Home Cleaning Tips for Allergy Sufferers

For allergy sufferers in Palm Beach Gardens, North Palm Beach and Jupiter, keeping a clean home can reduce allergens, but some cleaning products can actually trigger allergy-like symptoms.

People with allergies should make house chores part of their allergy management plans. Cleaning reduces the amount of allergens (substances you are allergic to) in your home, which can help alleviate your allergy symptoms. If you are able, look for a professional cleaning service with expertise in cleaning with steam and or other non-toxic, allergy safe products.

But be careful that your cleaning efforts don’t backfire, since many cleaning products can cause allergy-like symptoms for some.

Cleaning products don’t cause allergies, however using the wrong cleaning product can act as trigger.
Symptoms of Allergy Irritation

Symptoms of irritation that can be caused by cleaning products include:

Sneezing
Itchy, watery eyes
Congestion
Asthma attack, wheezing
Skin rash

Who Should Clean?

The best way to avoid irritation from cleaning products is to have someone in the household who does not have allergies do the cleaning. Even the act of cleaning, especially doing things like sweeping, can trigger an allergic reaction, because it stirs up dust and other allergens. Use a professional housekeeping and maid service whenever possible. According to Bryan Akner, president of Clean Extreme Pro of Palm Beach Gardens Florida, it may be best in extreme cases to have the allergy sufferer to leave the house during the cleaning process, especially while vacuum cleaning if the home is not equipped with a central vacuum cleaning system which evacuates 100% of dust and odors from living areas.

However, if you suffer from allergies and must do the cleaning in your home, it can help to use products that are less likely to cause allergy symptoms.

First, a word or two on what not to use.
Home Cleaning: Products to Avoid

It’s best to avoid using cleaning products that contain harsh, potentially irritating chemicals. Common home cleaning chemical ingredients that can be irritating include:

Formaldehyde
Ammonia
Sodium lauryl sulphate
D-limonene
Sodium hypochlorite

These chemicals are found in many cleaning products, including:

Furniture polish
Disinfectants
Mildew removers
Dish detergents
Dish soaps
Laundry detergents
Fabric softeners
All-purpose cleaners
Drain, oven, and glass cleaners

Learn to read labels and stay away from cleaning agents that have these ingredients.
Products to Use for Home Cleaning

For allergy sufferers, the best types of cleaning products are those that are non-toxic. “Green” cleaning products can be better for those with allergies, but read the labels carefully, as some of these products still contain irritating substances.
Proper housekeeping can reduce allergens, but some cleaning products can actually trigger allergy-like symptoms.

“If your not using a professional cleaning service the bottom line is that baking soda and vinegar can get just about anything cleaned, in different concentrations for different uses,” says Bryan Akner of Clean Extreme Pro. “You can use white vinegar and baking soda almost anywhere, really, and it doesn’t have that ‘off’ odor that a lot of cleaning supplies have.” But, warns Akner, “You never mix bleach with vinegar or bleach with ammonia.” Of course a professional housekeeping and maid service has access to more efficient non-toxic and allergy friendly cleaning products as well as the top choice of allergists, steam cleaning.

Ackner suggests:

Vinegar and salt for a surface cleaner
Baking soda and water to clean baby bottles
Baking soda on carpeting to remove scents or odors
Olive oil or lemon juice with vegetable oil for furniture care

Tips to Reduce Allergens at Home

There is really no way to completely eliminate allergens in your home, Akner says, so try not to obsess.

That said, allergy sufferers can benefit from regular home cleaning to reduce indoor allergens, including molds, pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and cockroach droppings.

Here are cleaning tasks you may want to add to your regular routine:

Reducing dust-collecting clutter
Regularly vacuuming carpeted floors with a double-bag or HEPA filter vacuum
Regularly washing blankets and throw rugs
Washing all bed linens in hot water every week
Keeping counter surfaces clean and dry
Not leaving food around, and storing food in sealed containers

Taking a few simple steps to keep dust to a minimum, preventing molds from growing, and controlling cockroaches and other pests may help minimize your allergy symptoms.

If you live in the North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens or Jupiter Florida or surrounding areas, get in touch with Clean Extreme Pro for the very best in housekeeping and maid services for allergy sufferers.