May 2005
Dear Friends,
Last month we talked about Spring cleaning and “detailing” your home. Keep taking care of those little cleaning details and they won’t become such huge chores later!
This month I want to share some
cleaning techniques that help keep your home clean longer. A few years ago, my allergies went from bad to worse. All my tried-and-true remedies seemed to stop working and I was miserable, especially during the Spring and Fall pollen seasons. Not long after that, I had some serious asthma episodes and I knew I had to reduce my exposure to allergens and work with my doctor on my asthma action plan. I’m happy to say those measures paid off and I’ve been nearly symptom free for some time.
Let me say at the outset that these tips are not intended to be medical advice! These are
cleaning tips that will help you remove allergens from your home. That may help improve your symptoms, but you should always consult your doctor first. If no one in your family has allergies or asthma, these tips will still help you clean more effectively.
How often do we say, “Oh, it’s just dust” and move on to something more important? The dust we see on the surfaces in our home is just a small part of the dust in our home. Ever take a sofa cushion or pillow outside and pound it with your hand only to see billowing dust? When sunlight streams in through the windows, we can see dust particles dancing in the air. We breathe this airborne dust into our lungs and, for many people, that causes allergy and asthma symptoms.
What is dust anyway? Dust comes from many different sources: lint, dead skin cells, pollen, particulates from outdoor air, the breakdown of fibers in our home. As we use towels, walk across the carpet, put on clothes, or make the bed, fibers break down and create dust. Toilet paper and facial tissue create dust as we pull them from the box or roll (that’s one reason bathrooms get so dusty!).
This is where it gets gross!
Dust mites inhabit our dust and feed on dead skill cells. These microscopic bugs are present everywhere but they thrive in the dark, warm, humid areas of our homes. Some of the highest concentrations of dust mites are found in bedding, fabric upholstery, and carpets. Pillows, mattresses, linens, stuffed animals, even our clothing are all a dust mite haven! Since we spend many hours in bed, we especially come in close contact with dust mites as we sleep. This may be one reason some people wake up with allergy symptoms.
The good news is that there is much we can do to reduce the amount of dust in our home. Too many people just “swish” dust around when they clean. Our goal should be to remove dust. Ironically, cleaning – the very thing we do to get rid of dust – can actually make more! Vacuum cleaners can emit a lot of dust as we vacuum. Feather dusters just scatter dust into the air only to resettle on surfaces later.
Here are
some tips to help remove dust and keep it from going airborne and into your nose and lungs. Use vacuum cleaner bags that are designed to trap dust in the bag. I’m beginning to see these even in discount stores. They cost a little more, but are well worth it as the dust can’t escape through the bag as you vacuum. They have various names such as Micro-Clean, or AllerVac, or Hysurf. Look for bags that say they trap 99+% of all particles. I used to think it would be better to just have a bagless vacuum cleaner. But a good bag is more effective in reducing the amount of dust that gets back into the air. Change the bag as needed outside or in the garage.
When you dust, use
dust grabbing cloths. There are many disposables on the market now that work well, but it may be cheaper to purchase re-usable dust rags that are designed to trap dust. On some household surfaces, you may be able to use a damp rag to hold the dust. If you like to use spray wax or some other type of spray as you dust, that’s fine if it isn’t irritating your lungs or busting your budget!
Remember when you dust that you want to remove dust in a way that does not scatter it into the air. I’ve tried lambs’ wool dusters and various types of feather dusters that promise to “capture” dust but in my experience much of the dust goes into the air. There are some new disposable dusters that are designed to trap dust and I have found them to work reasonably well. Test any duster by using it to dust in a room when sunlight streams in. Notice if you see more dust particles as you work, or does the product really grab and hold the dust.
Whatever you use for dusting, be sure to shake it vigorously and frequently outdoors. I use 4 or 5 clean dust rags as I work, changing to a clean one before moving on to dust another surface. Even the best dust grabbing cloth can become overloaded with dust if you keep using it from one surface to another without shaking it outdoors. When you shake the rags be sure to close the window or door first!
Speaking of windows, I love to enjoy the “fresh” air this time of the year. However, if you have pollen allergies, you will reduce pollen inside if you keep windows closed during pollen season and filter the air with a good filter in your air conditioner. If you don’t have air conditioning, that won’t be possible. You may want to purchase a portable room air filter to use in your bedroom and other rooms where you spend the most time.
Pollen is sticky. If you hang clothes and bedding outdoors during pollen season, the pollen will stick to them bringing it into close contact especially as you sleep. Remember, avoidance of allergens is key if you want to reduce your allergy symptoms and feel better.
Pollen also sticks to our hair! My allergy doctor suggested I wash my hair each evening (and then not go back outside), to keep pollen away from my eyes and nose while I sleep. If you can’t wash your hair before bedtime, wipe it with a damp wash cloth to remove as much pollen as possible.
If no one in your family has allergies or asthma, you are blessed! Even so, you’ll find that you dust less often if you use these techniques to remove dust from your home.
For those with allergies to dust mites, special
mite-proof covers for pillows, mattresses and box springs will help. I’ve purchased all of these at Wal-Mart and at Target, so they are becoming more widely available and affordable. These newer covers are made from soft, tightly woven fibers, not like the old vinyl covers that were hot and crinkly!
I have used an online company that I can highly recommend for all types of allergy and asthma products from great dust-grabbing cloths, to De-Mite for the laundry, to encasings for my comforter and other bedding. They also have all types of filters, chemical free cleaning products and much more! My doctor recommended this company and I can honestly say in over 5 years of purchasing their products I have been most impressed with both their products and their friendly, helpful service. You can visit
National Allergy at
www.nationalallergy.com or call them at 1-800-522-1448. Their catalog is an education in itself.
For loads of helpful asthma information along with cleaning tips and a wealth of other information, contact
Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics at
www.breatherville.org (Click on Home Sweet Home) or call 1-800-878-4403.
The BEST book I’ve ever read on asthma is Dr. Tom Plaut’s “
Asthma Guide for People of All Ages.” It retails for $25, but I’ve seen it for a little less on Amazon. This book has truly been a lifesaver for me and is a reference you’ll use again and again. Worth every penny! You can read excerpts from the book and also order it from
www.pedipress.com.
Be sure to check back next month when I will share
two easy sauce recipes: one for sweet and sour sauce, the other for blueberry sauce that is heavenly on pancakes, French toast, or ice cream. June is blueberry picking month in north Florida and this blueberry recipe is one of our favorites! Both recipes use cornstarch and I’ll give tips and information on using this thickener.
Until next time ~
Yours in Him,
Copyright, 2005, Laurie Latour.
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