An Indian summer brings with it high levels of humidity. This humidity increases moisture in the air, which can lead to growth of molds, peeling of paints, wet insulation and rotting of furniture, thereby increasing exposure to allergens at home.
It is time to take control over these challenges. Here are 5 simple ways to dehumidify your home, for a cleaner environment.
1. Try a little baking soda – Baking soda is very effective in reducing humidity levels in your home. All you need to do is place some baking powder in a bowl and cover it with a non-woven cloth. Leave this bowl in your kitchen and bathrooms and watch it effectively reduce moisture.
2. Ensure constant ventilation – Cross ventilation is another great way to reduce humidity levels in your home. A constantly locked up home during summer becomes a breeding ground for allergens born from humidity and mugginess. Keep your windows open and allow some fresh air indoors. Also, while cooking and showering, switching on your exhaust fan is a great way to reduce humidity.
3. Unplug Gadgets and Appliances – It is a well-known fact that each device plugged into a socket, produces heat. Unplug all gadgets and appliances when not in use. It reduces humidity and helps save power.
4. Check for Water Leaks – Loose taps and water leaks are another reason to increase humidity indoors. Do check for these leaks and get them fixed in time.
5. Move your indoor plants outdoor – Plants are great at cleaning the air indoors. But they also increase humidity and moisture levels. Moving them outdoors will not only reduce this humidity but will also give them the sunshine and fresh air they require, during the day.
As the temperatures outside soar, most of us would prefer to stay indoors. But is your house free from those summer allergens? If not, perhaps it is time to get rid of dirt choking the air conditioners, the cobwebs that throng the corners of your house, and to air out your closet spaces.
Here are 7 tips to keep your home free from summer allergens.
1.Change your bed linen every week:
While making your bed every morning is important, changing the bed covers, and pillowcases weekly is a healthy habit. Beds are the favorite spot for dust mites to breed. Hence, keep your bed clean in order to enjoy a peaceful sleep.
2.Clean the air ducts regularly:
When summer comes we use our air conditioners more than usual, so it’s essential to keep the filters and ducts clean to avoid clogging and ensure free passage of fresh air. Clean filters monthly, and service the whole unit every 3 months.
3.De-clutter your home:
The more you clutter your house with unwanted things, you create the perfect environment for dust, pollen and dander. Get busy de-cluttering to create space and keep your home tidy and allergen free.
4.Dust twice a week:
Dust could give rise to pollen and other allergens. Hence, it is important to dust your home twice a week to avoid furniture and other surfaces being covered in layers of dust.
5. Vacuum your carpets weekly:
Carpets are great at trapping small particles that cause allergies. Thus, vacuuming your carpet using cleaners that have a good filtration system is a must. But, be sure to have them professionally cleaned every 6 months.
6.Avoid curtain with layers:
Use blinds or curtains that are easy to wash. Curtains with too many layers absorb dust particles and keep them enclosed in your house. Ensure that you wash the curtains or blinds weekly, to avoid allergens from settling in. When in doubt, use a professional cleaning service.
7. Avoid indoor plants:
With indoor plants, there are chances of pollen, or mold spores from the soil being released into your homes, especially in summer. It is better to move them to a shaded area outdoor and keep your house free from pollen or allergen triggers.
Does your cleaning routine leave you feeling dissatisfied? We’re often doing things that we think are the right way to go when we’re cleaning our spaces. But sometimes, what may be working well for others, may not work for us, without first understanding what our own cleaning needs are. Here are some of the myths that we bust, about cleaning:
1. What’s clean, smells clean: Clean things do not have to smell clean. The idea, therefore, is not to scrub until everything smells soapy or like detergent. What you’re aiming for is to get it clean enough to look great, and not smell bad.
2. Use bleach when you have to clean: Bleach is not the only cleaner there is. Make sure you match to correct cleaner to the surface you want to clean. In fact, the use of bleach should be limited to disinfecting hard surfaces, and treating colourfast fabrics.
3. “I clean my house everyday with a quick dusting routine. That’s good enough.”: Superficial cleaning is not enough. Make sure your invest in a professional deep cleaning service in order to remove soiling built up over many months, and the germs and allergens that remain in your spaces even after superficial cleaning.
4. Paper towels are good for cleaning needs: Avoid using paper towels for cleaning – because they’re only good for wiping up spills and splashes, and not for deep cleaning.
