Do you usually take care of the house, like cleaning curtains or airing the mattress? Although they are simple attitudes to ensure more hygiene and well-being, many people do not usually adopt them frequently, which can lead to health problems, such as respiratory allergies.

The fact is that the same concerns that we have about hygiene in public places must be applied in our home, where it can contain many sources of diseases with the accumulation of mites and other microorganisms. An example of this is a face towel that is changed infrequently and exposed in an environment that can contain thousands of bacteria, such as the bathroom.

With this in mind, we have prepared this article to present the main home care that we should have to avoid or even alleviate respiratory allergies. Therefore, we will explain how a correct cleaning can prevent respiratory diseases, protect people who already suffer from this problem and prevent asthma attacks, rhinitis, bronchitis, among others. Follow us!

The action of dust mites in respiratory allergies

Allergy is a response of the immune system as a defense to foreign substances that affect the body. Among the main allergenic agents are mites which, despite being very small organisms, visible only under a microscope, can cause major health problems.

However, in order for them to cause allergic reactions, the person must already have a problem, such as asthma or rhinitis, which are the most common respiratory allergies. Dust mites are housed anywhere in the home and are primarily responsible for respiratory allergies and even skin changes.

But by adopting some hygiene practices at home and accessories used for sleeping, it is possible to prevent and alleviate the symptoms of diseases directly caused by mites, such as sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, dermatitis, among others, which can be aggravated by allergies.

The importance of home care for allergy sufferers

The accumulation of dust and mites can trigger various symptoms of respiratory allergies such as headache, runny nose, sneezing, nasal obstruction, wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, itchy nose, eyes and throat, among other signs. Microorganisms look for environments that serve as shelters and contain food necessary to live and proliferate.

In our homes, dust mites find organic materials such as vegetables, fungi, animal excrement, hair strands, flaking of our skin and food residues in large quantities to feed on. Thus, the best way to reduce the action of these microorganisms is to decrease the sources of the elements they need to survive.

When we reduce the power supply of mites, we also decrease the likelihood of colony growth. Thus, creating and maintaining a cleaning routine at home is essential to avoid respiratory problems, such as symptoms of asthmatic bronchitis, rhinitis and asthma, in addition to other changes in the respiratory system.

Although it is impossible to have a 100% allergy-proof home, we can adopt some habits that alleviate problems and control the quality of the environment. To do so, just take some simple and effective measures, such as the ones we will comment on below, to rule out the elements that cause allergies.

Considering that, in just one year of use, sofas, rugs and carpets can store almost 5 million mites, it is essential to sanitize these items in a more thorough and periodic manner. Thus, it is only necessary to perform daily cleaning maintenance to control allergenic agents.

Prefer objects with anti-mite treatment

It is possible to find waterproof protective covers on the market with antimicrobial treatment for mattress and pillow. These products prevent the passage of liquids, mites, bacteria, fungi and the accumulation of allergenic particles, providing more protection for health. The most efficient are those that have a zipper, as they cause microorganisms to be “trapped”.

Set a cleaning routine

Keeping a home always clean and avoiding the accumulation of mites and bacteria is not always easy. One way of not forgetting the corners of the house and not letting too much time go by without cleaning any place or object is to establish a cleaning routine, setting the frequency and writing it down in an agenda. Here are some tips that can help!

Living room

Avoid sofas, rugs and curtains of fabrics that accumulate a lot of dust, preferring materials that are easy to wash, such as waterproof fabrics and cold floors. The environment must be cleaned frequently, otherwise it can cause various allergies, such as asthma, rhinitis in children, atopic dermatitis and conjunctivitis.

To vacuum the room it is interesting to use vacuum cleaners made with a HEPA filter, which filters more than 90% of impurities, eliminating dust mites, viruses and bacteria from the area. The ideal cleaning frequency for the main items in this environment is:

  • carpets and curtains – wash every 15 days;
  • carpet – vacuum twice a week and wash with a solution of water, vinegar and baking soda every 15 days;
  • sofa – vacuuming at least once a week and waterproofing once a year;
  • windows – clean once a month.

Room

It is essential to take some precautions to avoid the accumulation of mites that are lodged in the mattress and pillow. For this, it is important to let the room receive sunlight, so that the environment is always airy and dry. Likewise, it is very important to avoid the accumulation of dust on objects, corners of walls and floors. The frequency for cleaning the room can be as follows:

  • furniture, floors and objects – vacuum the dust every 2 days;
  • mattress – vacuum every 15 days and let it air for at least 30 minutes before adding new bedding;
  • bed linen – change weekly and, in warmer seasons, twice a week;
  • pillow – due to the absorption of sweat and oil from the skin and hair, the product accumulates dust mites, bacteria and fungi. To eliminate microorganisms, it must be dry cleaned every 6 months.

