Spring cleaning tips to help asthma and other health issues

January 03, 2018

This summer break is the perfect time to dust off the past year – literally.

Dust mites love to live in our bedding, rugs and carpets and mould thrives in the cold, damp air of winter. Both dust and mould can trigger allergic reactions associated with asthma, which sadly now affects 1 in 4 people in NZ.

The good news is that there are lots of cheap and easy ways to keep homes free from dust and mould, especially in summer. The longer hours of sunlight and warmer, dryer weather allows us to shake dust free from floor rugs and mattresses, wash curtains and air out furniture.

This break make time to create a healthier home with these spring cleaning tips:

Curtains

• Before cleaning curtains, take them outside and beat them too to release the dust. 
• If your curtains have a rubber backing, mix one cup of white vinegar with two cups of water in a spray bottle. Spray onto mouldy patches, leave for about 20 minutes then hang curtains outside to dry. That’s it! 
• If your curtains do not have rubber backing, use a mix of one cup of white vinegar and a quarter cup of detergent. Wash on a gentle cycle in the washing machine, or handwash in the bath. 
• Make sure curtains are totally dry before rehanging or you risk bringing moisture into your home. Dry outside in the sunshine and check carefully! 
• Read more about how to take care of curtains 

Corners and furniture

• Clean the hard to reach corners and surfaces around the house. Mould is likely to have grown in areas away from direct sunlight that are difficult to heat and where air flow is limited.
• Check behind cabinets and shelves, inside cupboards, and ceiling corners too.  Cupboards and the backs of drawers are prone to mould, especially if your wooden furniture is made of composite fibreboard. 
• Hard-surface furniture and walls can be sprayed lightly with undiluted white vinegar. Add a squeeze of lemon juice to the vinegar if the smell is overpowering and wipe surfaces clean with a cloth after 30-60 minutes. This will kill the mould but won’t stop it returning, so make a date with your diary to check back!
• Check out some more low-cost green cleaning tips and recipes 

Rugs and carpets 

• Take rugs outside and give them a good whacking to release the dust.
• Vacuum filters can get clogged which reduces suction. Give them a clean and empty regularly for maximum dust removal.

Air flow and temperature 

The best way to manage mould is to ventilate and heat:

• Allow a good breeze through the whole house twice daily. Open windows and doors at opposite ends of the house for 15 mins to create airflow that replaces damp, stale air with fresh, dry air. 
• Keep your home temperature at 20 degrees C. Capture as much sunlight as possible by opening curtains (or closing if it's too hot!) 

Psst – how about gifting a house clean to someone? You probably know someone old, unwell or just busy, who would really appreciate a spring clean and healthier home. Package it up as a gift voucher and you’ve got a fantastic DIY low-cost healthy gift. 

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