We all know about spring cleaning since it’s a tradition that’s ingrained in many cultures all over the world. But while it’s recommended to do a deep clean during the spring months, don’t forget to clean your house this summer too if you want to keep your home comfy and fresh all throughout the hot months. Typically, most people leave their doors and windows open to freshen and cool down their abode during the summer season. Doing so can certainly improve air circulation, but it also lets in dust, pollen, and plant matter that can trigger allergies and make every surface in your home look dull and filthy.
Since hot weather can make allergies worse by intensifying the release of airborne allergens and creating optimal conditions for mold growth, it’s important to keep your living spaces clean to keep you and your loved ones healthy. With 25 percent of adults and nearly 19 percent of children with seasonal allergies, it’s likely that you have a family member who’s always feeling poorly once temperatures start to rise. To protect your family’s wellbeing, here are some summer cleaning tips for a fresh and healthy home.
Keep Floors Clean and Bare
Carpets and rugs are great for adding a cozy feel to rooms, but they’re also notorious for being dust and pollen magnets. Carpets act as a repository for indoor air pollutants, and previous studies have shown that having carpet floors are linked to health issues such as respiratory problems, asthma, headaches, and fatigue. Since hot, dry winds can blow dust and other pollutants into your carpets, it may be a good idea to keep your floors bare during summer. Vacuum and shampoo rugs and carpets before storing, then give your floors a good scrub down since it may have been a while since they’ve gotten a thorough clean.
To get rid of deep-seated dirt, consider hiring a professional cleaning team to take care of floor waxing and cleaning tasks in your home. By using the right tools and cleaning techniques, they can restore your floor’s appearance and make them look shiny and new. Apart from asking them to work on areas that were previously covered by carpeting, you can also have them work on high-traffic areas such as hallways, entryways, the living room, and the kitchen to make your home sparkle.
Freshen or Replace Window Treatments
Now is a good time to give your window treatments a good clean since they’re probably weighed down by dust and other pollutants. If you have aluminum or plastic blinds, take them down and soak them in soapy water for about an hour to loosen grime. Rinse with clean water, then wipe or air dry before reinstalling. Toss draperies and curtains into the washing machine and wash with some mild detergent and warm water. If they’ve been recently laundered, you can just place them in the dryer and give them a spin for 10 to 15 minutes to get rid of dust mites. Shake them out and rehang immediately.
Get Rid of Unpleasant Smells and Odors
Hot, humid weather can cause unpleasant smells to waft out of sinks and trash cans, and it can also trap cooking odors, making your home smell stale or musty. To get rid of bad odors, pour white vinegar down drains, and wash trash cans and recycling bins with soap, bleach, and water. Since the heat can also encourage mold growth and musty smells, inspect your dishwasher for mold, and do a deep clean by placing a cup of white vinegar in a cup on the top rack, then run it for one cycle. You may also want to check other appliances and furniture for mold and mildew, then clean them as needed.
The summer heat can have a negative effect on your indoor air and surfaces, so make time to do a deep and thorough clean on the areas mentioned above to freshen your home. Not only will these tips help to make your living spaces look their best, but they may also protect your family from allergy attacks and other hot weather-related health conditions.
