ALLERGY BASICS
Learn what causes allergies and how to help reduce your exposure and symptoms.
Bedroom & Living Room
It’s amazing when you think about it — we spend approximately one-third of our lifetime asleep.1 And if you’re like most families, you also clock a lot of time on the couch. To enjoy your bedroom and living room with the intent to keep allergens under control, check out these cleaning tips for springtime and beyond.
Deep Clean for Spring2
- Use hypoallergenic bedding and zippered dust-mite covers on all pillows, mattresses and box springs to help reduce exposure to dust mites while you sleep. If possible, invest in washable slipcovers for upholstered furniture.
- Reduce clutter by removing and donating unused items that collect dust like books, knickknacks, large houseplants, wool blankets, wicker baskets filled with unread magazines and items under the bed.3
- Wash your pet’s bed and pay special attention to their favourite spots to curl up. For example, if the cat’s favourite perch is the windowsill, be sure to carefully clean all windowsills.
- Take stuffed animals for a spin in the dryer for at least one hour on the hot temperature setting to help reduce dust mites that have cozied up in their fluff over the winter.3
- Wash winter clothes to help remove allergens before stashing them away for the season. Cardboard holds moisture and is a food source for mould .
Keep It Clean Year-Round
- Wash pillow cases, sheets and blankets in 130°F/54°C water (or the “hot” setting) every week to help reduce dust mites and pet dander. Always follow washing directions.
- Use a damp cloth to clean all surfaces regularly. Don’t use a dry cloth or feather duster because they can stir up dust mites.
- Vacuum carpet and upholstery weekly. And be sure to use one with a HEPA filter to trap allergens that can pass through the vacuum’s exhaust.
- Ban the family pet from the bedroom to help reduce your exposure to pet dander as much as possible.
Bathroom
Mould spores thrive in warm, damp spaces like bathrooms. To help reduce these annoying allergens, follow these quick tips.
Deep Clean for Spring
- Scrub any visible mould with a cleaning solution made specially for mould removal and dry the surface completely.6
- Scour away soap scum that can build up on tiles and shower curtains—and serve as a breeding ground for mould spores.6
- Check and fix leaky pipes under the sink, in the shower and tub, and behind the toilet.6
Keep It Clean Year-Round
- Flip on the exhaust fan or open a window when showering to help reduce moisture buildup.
- Wipe away puddles of water right away on the sink and counter.7
DID YOU KNOW?
Mould spores like dark, damp spaces and shun the sun. So, try to keep your curtains or shades open during the day to let springtime sunshine indoors and help minimize mould growth.
Laundry Room
The heat and humidity that laundry rooms produce offer a prime place for mould spores to grow. Follow these simple tips to keep mould in check.
Deep Clean for Spring
- If you have a front-loading washing machine, check for mould growth and clean the rubber seal and inside of the door.8
- Make sure your clothes dryer is venting properly outside your home.8
Keep It Clean Year-Round
- Remove clothes from the washing machine right away and leave the door open when not in use to help reduce moisture and mould buildup.8
- Monitor the humidity level in the laundry room using a hygrometer, which you can find at most hardware stores. Aim to keep the humidity below 50%. If moisture levels start to climb, turn on a dehumidifier.9
REFERENCES
- Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Accessed December 26, 2017.
- Effect of freezing, hot tumble drying and washing with eucalyptus oil on house dust mites in soft toys. 'Pediatric Allergy Immunology', Chang C-F, Wu FF-S, Chen C-y, Crane J, Seibers R. 2011; Doi no: 10.1111/j.1399.2011.01144.
- Indoor Year-Round Allergies in Children. Smart Allergy Mom® Toolkit. Accessed September 27, 2017.
- Don’t Let Allergies Haunt Fall Fun. Claritin Blue Sky Living®. Accessed November 14, 2017.
- Swap Out Your Wardrobe for a New Spring Look. Claritin Blue Sky Living®. Accessed November 14, 2017.
- Watch Out for Summer Mold. Claritin Blue Sky Living®. Accessed November 14, 2017.
- Clean Up Your Laundry. Claritin Blue Sky Living®. Accessed November 11, 2017.
- Mold Allergy. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Accessed November 14, 2017.
- Your Home Can Be Your Castle—Despite Pesky Dust Allergens! Claritin Blue Sky Living. Accessed September 10, 2017.