5. Use cotton to clean when you don’t have cloth: Avoid using cotton, because it leaves behind fine lint, which looks really unsightly, and makes your spaces more vulnerable to dirt.
6. Use cleaners for your surface and wipe down immediately after spraying it on your surfaces: While it is good and necessary to wipe off a cleaner before it dries on a surface, it is also a good idea to let it sit a bit, especially on old dirt. This will help you clean a space that hasn’t been cleaned properly.
Keeping living and working spaces clean is a significant priority for all of us, and part of living a healthy lifestyle. But if you, or your kids, elders or anyone in your family has allergies, keeping living spaces super clean becomes an absolute necessity. It isn’t any fun to have people sneezing and sniffling at home, or suffering from itchy, angry red rashes all day. So, how does one keep allergies under check? Here are some great ideas.
Cleaning your spaces in a way that keeps allergies at bay isn’t as difficult a task, if you follow this simple, five point regimen, in your everyday cleaning plan.
• Make sure to vacuum your floors as often as you can. This is especially important if you have a carpeted floor, or a space that is very vulnerable to dust and lint. If getting rid of the carpet altogether or the source of pollution itself is not an option, your safest bet is to rely on vacuuming for deep cleaning. The use of a vacuum cleaner is more efficient in removing finer dust, pollen grains, pet dander and other forms of allergy triggers. These things are constantly around in your carpets and rugs.
• Keep your furniture and draperies clean. Allergens are also very commonly found sticking to your furniture and curtains, and even blinds, if you have them. By cleaning up the upholstery and drapes on a periodic basis, and going deep in your cleaning can help keep allergy triggers and dust under control.
• Clean your indoor plants, balconies and windows. Sometimes, the sources of allergens happen to be windowsills and plants. This is especially because fungi and mould can remain in these spaces, and they can cause allergies in sensitive people. Make sure to keep these spaces clean by doing a dust and sweep routine every day.
• Keep your pets clean Most times pets are inadvertently carriers of allergens and dust, and this might wind up bringing in allergens into your already cleaned spaces. Make sure to give your pets a bath regularly, followed by grooming to help them stay as allergen free, and clean as possible.
• Do a professional deep clean periodically Chem-Dry is here for you, and guarantees you a 99.9% allergen free environment. Whether it is for your mattresses, carpets, sofas or even curtains, we’re always just a phone call away! Call 9025 388 388 now.
Your home is the first place that you’re accustomed to: no matter how much of a traveller you may
be, or how long you stay outdoors on work-related commitments, home is really where the heart is.
And that is why keeping your home in top shape and in perfectly clean order becomes a matter of
significant priority. Here are five new year resolutions that you should be looking forward to keeping
this year!
De-clutter and indulge in open spaces: One of the biggest hindrances to cleanliness and
comfortable spatial movement is clutter. By accumulating things that you don’t need, not
only are you filling your spaces up with more than you need, but you are also restricting the
free flow of air, light and your own movement. Clutter can also bring down the energy of
your spaces, and makes cleaning a bit of a task – imagine having too many things on a shelf
and having to clean out each, separately, before you get round to doing other things in the
day! This year, endeavour to keep your spaces open, de-cluttered and free of dirt.
Be smart with storage: One of the biggest challenges to having clean home spaces is
storage. There are undoubtedly a lot of things one may acquire. The key is to store them in a
way that doesn’t accumulate dust and dirt, or render your spaces too messy. Try storing bed
spreads inside pillow cases, and placing them on shelves in your store cupboard. Use box
seats that double up as storage compartments, and use a smart kitchen to store your things
more efficiently.
Go Natural: Nature offers up the best way to stay clean and allergen free. Using room
fresheners may seem like a fun thing to do, but not everyone is comfortable with them –
what with odour centred allergies and such else. Use indoor plants and indulge in a line of
cute row planters to fill your spaces with natural air flow agents. Indoor plants also help
create a natural and healthy indoor ambience, and also encourage the creation of a lot of
breathing space. What’s more, since plants are living, they don’t attract dust in a way that
most other curios do.
Make everyday cleaning a priority: Exposure to pollutants in this day and age seems
inevitable – just keeping the windows open, especially in an urban living, can prove to
attract a lot of pollutant-dust into your houses. Make it a point to do a light clean routine
everyday – and a deep cleaning every few weeks. Dusting your exposed furniture and curio
ranges will help avoid the accumulation of too many dust irritants into your spaces.
