How to Tackle Seasonal Allergies with Proper Cleaning

Seasonal allergies can be a significant disruption to everyday life, leaving many of us sneezing, sniffling, and feeling miserable. Fortunately, one effective way to reduce these symptoms is by maintaining a tidy home environment. Whether you live in Clive or elsewhere, house cleaning can help you tackle seasonal allergies. 

Once you learn what you should pay attention to and which techniques to use, you’ll drastically reduce the intensity of your symptoms. Detailed professional cleaning is the key to avoiding allergy triggers in your home.

How can I keep my house allergy-free?

Here’s what you need to pay attention to:

1. Understand your enemy

Allergens such as pollen, dust mites, and pet dander are the usual culprits behind seasonal allergy symptoms. Pollen tends to be the most problematic, especially during spring and fall when trees, grasses, and weeds are in full bloom. Knowing which allergens affect you can help tailor your maintenance routine to be more effective.

2. Keep pollen outside

Since pollen can be brought into your home on clothes, shoes, and pets, you’ll need to limit its entry:

• Use doormats, both outside and inside the door. Encourage everyone to wipe their shoes thoroughly.
• Remove shoes at the door to prevent spreading pollen inside the house.
• Change clothes after being outdoors to minimize the amount of pollen you bring inside.
• Shower before bed to wash off any pollen from your body and hair, keeping your bedding clean.

3. Regularly clean and dust your home

Regular hygiene maintenance is the key to controlling allergens:

• Dust with a damp cloth: This method helps capture more dust and prevents it from scattering into the air.
• Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter: Vacuum carpets, rugs, and upholstery regularly to pick up dust mites and pollen that have settled on these surfaces. A vacuum with a HEPA filter is particularly effective as it can trap small particles that other vacuums would recirculate into the air.
• Wash bedding weekly in hot water: This helps kill dust mites and remove allergens that cling to fabric.

4. Maintain indoor air quality

Improving the air quality inside your home can also relieve allergy symptoms:

• Use air purifiers: Placing air purifiers in key areas, especially the bedroom, can help remove airborne allergens.
• Keep windows closed: This is especially important on high pollen days. Use air conditioning in your home and car to keep cool instead of opening windows.
• Regularly replace air filters: Replace the air filters in your heating and air conditioning replaced every 90 days, or more often if you have pets or a high pollen count in your area.

5. Control humidity in your home

Dust mites and mold love moisture, so keeping your home’s humidity around 30-50% can help reduce their presence.

• Use dehumidifiers: This is especially important in damp areas of your home, like basements.
• Fix leaks: Promptly repairing any plumbing leaks will prevent moisture accumulation and mold growth.
• Ventilate bathrooms and kitchens: Use exhaust fans to reduce humidity while cooking and bathing.

6. Tend to areas often overlooked

Certain areas in the home are often overlooked but can harbor indoor allergens:

• Clean curtains and blinds: These can collect dust and pollen. Wash or vacuum them regularly.
• Deep clean the bathroom: Mold can develop in damp areas. Regularly cleaning tiles, walls, and ceilings can help prevent mold growth.
• Don’t forget the little things: Light fixtures, ceiling fans, and other overhead surfaces can accumulate dust and should be cleaned regularly.

7. Consider professional cleaning

If allergies are a severe problem in your household, consider hiring professional cleaners who can deep clean your home periodically. They have the necessary hygiene maintenance skills to tackle deep-seated dirt and allergens that you might miss. To maintain your space between their visits, organize your supplies so you can access them easily and take care of your space bit by bit every day.

Where in Clive and the surrounding area can I find reliable house cleaning?

Look no further than phClean. With a strong track record of success and years of experience behind us, we’re your reliable choice when you need a sparkling home. Our experienced pros know exactly what to do to make your home fresh and eliminate the traces of any allergy triggers in your home. Whether you live next to the Clive Greenbelt Trail or in another part of Clive, our experts are here to assist you. Reach out to us today to book your appointment!

How to Maintain a Clean Home with Pets

Pets bring immeasurable joy and companionship to our lives, but they also bring something a little less delightful: messes. From shedding fur and stray litter to muddy paw prints and occasional accidents, pets can challenge even the most diligent of cleaners. Keeping your home tidy with pets is not just about removing visible dirt. 

Like other homeowners in Clive who rely on professional house cleaning services, you should also know how important regular maintenance is for the health and well-being of both pets and their owners. Let’s explore effective strategies to help pet owners maintain a fresh and welcoming home.

How do people with pets keep their houses clean?

For pet owners, maintaining a tidy home requires a combination of routine maintenance practices and some pet-specific strategies. Here’s how you can keep your living spaces tidy and hygienic, even with furry friends around:

Regular grooming: Frequent brushing helps reduce shedding by removing loose fur before it has a chance to scatter around your home. Depending on the breed, more regular grooming may be necessary.

Pet-friendly furniture: Opt for furniture that is easy to clean and resistant to pet hair. Materials like leather or tightly woven fabrics can be more manageable than velvety textures that trap hair and dander.

Protective covers and throws: Use washable covers on furniture where your pets like to lounge. This makes maintenance easier and helps keep the underlying furniture fresh.

Immediate clean up: Address pet spills and accidents immediately to prevent stains and odors from setting in. Having a pet-specific cleaning kit ready can be very helpful.

Strategic placement of pet beds and toys: Keep pet beds, feeding stations, and toys in areas that are easy to take care of. Placing a mat under feeding bowls can also help contain spills.

Routine sweeping and vacuuming: Invest in a good vacuum designed to handle pet hair and dander. Vacuuming several times a week and daily sweeping can significantly reduce pet debris.

Air quality management: Use air purifiers to capture airborne pet dander and reduce odors, which are common in homes with pets.

Litter box care: For cat owners, maintaining the litter box is non-negotiable. Scoop daily, change litter regularly, and keep the area around the litter box fresh and odor-free.

Floor mopping: Use pet-safe cleaning products to mop the floors. Sort all of your supplies so you can easily find what you need. This not only keeps the floors fresh but also ensures that no harmful chemicals affect your pets.

How often should you clean your house with pets?

The frequency of maintenance will largely depend on the number, type, and habits of your pets. Here’s a general guideline that you can use as an idea of where to start:

Daily: Sweep floors to remove fur and dirt, especially in high-traffic areas. Scoop the litter box and remove any pet waste immediately.

Weekly: Vacuum all carpets and furniture, wash pet bedding, and wash covers or throws. This is also a good time to wash all pet toys and grooming tools.

Monthly: Deep clean the entire house, focusing on areas like under the furniture and other hard-to-reach spots where pet hair and dirt may accumulate. Check and replace filters in air purifiers and HVAC systems to maintain good air quality. This is especially important if you’re prone to allergies.

Where in Clive and the surrounding area can I find dependable house cleaning services?

Don’t let pet messes dampen the joy your furry friends bring into your home. phClean is here to help you keep your home consistently fresh and tidy, no matter how many pets you have. Our experienced and dedicated professionals know how to make every corner of your home shine, and you won’t have to lift a finger. Whether you reside in Clive or the neighboring Urbandale, we’re at your disposal. Get in touch today and schedule an appointment!