Before thinking about summer picnics, baseball games, vacationing relatives and trips to the beach, many folks think about spring cleaning.
While cleaning isn't quite the seasonal upheaval of decades past, many people still like to give their homes a thorough pre-summer cleaning. According to the Soap and Detergent Association's National Spring Cleaning Survey, 88 percent of the respondents consider spring cleaning important in keeping families happy, healthy and safe, as well as for keeping their homes looking presentable.
The good news is that today's products, tools and techniques can take a lot of the hassle out of cleaning.
DUST MITES: If you find yourself wheezing, sneezing, itching, with watery eyes — all the symptoms of outdoor allergies even while you're indoors — you might be allergic to dust. House dust has been found to be one of the strongest indoor allergens — not because of the dust but because of the microscopic fecal pellets and cast skins of house dust mites.
Quietly lurking in beds and carpets and under sofas and chairs, these teeny-tiny creatures belonging to the arachnid family can be a factor in allergies and asthma. They can be found anywhere in the home where moist, humid conditions exist, but they are particularly attracted to beds because they live off the skin cells that we all shed as we sleep.
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According to the USDA Extension Service, a typical used mattress may have as many as 10 million dust mites inside. Some 30,000 mites can live in 1 ounce of dust.
Dust mites don't carry disease; the primary cause for concern is as an allergen. But in addition to typical "hay fever" symptoms, allergic reactions may include headaches, fatigue and depression.
To control dust mites, the Extension Service offers the following suggestions:
— Enclose mattresses and box springs with plastic covers or zippered allergen- and dustproof covers.
— Synthetic-fiber pillows are less attractive to dust mites than feather and down pillows. Pillows, too, can be encased in allergen-proof covers.
— Wash bedding materials frequently in hot (at least 130 degrees F) water.
— Put pillows in the dryer and let run for 10-15 minutes or so each week. (Hanging blankets and pillows in the sun will not kill mites; temperatures must be higher than that. But freezing temperatures also kill mites.)
— Eliminate or reduce fabric wall hangings such as tapestries or pennants.
— Purchase stuffed toys that are machine washable.
— Maintain a dry environment in your bedroom with a dehumidifier.
— Replace woolen blankets with nylon or cotton cellulose ones.
— If severe allergies occur, consider replacing carpeting with wood or tile.
— Vacuum often with a vacuum cleaner that has a high efficiency purifying air (HEPA) filtration system. Throw away vacuum cleaner bags after use because dust mites can leave the bag.
MILDEW: Mildew is a thin, usually black-or-white growth that is a member of the fungus family. It needs moisture and certain temperatures in order to grow, but it can grow on a wide variety of surfaces, including cotton, linen, rayon, silk, wool, leather, wood and paper.
It flourishes in areas where it is damp, warm, poorly lighted and/or where air circulation is poor — in places such as cellars, crawl spaces of houses without basements, clothing closets, shower curtains and draperies and rugs in basement rooms.
Mildew is often identified by its musky odor. If left untreated, it can discolor and damage fabrics and materials to the extent they can rot away.
The best treatment for mildew is prevention. Ventilation helps to remove excess moisture from the air. An electric light in a closet may provide sufficient heat to prevent mildew. Chemical moisture absorbers such as silica gel, activated alumina or calcium chloride may also be used.
A solution of four parts water to one part chlorine bleach is an effective cleaner for fabrics, walls and other contaminated surfaces, says Marilyn Albertson, family and consumer specialist with the Salt Lake County USU Extension Service. "But make sure you use it in a well-ventilated area."
E-mail: carma@desnews.com