Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

A Clean House Is A Healthy Home

by Barbara A. Holt, Ph.D

Clark County Extension Agent -

Family and Consumer Sciences

Cooperative Extension Service

A clean house can boost health as well as spirits, especially for 50 million allergy sufferers this time of year.

Sneezing, itching, runny nose and watery eyes can be caused by common allergens such as dust, mold, mildew and pollen. One of the easiest ways for allergy sufferers to reduce symptoms is to give the home a thorough cleaning, and in the cooler fall weather is a good time to do it.

Clean household surfaces, wash bedding, dust and vacuum to help reduce allergy symptoms, says Sharon Heidingsfelder, human environment specialist of the Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas. Be sure to read and follow directions on cleaning product labels for safe and effective use.

Here are some cleaning tips to reduce home allergens:

• Start with the bedroom. Launder all washable sheets, mattress covers, pillow and bed skirts, blankets and comforters. Flip mattresses and vacuum them. Many allergies are triggered by tiny dust mites in the bedding.

• Dust, dust, dust. Use a clean, soft cloth sprayed with dusting product. Dust stereo components, dust above and below the television set and remove books from shelves to wipe them well.

• Vacuum everywhere. Vacuum under the beds, couch and chairs, behind dressers, tables, refrigerator, oven, television and sterio. Remove cushions and vacuum underneath. And be sure to do the crevices of upholstery and lamp shades.

• Don't forget the carpets. Dirt not only aggravates allergies, it grinds into carpet fibers and weakens them. Vacuum carpets frequently and use a carpet cleaner to remove stains. Moisture promotes the growth of molds and other allergens, so keep carpets as dry as possible.

• Scrub the bathroom. Use a mildew stain remover on tubs and shower walls, and a hard water remover to take care of those crusty hard water mineral deposits.

• Clean the fridge. Old food can find its way into the back corners of the refrigerator. Pull out everything and wash shelves and storage bins with non-abrasive all-purpose cleaner or a solution of baking soda and water.

• Wash the floors. Wash vinyl and ceramic tile floors with a non- abrasive, all-purpose cleaner or a floor cleaner. Use a no-rinse product or rinse the floor well after cleaning. For really dirty floors, you may have to drop the mop and scrub. Use a wood cleaner on hardwood floors.

• Hit the closets. Pull out summer clothes and decide which ones need to be washed or dry cleaned before winter storage. Consider donating to charity anything you didn't wear in the spring or summemr. Don't forget to move shoes and vacuum the floor.

• Improve your vision. Fall is a perfact time to wash windows and screens. Use a glass cleaner or glass and multi-surface cleaner for non-streaking window cleaning. While screens let in the fresh air, they also collect a lot of dirt. Remove them from their tracks and line them up outside. Gently scrub them with a brush dipped in a solution of all-purpose cleaner and water. Hose them down and watch the dirt wash away.