Cleaning
your home properly to keep dust at bay is also important.
Many
people have allergies to “dust mites” - it is in fact the faeces
of the dust mites that cause problems.
Dust
is often a major trigger for asthmatics – usually for this reason.
Dust is also laden with many other particulates, depending on where you live. It often contains car exhaust, tyre dust, hair, skin cells, dirt... Dust and dander are a bit like a good train - it collects and carries with it anything and everything that is light.
What
to do??
- invest in microfibre cloths – these are fabulous as they usually just need the assistance of water to do a great job
- wet dust – use a wet dusting cloth (ideally microfibre) to clean off dust. Dry dusting just spreads it around and stirs it up
- if you have carpets, you will need to vacuum them regularly. If this is the case, ensure that your vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter. HEPA filters filter out about 99.9% of particulates. Very important stuff!
- avoid using mainstream cleaners – they are laden with chemicals and fragrances... stick to microfibre cloths, sodium bicarbonate and vinegar
- getting rid of mould – this is complex one, but I will touch on it briefly here...
- address and remedy the source (eg leak)
- vacuum the mould with a HEPA vacuum cleaner
- apply a vinegar solution and allow it to dry
- regularly wash bedding, toys and other “soft furnishings” - ideally dry everything in the sunshine
- get plants – they are fantastic
- open up your windows, exchange the air!
