Spring Cleaning Tips for Allergy Sufferers

The Living Room/Dining Room

• Dust mites also thrive in upholstered furniture and carpeting, so vacuum or vapor steam-clean all upholstered furniture and carpeting. (In the future, consider installing hardware floors instead.) Use a vacuum cleaner with an attachment to clean out every crevice in your couch.
• Thick draperies and curtains can accumulate a lot of dust, which you can remedy by vacuuming or vapor steam-cleaning. When you're vacuuming curtains, don't use too use much suction, because the material can get clogged in the nozzle and tear. Check for further cleaning instructions on the label. (In the future, consider purchasing mini-blinds or sheerer curtains, which don't retain as much dust.)
• Dust and gently wash chandeliers and sconces.

Bathroom

While bathrooms and kitchens are by far the germiest places in most homes, the good news is, most bathrooms are relatively small, so cleaning them doesn't take as long, relatively speaking.

• Dust the outside of vents and fans. Take down light fixtures and gently wash and dry.
• Dissolve soap scum on shower doors with a commercial cleaner of your choice.
• Launder or clean your shower curtain, or replace it if it's spotted with mold or mildew. Now is a good time to replace a dirty shower curtain liner. Clean the inside of the tub and shower.
• Wash the sink, sink basin, fixtures and toilet.
• Clean the bathroom mirrors.
• Wash the bathroom throw rugs as directed.

Kitchen

Typically the kitchen will be the most time-intensive room, so you should devote a morning or good chunk of a day for a big kitchen.

• Wash the walls of any grease, grime, or sloshed food or drinks.

• Dust any lights, light fixtures, ceiling fans, and fan blades. You may need to use a gentle cleanser like Murphy's Oil Soap.
• Now is a great time to clean the oven, both inside and out, using your cleaner of choice. While the inside oven is being cleaned, move to cleaning the inside of the refrigerator; make sure to clean out the drip pan, which can cause odors and mold.

Lastly, once the inside of your home is clean, wash or replace the mats leading into your home, as any dirt and grime on them will likely be tracked into your home. While your lifestyle may leave you with more dirt-and therefore more cleaning to do-this will surely get you started on a cleaner, clutter-free spring without the sneezes.