A tip that deserves to be highlighted is the cleaning and cleaning of the dry mattress every 3 months with baking soda – a powerful cleaning item. To do this, just sprinkle the product (dry) over the entire surface and let it act for 35 to 40 minutes. Then, you should rub the mattress with a soft brush, especially in places with stains, let it act for another 10 minutes and vacuum.

Desk

This is another room in the house that should not be overlooked, in order to avoid respiratory and skin problems. This environment usually has old documents, stopped for years, and may contain a large amount of dust. To avoid the increase of mites and bacteria in this room, it is necessary to keep it airy and vacuumed, avoiding carpets and curtains.

As for books, boxes and documents, it is important not to leave drawers full of papers, as this can cause the appearance of moths. Thus, every 15 days it is advisable to reevaluate the need to keep these items and discard those that are not needed. If you have a lot of documents, a good solution is to scan them on your computer, keeping everything in the cloud.

A slightly damp cloth can be used to clean pen holders, books and boxes to control dust. The computer must be cleaned once a week. To avoid accumulation of debris on the keyboard, turn it over and tap it lightly or use compressed air spray. Cleaning must be done with specific products for electronics, as water and alcohol can damage the computer and other accessories.

Kitchen

It is important to keep the cabinets clean and airy. In addition, it is advisable to avoid carpets and do general cleaning with the following frequency:

  • tablecloth and dish towel – change and wash whenever there is moisture, dirt or bad odor;
  • cabinets – at least once a month;
  • dirty dishes – avoid accumulation in the sink, ideal to wash immediately after meals;
  • sponge – sanitize after use to avoid accumulation of food residues. Depending on how much is used, it must be changed once a week;
  • garbage – prefer small containers not to accumulate food scraps and do not leave exposed for more than 2 days.

WC

Cleaning the bathroom should be performed frequently to help prevent bouts of respiratory and skin allergies:

  • bath towel – ideally, it should be washed at most every 3 uses and that it is always extended, even if it is dry, avoiding leaving it lying in the bedroom or bathroom so as not to accumulate dust mites;
  • face towel – must be changed at least every 2 days;
  • toilet bowl – because it accumulates many bacteria, it needs to be cleaned daily with bleach;
  • toothbrush holder and soap dish – must be cleaned daily.

The main general precautions that must be observed to avoid allergies

In addition to the specific precautions we mentioned, there are also some general ones to be observed to avoid allergies and provide a healthier life for the family, such as the ones that follow.

Prefer the vacuum cleaner to the broom

Brooms and dusters are great enemies of allergic people, as they spread and take the powder up, worsening the symptoms of the allergy. Therefore, it is important to use a vacuum cleaner and a damp cloth to clean, preventing dust from being transferred from one place to another, instead of being removed.

Make a homemade, natural anti-dust mite solution

According to experts, the place where mites reproduce the most is the mattress, with more than 1.5 million mites infesting the product after 2 years of use. If a deep cleaning has not been carried out during this period, 10% of the mattress weight may come from mites only.

Although the general cleaning of the house contributes a lot to the control of mites, it is often necessary to use specific products (acaricides) to avoid an infestation and to reduce the amount of existing mites. See below how to prepare and apply the solution in different locations, such as:

  • cushions;
  • stuffed animals;
  • mattresses;
  • fabric curtains;
  • upholstery in general;
  • armchairs;
  • bedding;
  • sofas;
  • carpets;
  • pillows.

To make a homemade acaricide, we do not need chemical products – we only need some materials that we use on a daily basis for cleaning, such as:

  • sprinkler;
  • half a glass of alcohol;
  • half a glass of vinegar;
  • 30 drops of essential oil of your choice, such as lavender, cinnamon, lemongrass, eucalyptus, among others.
  • Place the ingredients in the spray bottle and shake well to obtain a homogeneous solution. Then apply to places and fabric objects that accumulate dust. Afterwards, wait for the substance to evaporate and aspirate well to remove the residues of the microorganisms.

Avoid mold in the bathroom

The bathroom is one of the most suitable places for mold to settle and accumulate. This is due to humidity, which favors the proliferation of fungi and is responsible for the darkened stains on the walls – very dangerous to health. As soon as they are noticed, it is essential to remove them using bleach until they disappear.

