For many allergy sufferers, there is a daily battle against allergies that cause respiratory or other types of distress. After all, allergies are not limited to just your home and there are many other triggers. According to the Canadian Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Foundation, one in every five Canadian (about 25% of the Canadian population) is affected by allergic rhinitis, or hay fever. In Canada, symptoms such as watery eyes, shortness of breath, chronic asthma and itching affect about 10% of all children. In order to get these symptons under control, we have put together five tips for maintaining a home that is allergy-friendly.
Tip 1: Get out of the dust
Fine dust is a big problem – and not only in Canadian inner cities. This is because dust mite’s feces accumulate in the fine dust and begin causing allergic reactions in people. Unfortunately, keeping a home free of dust mites is almost impossible and they cannot be avoided – but we can make it more uncomfortable for them. For example, places where the dust collects in the home provide the best nesting sites for dust mites. By doing a regular cleaning of the home and wiping down smooth surfaces, we are limiting nesting sites for those annoying dust mites.
Tip 2: Trap it to the ground
The questions can be asked carpet or parquet flooring, what is better for your health? The answer is the carpet even though we would assume its the hardwood or parquet flooring. We know carpet has lost its fashionable appeal and is looked at as a retro object of the modern 70s household, but it is now ready for a re-entry into the modern Canadian home for health reasons, especially for those suffering from allergies. The reason is because carpet fibers keep the dust trapped in the ground until the next time you vacuum. This enhances breathing air quality because it limits the amount of particles polluting the air.
There is a chance of contamination at some point when the accumulated dust in the vacuum bag has to be removed without stirring up much dust. Our suggestion: try using vacuum cleaners with a water filter. In these special vacuums the air sucked up by the vacuum tends to collect in the water reservoir instead of the dust bag so it dissolves and is easier to remove.
Tip 3: Stay active with your cleanings
Most Canadian homes nowadays almost always have smooth floors and these are contributing to allergies. With these types of homes it is more important to do regular cleaning of the floors so that the dust doesn’t have a chance to settle. Because once the dust accumulates on the floor it can shoot up into the air with every step you take and pollute the very air you are breathing.
It is important to avoid detergents that have harsh chemical substances, synthetic fragrances and dyes along with environmentally harmful substances such as alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEO), chlorine and chlorine-releasing substances, EDTA, NTA, perborates, and phosphonates.
A good and simple way to keep floors clean is to use modern solutions like pine or rustic floor. This type of flooring provides an amazing look, and the abrasion-resistant floor coverings provide a good alternative to parquet or laminate.
Tip 4: Watch out for pure turpentine oil
Many Canadians remove persistent stains using turpentine oil without knowing the harmful effects. Specifically, pure turpentine oil purhcased from stores providing natural goods tend to have a very low threshold limit value (TLV). The lower the TLV, the more toxic the ingredients!
According to Wikipedia, “The threshold limit value (TLV) (…) is believed to be a level to which a worker can be exposed day after day for a working lifetime without adverse effects.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threshold_limit_value
Tip 5: Benefit from Sona Maids Allergy Assistance
At Sona Maids, we are equipped and adjusted to the cleaning of households with allergies. These are recommended detergents which provide the best compatiability for those with skin or repsiratory sensitivites. These cleaning agents are recommended by the AAFA (Asthma and Allergy Friendly) organization.
https://www.asthmaandallergyfriendly.ca/cleaning-products/hard-surface-cleaners-non-disinfecting.html
In addition to the normal cleaning of the house, we ensure that all surfaces are cleared of annoying dust that is the leading cause of allergic reactions. Our cleaners are trained to provide the best cleaning service every time because a clean home is a healthy home, and we care about your health!