42 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • MARСH 5, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
Spring cleaning for spring allergies: 6 steps from the experts
As days grow longer and new
blooms appear, it can only mean
one thing: Spring is here and
with it comes the task of spring
cleaning. For people with allergies,
spring cleaning does more
than spruce up a home. When
done correctly, it removes dust,
mold, dander and other allergy
triggers so you can feel your
best.
“Th ere are specifi c things
you can do while cleaning
that can dramatically improve
allergy symptoms,” says Dr. J.
Allen Meadows, allergist and
president of the American
College of Allergy, Asthma and
Immunology. “When you spring
clean to remove allergens, you
can breathe easier plus enjoy a
sparkling home.”
Meadows and the experts at
ACAAI recommend these steps
when cleaning for allergies.
Before you begin, keep in mind
that when you clean you come
in contact with many allergens.
You may want to take allergy
medication beforehand and if
your allergy is severe, consider
wearing an N95 fi lter mask
while dusting or scrubbing.
Step 1: Dust thoroughly
Dust all surfaces in your home
with a damp rag or microfi -
ber cloth made for cleaning.
Avoid using any kind of duster
that simply kicks dust into
the air. Additionally, clean vents
and return registers to limit
dust recirculating and fi nish
by wet mopping tile and other
hard fl ooring. Don’t neglect
the area under the beds, which
can get dusty and should be
cleaned oft en. Eliminating dust
helps your home shine and also
removes some of the most notorious
indoor allergy triggers.
Step 2: Clean carpets
Start by moving all furniture
off the carpet. Th en vacuum well
with a cyclonic vacuum, which
spins dust and dirt away from
the fl oor, or a vacuum with a
HEPA (high effi ciency particulate
air) fi lter. Meadows does
not advise shampooing carpet,
because it can cause dust mite
eggs to hatch. If you are using
diluted bleach and water solution
for spot treatments or to kill
mold, make sure someone other
than the allergy suff erer does
the cleaning because bleach can
trigger asthma.
Step 3: Clean window
treatments
Window treatments like curtains
and valances can be a magnet
for dust and pollen yet are
oft en ignored when it comes
to cleaning. Th is spring, make
sure to follow the manufacturer’s
recommendations and wash
or dry clean window treatments.
Remember, opening windows
allows pollen and other allergens
into your home, so during
peak allergy season keep them
closed, and whenever possible,
use air conditioning in your car
and home.
Step 4: Wash bedding
Wash sheets, pillowcases and
blankets in water that is at least
130 degrees F. Th is temperature
kills dust mites and eff ectively
removes allergens. If bedding
can’t be washed at this hot
temperature, place items in the
dryer for at least 15 minutes at
130 degrees or above. For children
with allergies, do the same
with their stuff ed animals.
Step 5: Replace air fi lters
At the start of every season
change the air fi lter in your furnace.
Th is helps the HVAC system
run effi ciently while also fi ltering
out air particles -including
allergens - to keep your
home’s air as clean as possible.
Consider setting an alarm for
every three months as a reminder
and use fi lters with a MERV
rating of 11 or 12. Th is is also a
good time to clean the drip pans
in appliances like the refrigerator.
Step 6. Control humidity
Bathrooms, basements and
tiled spaces are prone to mold,
so spring is a good time to deep
clean. A bleach cleaner works
well to eliminate mold or make
your own by mixing borax and
water. Next, help prevent mold
from developing through moisture
control. Always run bathroom
fans when bathing or
showering, clean up any standing
water immediately and use
a dehumidifi er if needed to keep
humidity below 60%.
“Spring cleaning is a great
step in allergy control,” says
Meadows. “However, if you
continue to suff er from allergy
or asthma symptoms, see a
board-certifi ed allergist to help
you control your symptoms
and live the life you want. You
can fi nd an allergist near you at
acaai.org/locate-an-allergist.”
— Courtesy of BPT
/WWW.QNS.COM
/locate-an-allergist
