It’s spring cleaning time again! And although most people associate this yearly ritual with doing “a full sweep” of their home from floor to ceiling to get things fresh and ready for the warm weather months, there’s actually a very good reason beyond just neatness and cleanliness to pull out the mops and wring out the sponges: eliminating your home of allergens, particularly for those suffering from allergies and asthma. Spring cleaning is about health and hygiene, too!

Luckily, we no longer have to beat our rugs with a broom or air out our linens over a clothesline or tie rags to poles to wash down the walls like our grandmothers did. These days, we have an array of convenient and affordable products and tools at our disposal to help us swiftly and successfully dispose of allergy- and asthma-inducing agents, including disposable wipes, replaceable wet/dry mop cloths, spray disinfectants, lightweight vacuums, and rentable steam cleaners. So set aside a weekend to attend to a top-to-bottom spring cleaning to keep your household both sanitized and safe.

Here are some tips to make the best use of your time in the most targeted areas, starting with two things to keep in mind: (1) make sure the cleaning products you use aren’t allergy or asthma triggers themselves and (2) if you’d rather keep that weekend to yourself, call in a professional company to tackle your spring cleaning for you!

• Ceilings: Take advantage of extension rods and poles to wipe down your ceilings and loosen the dust and cobwebs lurking in corners and crevices. You don’t have to capture every last bit with your mop or vacuum attachment—you can sweep up anything that falls to the floor later.
• Walls: Next, proceed to your walls, using a dampened dust mop to wipe them all clean, starting from the top and swiping downward. Again, you can later vacuum up anything that falls to the floor.
• Nooks & Crannies: Now it’s time to manually reach wherever and whatever you didn’t already capture—spaces behind furniture, in back of the refrigerator, the backs of the shelves in your curio cabinet. You know where those pesky areas are that stay hidden but should still be accessed every now and then!
• Carpets & Floors: Vacuum all wall-to-wall carpets, area rugs, and throw rugs thoroughly to suck up all the loose debris that’s been collecting in them all winter. If you have wood or tile floors, it’s time to fully mop them. Thereafter, do touch-up vacuuming and mopping weekly to stay on top of everything your family walks upon.
• Curtains: Once a year, you should remove your curtains and wash them. If that’s not practical or possible for heavy drapes, use your vacuum’s attachments to reach into folds and pleats, where dust is often trapped and overlooked. If heavily soiled, it’s worth a trip to a professional cleaner’s to breathe new life into your window dressings.
• Linens: Once the curtains are drying, keep the washer running for all your bedding linens in every room. This includes cleaning pillows, mattress pads, and bedskirts. Dust mites love to hide there, so before reassembling your bedding, consider purchasing dust-mite-proof covers for your pillows and mattresses.
• Knickknacks: All the little things that make a house a home? The statues and figurines, the picture frames and pottery, the souvenirs and collectibles? They can be BIG dust collectors. Turn on some tunes and wipe every single piece of bric-a-brac down with a dust rag or damp cloth. Vinegar works great on glass surfaces.
• Windows: Save the biggie for last so you can look forward to looking both out of and into your home through gleaming windows once your annual deep cleaning is done. This requires cleaning your windowpanes inside and out since smudges and buildup collect on each side. And don’t forget to remove the screens and hose them down too, getting off all the pollen and outdoor pollutants.

Spring cleaning is a big effort, but it has a big payoff—especially for your family’s respiratory systems. You can do it yourself, or you can call in some experts to help. We’d be happy to be at your service!

Home Services Enterprise  |  301-674-9564  |  www.homeservicesenterprise.com

Those who suffer from seasonal allergies know to avoid the outdoors, with all its triggers and irritants, at particular times of the year. But did you know that staying indoors presents its own set of dangers? If you have pets, for example, animal dander is likely present in your home, which can set off sneezing and coughing, as can mold and mildew. House plants, draperies, bedding, carpets—these can all contain mold as well, along with dust mites that cause swelling and itching.

The first step in combating indoor allergens is to open your windows and doors to let the stale air out and the fresh air in. You’ll also want to use fans to keep the air circulating throughout your home.

There’s more you can do to prevent health issues and allergy flare-ups by reducing the allergens in your home:

• Check the moisture in your home. Moisture is one of the main contributors to allergens because high moisture levels can lead to mildew in your home. The best way to keep the air clean and dry is by using air-conditioning and dehumidifiers. Also remember to regularly change the air filters in the furnace to purify the air and filter out allergens.
• Clean curtains and carpets. Window coverings, carpeting, and all kinds of upholstery collect dust and allergens over time. Vacuuming regularly and having them professionally cleaned occasionally to remove dirt and dust will cut back on the allergens and keep your furniture and carpets smelling fresher. If the carpeting is the main source of your allergens, you may want to consider removing it entirely and replacing it with tile or wood floors.
• Change cleaning solutions. Fumes and odors from over-the-counter cleaning products can often cause breathing problems for allergy sufferers. Green products, however, use natural and organic ingredients that don’t carry the same risk. Or make your own tried-and-true cleaning solution of vinegar, baking soda, and hot water. Going green with your cleaners will not only improve the air quality in your home, it will neutralize various allergens lurking in it.

Home Services Enterprise uses all green cleaning products to keep the air in your home fresh and the environment clean. Book a cleaning today: www.homeservicesenterprise.com  |  301-674-9564