Reducing home allergens can alleviate some of the environmental pitfalls around the corner.
(August 10, 2005 - Ann Arbor, Mich.) -- With autumn just around the corner and humidity still on the rise, now is the time to do some clean-up in order to prevent a harsh allergy outbreak in and around your home. Fall brings a rise in mold spores, ragweed and other environmental allergies that can easily find their way into your home.
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, about 40 million Americans have an allergic reaction brought on by mold spores. Mold spores can cause nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, coughing and other traditional hay-fever-like symptoms and can quickly spread in humid conditions.
John McClellan, vice president of marketing for Service Brands International, recommends a good late-summer cleaning to reduce the buildup of those allergens that can wreak havoc on your respiratory system.
"Although most people think of spring cleaning as the essential time to rid your house of dust, dander and other potential allergy-inducing offenders, we also recommend our clients do a solid cleaning in the late-summer to rid their home of big trouble spots," McClellan says.
While one big cleaning job every month or so may be a great start, you need to be diligent about keeping up a regular routine of cleaning including mopping up standing water around leaky faucets and tubs, keeping counters free of crumbs and dirty dishes, store opened food packages in airtight containers and make sure you clean your microwave.
According to the American Lung Association, these allergens, along with cockroaches, can aggravate cases of asthma.
Besides weekly dusting and vacuuming, McClellan also recommends cleaning window screens to reduce the amount of pollen your household is exposed to.
Also, McClellan says this is a particular time of the year where - if you have allergy sufferers in your house - you should forego hanging sheets and towels outside, since mold spores, ragweed pollen and other environmental allergens can collect on these materials, and you'll end up bringing these intruders indoors.