Choose the right floor

The floor used in the house is one of the crucial points for the control of mites. The most suitable are the smooth coatings, such as ceramics, porcelain tiles and laminates, as they are easier to clean and do not release dust like those of wood. They can be cleaned with a damp cloth or steam cleaner.

Wash and give your clothes a “sunbath”

Washing clothes and then exposing them to the sun makes the fibers of the fabrics clean and dry, losing the moisture that was the only way for the microorganisms to acquire water. Thus, the balance of the ecosystem is broken, since the heat and the air current alter the environment in which they found themselves, disfavoring their reproduction.

Use a damp cloth to clean the surfaces

The most efficient way to remove dust from surfaces, such as tables, benches and other furniture, is to use a soft, slightly damp cloth. Thus, in addition to humidifying the environment, making it more pleasant, the dust will not be transferred to other locations, as occurs when using a duster.

Vacuum the house regularly

Do not stay too long without vacuuming the whole house, as dust mites proliferate quickly and migrate to places more favorable to survival. The tiny residues that spread throughout the house, such as skin cells, hair strands, animal hair, dust and other allergenic substances, accumulate and, when not removed effectively, generate many health problems.

Bet on good products to get rid of dust

Another important aspect is to invest in quality cleaning products. This means opting for biodegradables and a mild aroma, as strong smells can trigger allergic attacks. In the absence of them, use some homemade formula, such as those made with alcohol, vinegar and essential oils.

Leave your shoes at the entrance door

A healthy habit is to leave your shoes on the doorstep, reducing the load of allergens, dust and bacteria from the street into the home. To do this, leave a shoe rack at the entrance or take off your shoes as soon as you enter, taking them to a ventilated place, such as the balcony or service area.

Keep objects organized

Objects, books and toys scattered and disorganized are an invitation to the accumulation of dust and mites. Therefore, it is important to maintain organization, avoiding excessive decorative items and organizing magazines, books, dolls and stuffed animals.

The best way to organize is to allocate a space for each object, cleaning and maintaining the storage frequently. It is also important to avoid the accumulation of items in large piles or to store them in cardboard boxes, as they accumulate dust and attract insects, contributing to allergic attacks.

Pay special attention to the cleanliness of the room

According to studies by the State University of Campinas (Unicamp), the mattress is the favorite hiding place for mites. It is estimated that in a single product it is possible to find more than 20 thousand of these insects, a situation that worsens with time of use.

The pillow is also a good example of how much we should be concerned with the hygiene aspect – in just 2 years of use, one third of its weight is made up of mites, it is important to change the product after that time of use.

The same research also proved that mites are eliminated with preventive measures, such as regular cleaning and hygiene of environments and objects. In this sense, it is necessary to pay special attention to this room.

Avoid using a fan

In the heat, avoid using a fan, as it spreads the dust even more, contributing to the proliferation of dust mites. Thus, the best option is air conditioning, which in addition to cooling the environment, dehumidifies the air, making it a hostile place for microorganisms.

Sanitize the air conditioning

The lack of clean air conditioning reduces the quality of the air, essential for the health of the airways, since the dust and residues trapped in the filter create a perfect environment for the development of mites.

Keep the wardrobe free from mold

As they are places that are constantly closed and without ventilation, cabinets, wardrobes and drawers must be cleaned at least once a month. It is also worth avoiding the accumulation of many parts in one place. To clean, prefer a cloth soaked in white vinegar, leaving the doors open for natural drying. It is also important not to forget the top of the furniture, always wiping with a cloth to remove the dirt.

Wash plush toys regularly

Stuffed animals are objects that accumulate a lot of dust and mites because they are constantly exposed. They must be washed every 15 days and, after drying, they can be placed in plastic bags in the freezer for 8 to 12 hours, in order to eliminate any resistant microorganism.

Avoid accumulation of moisture in the refrigerator

Leaking water from the refrigerator can accumulate microorganisms and must be cleaned regularly. Thus, it is important to always be aware of the excess moisture on the shelves of the refrigerator, removing and cleaning the water outlet container. Inside, it is advisable to wipe with a clean cloth on all surfaces, whenever possible.

Take care of pets

In addition to taking care of the various environments in the house, it is also important to take care of pets, such as cats and dogs. They need to bathe once a week and have their hair well brushed daily, and it is advisable, yet, to prevent them from circulating in the rooms or sleeping in the beds.

As we have seen, to avoid the action of mites and other organisms that cause and aggravate respiratory and skin allergies, it is essential to adopt some care with the home. The main one is the correct and frequent cleaning of all rooms, in addition to furniture and objects for personal use, such as mattresses, pillows, ornaments and stuffed animals.

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