‘Tis the season for allergy symptoms! Thoroughly cleaning your home can help reduce the effects of heightened pollen and other allergens like dust, mould and dust mites.

Allergies can worsen during the spring months because pollen in the air becomes more frequent. Cleaning your home on a regular basis can help remove a lot of allergens, but during this time of year, we suggest doing a deep clean of your home to reduce as many allergens as possible and help relieve symptoms.

Deep cleaning your home can be time-consuming but we suggest tackling one section at a time. It might sound tedious but if you suffer from allergies, it will be worth it.


Tackling the Dust
The best way to dust your home is to work from top to bottom, literally. Start with the items at the highest point of the room like ceiling fans and tops of cabinets and work your way downwards. This way, any dust that falls off the top items gets dealt with by the time you vacuum.

Using microfiber materials instead of cotton or paper towels will help trap more dust particles. When vacuuming, it is recommended to use a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filtered vacuum or a double-layered bag to help trap allergens in the machine.

Ideally, dusting and vacuuming should be done on a weekly basis to prevent major buildup, but now is the time to get all the spots you normally skip like behind the couch or on top of the fridge.


Dealing with Dust Mites
No matter how clean a house is, there will be dust mites in some of the bedding and furniture. Thankfully, there are ways to reduce the number of dust mites at any given time.

High temperatures usually help remove dust mites, so make sure to follow a proper cleaning regimen for your sheets, pillows and duvets. It’s also a good spring cleaning idea to do the larger-scale cleaning like cleaning your mattress cover or steam cleaning your upholstered pieces of furniture.

Don’t forget about the stuffed animals! Send them all to the dryer for at least one hour on the hottest temperature setting.

To help reduce dust mites throughout the year, opt for allergy-free synthetic materials for mattress toppers and pillow covers (they go on your pillow underneath your nice linens).


Removing the Mould
While not a seasonal allergen, mould should still be dealt with during a deep clean of your home to avoid any negative side effects.

Mould often appears in high-humidity areas like the bathroom, the basement, and outside-facing windows. Front-loading washing machines can also be problematic with mould build up inside the door, around the rubber seal.

Wear gloves and a mask to deal with mould. You should scrub any visible mould or mould-loving areas with a specialized cleaning solution. This includes the soap build-up on shower walls and window tracks.

Larger mould issues should be dealt with by a specialist.

To help prevent the build-up of mould throughout the year, make sure to always turn on ventilation fans, fix any leaky pipes, and wipe away little puddles of water as soon as they appear like in the shower or around the faucet.


Other Deep Cleaning Tips for Allergens:
Clutter: Reducing clutter will help remove areas where dust can settle. Removing the clutter removes these dust build-up areas and allows easier access to the vacuum and dusters.

Winter clothes: If you’re putting your winter clothes away for the season, make sure to wash them before packing them away. Conversely, wash your spring and summer clothes after taking them out of storage. Also, try to avoid using cardboard boxes for storage as they can hold moisture and cause problems. Use fully-sealed plastic bins or zippered vacuum bags instead.

Pets: Your pet can be a major source of allergens so make sure to clean their favourite spots regularly to remove dander, fur, dust and dust mites. Grooming your pet on a regular basis will also help reduce dander and fur around the house. If your allergies get really bad, try to wipe your dog down with a wet cloth every time they enter the house after a walk.

Carpets: Ideally, carpets should be cleaned professionally at least once a year. Realistically, make sure you’re including them in your vacuum regimen and use a steam cleaner if possible.

Outdoor to indoor: There are many ways you can bring pollen into your home during this high allergen season. Inside and outside doormats can help trap pollen. Change your clothes, wash your hands and face, and wipe down your shoes. Avoid hang-drying clothing and linens outdoors during days where there is a large amount of pollen.


Have any other deep cleaning tricks to combat allergies? Let us know over on instagram by tagging @linenchest and be part of the conversation!