated:

• Open up the windows and let that fresh air stir up those winter dust. Then sweep it right out the door.

• Spring cleaning is more than just decluttering your space; it's about decluttering your mind and soul.

• Spring into cleaning. You've got this!

• Every spring cleaning check list was conquered one check at a time

• Spring cleaning is like running a marathon; it's accomplished one room at a time.

And if that does not work…. Invest in a good cleaning company to lighten your spring cleaning load, especially  for your mattress.  Only SafeSnooze can give you a deep clean that sanitises and disinfect the mattress with UVC light to remove allergy triggers, dust mites and other micro-organisms. You can learn more about the effectiveness of UVC light here.

Sleep better, breathe better, live better this Spring by following our secrets to a superior spring clean.

Contact us today: hello@safesnooze.com.au

Find out more about allergy management with SafeSnooze here.