The fall season brings us cooler weather, which can be a welcome relief after a particularly hot summer, but it also brings dust mites, pollen, moisture, mould, and other irritants that can significantly worsen allergies.
It’s also the peak ragweed season as people begin closing their windows and spending more time inside. With ragweed plants capable of producing up to one billion pollen grains per season, allergens can quickly become a concern both outside and inside the home.
Let’s look at a few important habits and areas to keep in mind when cleaning for allergies that can help reduce allergens in your home and make your air more pleasant to breathe.
Keep Ragweed Pollen Out of Fabrics
Ragweed pollen is very easy to track inside homes. It can enter by attaching to your shoes, hair, clothing, and pets. Once inside, it settles into bedding, carpets, sofas, upholstered furniture, and other surfaces that contain fabric.
After spending an extended time outside, it’s a good idea to take a quick shower and change your clothes. Furniture and carpets should be cleaned with a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter. Bedding doesn’t need to be cleaned every day, but it should be washed on a regular basis, too.
Reduce Allergens in the Bedroom
Dust mites tend to thrive in warm, humid environments, which means they can easily make their homes inside of your bedrooms and are often found on or in pillows, bedding, mattresses, and carpets.
Remember to wash your bedding regularly, and allergen-proof covers should be used wherever possible. All surfaces, especially carpets and rugs, should be vacuumed thoroughly. You’ll also want to check your indoor humidity and make sure it’s under 50% when possible.
If you have children or pets with stuffed toys (or if you have some yourself!), dust mites can easily hide in those fabrics too. Check the tag to see if they’re machine washable or, if not, a quick bath in the hottest water it can stand (ideally above 54 degrees Celsius) will kill any dust mites.
You’ll also want to use your HEPA-filter vacuum around the bed, along baseboards, and under furniture to get allergens that might be hiding. As much as we all love cuddling with our furry friends, it’s best to keep pets off of your bedding during peak allergy season, as they can track all sorts of things and leave them behind.
Watch for Mould as Temperatures Drop
With the cooler fall temperatures comes an increase in condensation inside your home, especially around windows, pipes, bathrooms, basements, exterior walls, and other places where water tends to accumulate or pass through.
According to Health Canada, mould can start to grow within 48 hours in moist areas inside homes, which means it’s important to stay on top of wet spots and problem areas before mould gets out of hand.
Condensation on windows and window sills should be removed quickly. After taking a shower, the bathroom exhaust fan is a great way to reduce moisture levels, too. If you start to smell something musty, don’t ignore it. The mould situation will not improve with time.
Pay Extra Attention to the Bathroom
Unsurprisingly, your bathroom has some of the highest humidity levels in your home. Water from sinks, toilets, and showers adds moisture to the air, which can settle onto surfaces. Damp caulking, grout, window sills, and shower tracks can lead to mould growth.
After bathing, keep surfaces as dry as possible and try to improve ventilation, either by opening a window or turning on the bathroom exhaust fan (depending on the outside temperature). Make sure to clean commonly missed areas before odours and mould can settle in.
Having a rug in your bathroom can be a great way to avoid stepping on cold floors, but it also makes a nice home for dust mites, pet hair, and dander. They should be washed regularly with the rest of your laundry to prevent allergens, mould, or odours from settling in.
Don’t Forget the Living Room
Although the living room will have less moisture than a bathroom or a kitchen, it’s also a common place for allergens to hide. Sofas, curtains, rugs, and cushions make a great home for these irritants to settle in below the surface.
Use your HEPA-filter vacuum under cushions, around baseboards, and on upholstered furniture. Throws and removable covers should be washed when possible. Nearby surfaces should be dusted with a damp microfibre cloth, too.
Don’t forget to vacuum under all of the furniture, too. Free-standing cabinets or other items with legs that have small gaps between the bottom and your carpet might not be seen by you or your guests, but allergens can easily be concealed on your carpet in these areas, especially if the gap is only an inch or less.
Control Indoor Humidity
Controlling the humidity inside your home is essential for preventing dust mites and mould from growing and spreading. A hygrometer is a device that measures indoor humidity and can be used to monitor your home’s moisture levels.
They’re often found on dehumidifiers, which are also relatively inexpensive and a great way to stay on top of things. Exhaust fans can also recirculate air and make sure your home doesn’t become too inviting for mould or dust mites.
If you notice any condensation, leaks, or damp areas in your home, they should be addressed right away. Mould, mildew spots, and other allergens can appear quickly, even in smaller areas where you might ordinarily think “Oh, it’s just a small area, I’ll take care of it later.”
Small Fall Cleaning Habits Make a Difference
The most important part of cleaning for allergies during fall cleaning is targeting the right areas as soon as possible. These include fabric surfaces, bedding, windows, bathrooms, and other moisture-prone areas.
Regular cleaning reduces the amount of dust and pollen in your home as well as preventing mould from starting to form. Staying on top of things can stop buildup from making things unmanageable and make your home easier to maintain throughout autumn and winter.
By following these simple fall cleaning tips, you can keep your home’s air fresh and as allergen-free as possible. If you need a little extra help or you have mould that keeps coming back, consider setting up an appointment with a professional cleaning service. They can help identify problem areas and get things back under control.
Get Your Home Ready for Fall With UrbanMop
Are you prepared for the changing season? As windows start closing and more time is spent indoors, pollen, dust, pet hair, and other allergens can become harder to ignore.
UrbanMop puts in the extra effort to clean the areas where allergens like to collect. For a thorough cleaning this fall season, book a home cleaning with UrbanMop and stay ahead of dust, pollen, and allergens this autumn.