It’s time to start thinking about spring cleaning your
Lexington home. Spring cleaning is important for everyone, particularly if
you’re an allergy sufferer. You owe it to yourself and your family to enjoy a
clean that’s more than dirt-deep. Think allergen-deep.
And you don’t have to dread spring cleaning. Just follow the
top 10 spring cleaning tips and tricks for allergy sufferers from
Sylvane.com:
1. Make a Schedule
Scope out your home: What areas need the most work? Where do
you skip during routine cleaning? Those are the best places to start.
Regardless of where you start, having a plan for when you’re tackling each room
will keep you focused on the task at hand.
2. De-clutter
Decluttering makes you more efficient and keeps you
organized. But more than that, clutter has psychological influences. It signals
to your brain that work isn’t done. Studies have shown that a
disorganized home adds to your stress level. The scientific implications of
inhaling dust – combined with the psychological stress of coming home to a pile
of unsorted laundry or cluttered desk – can take a toll.
Set aside some time to:
Organize your closets
Dust and organize your office
Look through that dreaded junk drawer
You may be surprised how fresh you feel after you eliminate
unnecessary stress from your life.
3. Always 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. If you have a vacuum
with an extension hose, use it to get cobwebs and dust from your ceilings and
fans first.
Then dust your furniture and other items before vacuuming
all the dust and debris off your floors. It will save you time.
4. Use a HEPA Vacuum
Is your vacuum ready for spring cleaning? Finding the right
vacuum is one of the most important parts of spring cleaning. Remove more than
just dust and build-up when you vacuum. A high-quality HEPA vacuum catches
particles you can’t even see. It traps pet dander, allergens and all household
particles in your home.
It’s one of the best spring cleaning supplies you can arm
yourself with. Using a vacuum with HEPA filtration will remove dirt and dust,
but it will also remove allergens and impurities from your air.
You’ll see this suggestion on just about every spring house
cleaning list.
If you don’t have a HEPA vacuum, look for one with
attachments, like dusting brushes and crevice tools, and hoses that can be used
to clean any location.
These tools make it simple to clean ceiling fans, cobwebs in
corners, furniture, pillows, and tight spaces like behind furniture. Be sure to
move your furniture too (or at least vacuum under it).
5. Think Green When You Spring Clean
You want to start spring off on a clean note, so don’t
expose yourself to chemicals and toxins. A steam cleaner is one
of the best green products for spring cleaning. It can be used to clean your
microwave, tile, hard floors, kitchen appliances, bathrooms, and even outdoor
areas.
Since steam cleaners only use hot water vapor, they are a
100% natural and chemical-free cleaning solution. But keep in mind – not
everything can be steam cleaned.
If you don’t have a steam cleaner, one of the best natural
combinations for cleaning is white distilled vinegar, baking soda, and water.
These ingredients are affordable, non-toxic, and have worked for ages when it
comes to cleaning.
6. Walls and Windows Need Love too
People almost always clean their floors, but they typically
forget about walls and windows. Not all dust settles on the floor and other
surfaces. Just use a damp towel to wipe down walls and blinds (starting from
the top). Remove and wipe down the window screens outside.
When it comes to the actual window, we don’t suggest using
chemical cleaners. A steam cleaner with a squeegee is a great way to clean
windows.
7. Don’t Be Scared of the Kitchen and Bathroom
Kitchens
Wipe down your cabinets.
Go through your pantry and refrigerator. Wipe down the
shelves, and throw away any old items.
If you have stainless steel appliances, be sure to use
gentle cleaners or a steam cleaner to avoid scratching or other issues.
Bathrooms
Change your shower curtain.
Go through your cosmetics drawer or medicine cabinet and
throw away any expired items.
Consider installing or upgrading to a new bathroom fan.
Replacing an existing fan or adding a new one can help to ensure your bathroom
remains in top notch condition. They are great for ventilating moisture during
showers and removing odors/vapor removal. Depending on the unit you select, it
may even come with built-in lighting, automatic operation, and other
user-friendly features.
8. Don’t Forget About Your Air
Replacing furnace and HVAC filters is one of the most
important and overlooked parts of spring cleaning. In fact, replacing a
standard filter with a more robust one with a high MERV rating will help keep
you healthier as you enter spring.
It will catch smaller, irritating particles. Air conditioner
ducts build up dust during winter, and upgraded filters catch unwanted
particles so they don’t enter your space. It’s an inexpensive way to make sure
you’re breathing clean, healthy air.
The best way to ensure healthy spring air void of allergens,
indoor chemicals or odors is with an air purifier. If anyone in your home
suffers from allergies or wakes up stuffy during allergy season, adding an air
purifier to his/her bedroom will help.
9. Have Severe Allergies? Protect Yourself.
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,
masks, scarves and even hairnets. Protective clothing will help guard
against skin irritations and allergic reactions.
10. Let Spring Cleaning Set a New Tone
If your space feels dark and heavy, you can make small
changes to help make it light and fresh for spring. Adding new colorful pillows
or art are great ways to change up your space. Replacing items like
bedding, towels, table linens, and even window treatments are other ways to
transform your rooms for spring and warm weather ahead.