Spring Clean Your Way to a Healthy Home
Is there something about the onset of spring that makes you want to throw open the windows, toss out the clutter and deep clean your home? If so, you’ve been bitten by the spring-cleaning bug – and that’s a good thing! The urge to freshen up your living space with the change of season has many health benefits; not only do you burn calories as you polish the floors and wash the windows, but you’re clearing away the mold, pollen and dust mites that can stir up allergens and make you sick. This spring, as you pull out your cleaning tools and prepare to work your way to a fresher, healthier home, be sure to keep the following tips in mind:
Use the right supplies
There are a lot of different products on the market that are designed for home cleaning. Unfortunately, many of them are made with chemicals that can negatively affect your health. According to the American Lung Association, you should avoid cleaning products that contain volatile organic compounds (VOC), fragrances, irritants and flammable ingredients. If a product is labeled as “natural” or “green”, double check to see if the packaging contains a seal of approval from an independent, third-party organization, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or EWG. In the long run, it’s better to stick to simple solutions like warm water and soap for disinfecting, baking soda for scrubbing and vinegar and water for cleaning glass. Remember to never mix bleach and ammonia products, as this could cause chronic breathing problems and even death.
It’s also important to pay attention to the cleaning tools you use. Feather dusters and brooms can stir up dust, so opt for an electrostatic cloth or a sponge instead. When cleaning rugs, it’s best to use a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter, as it can help improve air quality by trapping allergens rather than releasing them into the air. If you’re tackling a particularly dusty or moldy space, like the garage or attic, make sure you wear a mask and rubber gloves.
Focus on areas that don’t get cleaned regularly
Vacuuming, laundry and dusting are chores that should be done on a weekly basis, but when was the last time you washed your curtains, shampooed your rugs or sanitized your child’s toys? If you can’t remember, it’s OK – we all have spaces or items in our home that don’t get cleaned on a regular basis (we’re looking at you, top of the fridge). Spring cleaning is a great time to tackle those “out of sight, out of mind” areas that don’t rank at the top of our weekly cleaning regimen. Go from room to room and jot down the areas that need attention, then work your way through the list.
Seek out items that need replaced
Items that we use every day, such as pillows, hand towels and bathmats, can become bacterial breeding grounds over time, even if we wash them regularly. If these items are more than two years old, it’s time to toss and replace. Other everyday items, such as shower liners, bath toys, toilet brushes and make-up, have an even shorter life span and should be replaced every couple of months. While you’re in the pitching mood, make sure to also check and replace the batteries in your smoke detector and pop some new filters in the furnace.