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Honestly, I’m finding it almost unbelievable that spring is just about upon us. I love spring. I love the sun and the flowers and everything green and pretty. And then the proverbial allergies. I don’t love those. Although there is not much we can do about the allergens in the outdoor air, we can do something about our indoor air quality.
For the most part our homes have been shut up pretty tight all winter long. Unfortunately, that means dust, pollen, pet dander, and general yuck have collected in our homes. The places these things collect are in all the soft surfaces in our homes. They collect in our upholstery, carpets, nooks and crannies and in the air ducts. In order to truly start spring off fresh, all of these things needs to be cleaned. You can do all of these things yourself with the exception of the air duct cleaning. Of course, you can get help with all of it but air duct cleaning is not something you should attempt yourself. Make sure you check reviews and pay attention to the way the ducts are cleaned. It is very important.
Start spring off right. Get to all those things that need your attention and don’t forget the air ducts. Give your indoor air a fighting chance!
Honestly, I can’t even believe Spring is so quickly approaching. Time seems to move so fast. The winter has been fierce at times but spring is definitely on the horizon. For many it brings thoughts of warmer air, loads of sunshine and a chance to breathe it all in…outside. For others it brings thoughts of the “spring cleaning” that looms ahead. The term “spring cleaning” has all different connotations for people. Some love it, others dread it. Whichever category you may fall into, please don’t forget to think about your indoor air.
To many, the best part of spring cleaning is getting rid of all the dust and such that has gathered through the fall and winter from having things closed up to tightly. In spring, we throw open the windows and let some of that fresh air in. That is actually great for your indoor breathing atmosphere.
A few more things that might be helpful:
Consider incorporating some live plants into your home. These plants work to keep your air clean without you having to do anything but water them.
Perhaps spring is a time to consider the types of cleaning products you use. Anytime you can exchange a chemical-laden product for something more natural is a win for your indoor air.
Since it’s spring cleaning your cleaning routine may be particularly deep. Paying particular attention to doorknobs, window sills and tracks, baseboards, etc. That is also a definite win for your indoor air.
Throwing all those sheer curtains and even the shower curtains in for a good wash will go a long way as well.
Honestly, anything that will rid your home of the dust, mold and dander during this time of refreshing and renewing is a WIN for your indoor air.
And, of course, don’t forget to regularly check and/or change your air filters. These tend to be one of those “out of sight, out of mine” things. However, paying attention can make a huge difference.
Take advantage of all the spring hype and do something great for your home and your family. Incorporating even just of couple of these suggestions could make a huge difference in the way you breathe and feel indoors. Happy Spring!!
It’s almost spring and our minds go to refreshing things, cleaning things, perhaps allergies and pollen and such. And, maybe even remodeling something in our homes to freshen things up a bit. That all sounds great. However, we need to still be mindful of our indoor air quality. Let’s concentrate on the remodeling aspects for now.
Some of you already understand the dust and mess that remodeling can bring. It always seems as though the actual remodeling takes at least twice as long as they say. In the mean time you see the effects. There is just dust and mess and yuck everywhere. It’s affecting your feelings of how clean your home is and what you are breathing in everyday. You just want the job to be done. Not just so you can enjoy the finished product but also so you can FINALLY clean up. Once you have gotten to do that it seems as though everything is right with the world again. But, what about what has gotten into your ducts during this time. It’s absolutely amazing what gets trapped in there during even the shortest of remodels. Of course, there is dust and dirt etc. Honestly, there is probably even some construction debris.
What I’m trying to get at is that even though the job is done, you love the results and you’ve gotten to clean up, there is another step you should seriously consider. I’m talking about duct cleaning. A thorough duct cleaning after any remodeling project can restore your home to breathing easy again. Thorough duct cleaning removes the dust, dirt, and even the construction debris that was quite possibly left behind. Think about how much less dusting you will have to do and how much better your indoor air quality will truly be.
Yes, regardless of the reports of snow in some parts of the country spring is really here. Spring cleaning comes right along with it. Honestly, not a big fan. However, it is important and some fairly simple changes in how we go about it can actually improve our indoor air quality. Improving our indoor air quality really is important. Its important for our health and especially for those who have asthma or suffer from allergies (which are particularly difficult in the spring). Anyway, I have come across some really good tips and I am in the habit of sharing. So here goes.
First, opt for fragrance -free cleaning products. No, I’m not the fragrance-free police. If you have the other stuff, by all means, use it up. But, when restocking opt for the unscented/fragrance-free varieties. In case you weren’t aware those “wonderfully smelling cleaning products are full of petroleum-based chemicals which are horrible for our indoor breathing atmosphere. Suffice it to say go with the fragrance-free.
Next, not only is using fragrance-free a great idea using your own homemade concoctions. If it was good enough for our grandmothers who are we to thumb our noses at it. Try using things you probably already have around the house. Things like baking soda, white vinegar, lemon juice, salt, hydrogen peroxide, and more. There are tons of DIY sites that can help you with what to use for different things. You can also add essential oils to enhance the cleaning properties and make them more appealing to the nose. So, not only will you be making the quality of your indoor air better you may even save a few bucks.
Then, if you happen to be in need of a new vacuum consider one with a HEPA filter. There are lots of them out there. A HEPA filter vacuum can remove 99.7% of the allergens (.03 microns) from your space. In laymen terms they suck up pretty much everything. They are a little pricier but are so worth it.
Also, you might consider a vapor steam cleaner. They de-germ, disinfect, and eliminate dirt, mildew, mold spores and a variety of allergens from floors, countertops and tile. And, the best part, it uses only water. Again, perfect for improving the indoor air quality.
Lastly, and honestly it goes without saying, filters, filters, filters. Clean and or replace : furnace filters, air conditioner filters, dryer lint screens, vacuum cleaners, range hood screens, bathroom exhaust fan grilles, etc. And if you decide you need more invest in a good air purifier.
All these tips along with some good old fashioned elbow grease will have your home the spring cleaniest and your indoor air will be better than ever before.
If you have questions or need more information on how to improve your indoor air quality please call us or visit our site.