Spring has arrived to Southwestern Ontario. While that has many people happy to step outdoors once more, there are those who dread the coming of spring—namely, allergy sufferers. Spring allergies are typically caused by trees and the pollen they produce in the spring. Add to that the presence of mold from rotting leaves left behind from the winter and you have a tough combination of triggers for those prone to allergies. For those who suffer, that includes itchy, water eyes, congested and runny nose, coughing, sneezing, and even a sore throat. In extreme cases, it can even bring on asthma type symptoms, like difficulty breathing, and skin irritations, like hives or eczema. But did you know that inside your home is an even bigger allergen for far more people —Dust!
Tips to Reduce Dust in Your Home
While Load of Rubbish can’t do much about pollen, what we can do is remove other triggers for allergy sufferers. Approximately 20 million Americans are allergic to dust mites. We are pretty sure numbers are comparable in Canada. Dust mites are tiny bugs that live in your home that survive on dust from things like dead skin cells and pet dander. While it is impossible to remove all of them—humans constantly shed dead skin, as do pets with their dander—we can help remove other items that attract and hold difficult to remove dust particles.
- Get rid of wall to wall carpeting. Opt for area rugs that can be vacuumed, laundered or dry cleaned instead.
- Use pillow and mattress protectors, and wash bedding in hot water, followed by high temps in your dryer at least once a week.
- Vacuum upholstered furniture regularly. Don’t forget to get underneath and behind items.
- Use a damp cloth while dusting to prevent just moving dust around. Dust frequently.
- Consider replacing heavy drapes with roller blinds.
- Remove as many soft items as possible and wash them frequently in hot water to reduce dust mites.
- Reduce clutter to decrease the amount of dust that builds up.
While it might be an idea to have someone who doesn’t suffer from allergies do the cleaning, if you must, make sure to wear a mask while doing so to reduce exposure. Alternately, call in someone to help.
If you look around your home and see plenty of places wear dust mites may be lurking and want to tackle them in a big way, don’t be afraid to call in Load of Rubbish. Leave the dirty work to us! Point out the clutter, show us the worst dust offenders, and step back while we go to work. Allergies are never fun, but getting relief with a few easy steps, like purging, is one way to reduce your triggers.
As to the outside world, we can collect piles of junk in your yard too. Those unsightly piles are another potential home for allergen triggers. Get rid of what you can with the professional junk removal services you get from Load of Rubbish. Call us today to help reduce the amount of triggers in your home and breathe easier this spring.