Deep clean on your own once in a while: Set aside a day every fortnight to vacuum your
spaces, and spend enough time to use the hose attachment on your vacuum cleaner to get
the edges, corners, and baseboards. Pull out furniture if you’re able and if needed and
vacuum underneath it. This should help set your spaces in top shape for the next fortnight at
least.
Everyone wants their home fresh and clean and free of germs so they can live in the healthiest environment possible. Many people go overboard in terms of using strong commercial chemicals and cleaners in an effort to create a fresh-smelling atmosphere. And, you can instantly smell the chemicals in these types of cleaners the second you open the bottle. In fact, the label warns you to avoid any contact with eyes and skin, don’t breathe the fumes, and to wear rubber gloves. What does this say about the ingredients?
As a result, several people today are starting to use more organic, green cleaning products to clean their homes. But, buying organic cleaning products can get very expensive, sometimes more than their commercial counterparts. Thankfully, you don’t need to buy either kind since you can make your own eco-friendly cleaning products that are truly organic and safe. Not only will you save money, you’ll save the health of your family as well as the environment.
Avoid cleaning products that contain toxic ingredients
It’s more important than ever to implement green lifestyle methods into your home. Chemicals like Triclosan are often found in both hygiene and cleaning products and have been discovered as the culprit behind many incidences of asthma. It’s no surprise that certain products are initially introduced as safe and then later recalled as harmful. Adding some of these dangerous chemicals into the place where you eat and live could in fact have disastrous results.
What’s the alternative?
Using your own natural green cleaning solutions will give your home an eco-friendly cleaning that’s powerful as well as gentle, minus the toxic fumes and harsh chemicals. Check under your sink or in the pantry for more nontoxic, economical ingredients that work either alone or combined to make your home shiny and clean.
Here are five naturally organic products that can be found in virtually any home that do a great job of cleaning without the chemicals
White vinegar is known for dissolving grease effectively and makes the ideal surface cleaner in the kitchen as well as the bathroom. Vinegar is a strong cleaning agent due to its antibacterial effect and acidic nature. Research conducted in Japan discovered that the bactericidal effects of vinegar was enhanced as the solution’s temperature increased, therefore emphasizing the advantage of using warm, natural cleaning solutions.
Ever notice how many commercial brand cleaners include lemon in their product? There’s a reason for that. Lemon juice effectively kills mold and swiftly cuts through grease to leave a fresh, streak-free shine. Researchers in Nebraska took a closer look at lemon oil’s ability to reduce the growth of mold by applying a coat of vinegar and lemon juice to roast beef. The study illustrated the prevention of mold spore germination and development. Combine natural lemon juice and vinegar and/or olive oil to create a tough cleaning solution that leaves a natural-smelling scent behind in the room.
Salt is a natural, gentle abrasive, and disinfectant. It’s used for cleaning kitchen utensils and clearing drains. When combined with baking soda, it can easily cut through grease. It can also whiten discolored cutting boards if used with cool water as an everyday scrub as well as remove burn marks around dishware edges and stains from delicate chinaware.
Cream of tartar is actually a by-product as a result of the winemaking process. When wine is made, a powder develops inside the wine barrels while fermenting. This powder stems from tartaric acid, which naturally occurs during winemaking. It’s left behind in the sediment in the wine barrels after the wine is fermented and subsequently becomes purified into a white, powdery substance that’s used in baking. Cream of tartar can be used for a variety of household cleaning tasks such as cleaning bathtub tile, removing rust stains, renewing scratched dishes, and cleaning the gunk off your toaster.
Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and offers an abrasive quality that outperforms other toxic, powdered commercial cleansers. Use it on a variety of surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom to effectively eliminate stains and even clean grimy ovens inside. Also, adding salt to baking soda gives it an extra boost of scrubbing power.
While some antibacterial spray cleaners and fabric softeners help make rooms and clothes smell fresh, they also contain toxic quaternary ammonium compounds, including benzalkonium chloride, which is known for causing asthma in otherwise normal, healthy individuals. Natural carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning agents are far better for both you and the environment. Consider using organic carpet cleaners to support the health of your family.
