Judy Hetterman

 

What do singer Billy Joel, marathon runner Alberto Salazar, actress Sharon Stone and political activist the Rev. Jesse Jackson have in common? They are all people who didn’t let asthma stop them from achieving success in their chosen fields. And if you or a loved one suffers from asthma, it shouldn’t hold you back either.
Asthma attacks are triggered by tiny airborne particles called allergens. These allergens lurk in dust mites, animal dander, cockroaches and their droppings, mold and mildew, and pollen. So with the spring cleaning season upon us, there’s no better time than now to concentrate on cleaning practices that can reduce the amount of allergens in the home, declares Nancy Bock, Vice President of Education at The Soap and Detergent Association.
Clear Out the Clutter
When it comes to clutter, “collecting dust” is no idle phrase. Having lots of stuff around—like piles of mail, stacks of paper grocery bags, newspapers and knick knacks—provides welcoming places for dust and its allergens to accumulate and for mold, mildew and cockroaches to live and grow.
Keep small items, like CDs tapes, DVDs, books, figurines and stuffed animals, in enclosed storage containers, drawers or closed cabinets.
Toss old newspapers and magazines. Set a limit: one week for newspapers; three months for magazines. If you hold them longer for recycling, get a closed storage container or move them to the garage.
Get rid of that under-cabinet stash of grocery bags. Insects love to live in them, crawl through them, and leave allergens behind. If they’re damp, mold grows in them, too.
Delete the Dust
Regular dusting and vacuuming, along with some wise decorating choices, can help control the dust mite population.
Dust furniture regularly using a furniture dusting product. Dusting with a dry cloth just spreads the dust around.
Vacuum and wet-mop floors weekly. Use an upright vacuum or a canister style with a power nozzle—they pick up two to six times as much dust from a rug as canisters without a power nozzle.
Use special dust mite-proof covers, sometimes called “allergy impermeable” covers, to keep dust from going through pillows and mattresses. Wipe covers with a damp cloth every week.
Avoid wall-to-wall carpeting, especially in bedrooms. Instead, use small, washable rugs and launder them weekly. If you can’t avoid carpeting, choose a short, tight weave to minimize dust accumulation and make cleaning easier.
Choose lightweight, washable curtains instead of heavy draperies.
When buying furniture, consider hard or smooth, easily-cleaned surfaces (wood, vinyl, leather or laminate) instead of upholstery. In the bedroom, omit unnecessary fabric surfaces, such as upholstered headboards, bed canopies, dust ruffles, and throw pillows.
Rub Out the Mildew
Moist, humid surfaces are the climate of choice for mold and mildew. Look for and eliminate sources of excess moisture, including leaks and high indoor humidity.
Use the exhaust fan when bathing, showering or cooking.
Keep the areas around faucets and handles and under sinks clean and dry.
Use a nonabrasive, all-purpose or antibacterial cleaner on shower stalls and bathtubs. Check for soap scum; if necessary, use a soap scum remover.
Shower curtains are a favorite breeding ground for mold/mildew. Most shower curtains can be laundered using detergent and liquid household bleach. Check the care label on fabric shower curtains. For vinyl ones, scrub heavily mildewed areas with liquid bleach or mildew remover before laundering.
Hidden Germs
Be aware of everyday places where germs hide out.
Even in the cleanest of homes, there are unexpected places where germs hide out. Some of these hiding places may even be the result of well-intentioned cleaning practices. Bock has some suggestions for spotting germs that have gone undercover:
•Sponges. You mop up a spill with a sponge, rinse it out, and sew it next to the sink to dry. Or you keep using the same sponge over and over to clean dirty pots and pans. Sponges should be washed and disinfected regularly. One way is to soak them for five minutes in a solution of 3⁄4 cup chlorine bleach and one gallon of water. Rinse and air dry.
An even easier solution is to run them through the dishwasher. Rotate your sponges so that as soon as the dishwasher is emptied, you can tuck a dirty sponge into the silverware basket where it’s ready and waiting to be cleaned. If you don’t have a silverware basket, a small, plastic dishwasher basket (the type that’s sold for cleaning children’s cups, toys and utensils) is an ideal alternative.
•Hand-held vacuum cleaners. That handy little vacuum that’s great for quick crumb pickup can be a nesting place for germs if you leave food particles sitting in the bag. When you’re finished cleaning up, open the vacuum, remove the dirt receptacle and dump the crumbs in the trash. Brush off the filter to remove any additional food particles.
•Sink overflow. Bathroom sinks usually have small drainage holes located near the rim. If the sink is overfilled, the water drains into these holes and through a small passageway into the trap. Smelly, sludge-like material can build up in this passageway. To clean, mix a solution of liquid detergent and very hot water and pour it down the overflow holes. If you can see the sludge, loosen it with a stiff brush, and then rinse it away. If a musty smell persists, mix a solution of one cup of chlorine bleach with one gallon of water and pour it through the holes. Rinse thoroughly with plain water.
Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.