If you have carpet in your home, then you know many of its ‘perks’ already: it keeps your home warm during the winter months, its cushioning fabric feels great on bare feet and keeps your children protected, and it adds beauty to your home that other flooring cannot. In addition, did you know that your carpet can actually help relieve some of your uncomfortable, irritable allergy symptoms? While you may think carpet is a no-go for pollen allergies or hay fever, it’s true: your allergies and your carpet can co-exist. Read on to find out why.
The common belief about allergies is that when it comes to flooring options, don’t do carpet. However, while a spaghetti or lipstick stain may become trapped in your carpets fibers when not treated, this is a good thing for the pollen that finds its way into your home this Spring and Summer. Think about it: would you rather have pollen become trapped into your carpet, or remain air born, thereby causing your sneezes, itchy eyes and coughing spells to go into overdrive?
Are you on of the 40 million Americans that struggle with seasonal allergies? Be a diligent DIY home cleaner, and studies have shown that your clean carpets can actually reduce dust borne allergens and have a lower level of allergens than those rooms with hard flooring surfaces. Minimize the symptoms you experience in your home by vacuuming at least once or twice a week and have your carpets professionally cleaned every 3-4 months.
However, not all carpet cleaning services are alike. Chem-Dry commissioned a leading independent air quality laboratory to conduct a study using Chem-Dry’s Hot Carbonating Extraction (HCE) process in multiple homes. The lab found that Chem-Dry removes an average of 98.1% of common household allergens from the carpets and upholstery we clean.*
Do you need some allergy relief? Talk with a local Chem-Dry carpet cleaning professional in your area (Call +91 9025 388 388) and ask how they can help you create a healthier home environment where you and your family can breath easier.
Vinegar is an amazing household tool to have on hand for cleaning. It can be used with a wide array of items and surfaces. It’s a wonder that more people aren’t hip to its many uses. Here are the top cleaning applications for vinegar.
There are tons of oil-based products on the market that claim to remove sticker residue and goo from surfaces. However, these products can be toxic, overwhelmingly pungent, in addition to leaving behind a slick, oily residue of their own. You don’t want to have to clean off your cleaning products, right? Instead of using these products, use vinegar. All it takes is a little vinegar, left to soak on the affected surface for 10-15 minutes for the residue to easily wipe away.
Scrubbing the microwave can take forever. Instead of wasting time, just use a glass of vinegar to literally melt away any splatter or food residue. Place a glass of vinegar in the microwave. Run the microwave on high for five minutes. After this time has passed, the steam from the vinegar will have melted away any dirt and debris, allowing you to easily wipe the inside of your microwave clean.
Vinegar neutralizes odors, the same way those commercial fabric refreshers to do. To create your own fabric refresher, mix one part vinegar with three parts water in a clean spray bottle. If you don’t like the odor, add some essential oil or lemon juice.
Using vinegar instead of fabric softener will help to do away with lint, in addition to leaving your clothes softer. This trick will also reduce static, even if you don’t use a dryer sheet.
If you can detect a slight odor from your kitchen drain, it may be thanks to food particles and residue that have built up over time. To do away with these unwanted odors, create a “sink volcano.” Start by pouring a generous amount of baking soda down the drain and follow by pouring vinegar. This will create a volcano effect and the mixture will bubble up. It will remove any traces of food residue and completely eliminate odors.
If you want to clean the inside of your coffee maker, simply run vinegar through the machine instead of water. Afterwards, run the machine with plain water two or three times to ensure that there is no trace of the vinegar left over. Not only will this keep your machine running smoothly, but your coffee will taste fresher.
In the winter, your boots and shoes can accumulate unattractive white stains from the salt on the sidewalk. A rag coated in vinegar will effortlessly remove these stains with barely any elbow grease needed. This trick can also be used on your car mats, coats and any other fabrics that have salt stains.
Most of us want to find eco-friendly ways to accomplish our household tasks and viinegar is an incredibly environmentally friendly way to accomplish many cleaning tasks. While vinegar has many uses for cleaning, when it comes to dealing with stubborn carpet or upholstery stains, your best course of action is consulting a professional carpet cleaning company such as Chem-Dry for a professional stain removal solution.
To help combat allergy attacks and related symptoms this spring, here are expert cleaning tips from Chem-Dry to make your home a healthier (and happier) environment for you, your loved ones and your guests.