Summer in Toronto is wonderful, but for allergy sufferers, it can mean months of sneezing, itchy eyes, and congestion as pollen, dust, and pollutants find their way indoors. Your home should be a sanctuary. This guide provides a strategic plan to significantly reduce allergens in your living space.
Understanding Summer Allergens
The primary culprits in summer are pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds, as well as mould spores, dust mites, and pet dander. Open windows and air conditioning units can circulate these irritants throughout your home. A deep clean focuses on capturing and removing them, not just moving them around.
Your Allergen-Reduction Action Plan
1. The Fabric Deep Clean (Where Allergens Hide) Your sofas, rugs, curtains, and mattress are allergen magnets.
- Curtains & Drapes: Take down and launder all curtains according to their care instructions.
- Upholstery: Thoroughly vacuum all upholstered furniture. For a deeper clean, professional steam cleaning is the most effective way to extract trapped pollen and dust mites from deep within the fibres.
- Carpets & Rugs: Vacuum at least twice a week with a HEPA-filter vacuum. However, to truly remove deep-seated allergens, a professional hot water extraction (steam clean) is recommended at the start of the season.
- Bedding: Wash all bedding, including pillow and mattress protectors, in hot water weekly.
2. Attack the Dust
- Technique Matters: Use damp microfiber cloths to trap dust, not feather dusters which just send it airborne.
- Top-Down Method: Start high (ceiling fans, light fixtures, tops of cabinets) and work your way down to surfaces and floors.
- Don’t Forget: Bookshelves, window sills, and blinds are major dust collectors.
3. Purify the Air
- HVAC System: Change your furnace filter regularly. A clean filter is crucial for trapping airborne particles. Consider having your air ducts professionally cleaned.
- Air Purifiers: Using a HEPA air purifier in the bedroom can dramatically improve sleep quality during allergy season.
When Professional Cleaning Becomes a Health Necessity
While these tips help with maintenance, an annual professional deep clean is the most effective way to reset your home’s air quality. We use commercial-grade equipment to remove a higher percentage of allergens than any DIY method can achieve.
Ready to create a healthier, allergen-free sanctuary this summer? Contact My Canada Cleaning to schedule your deep cleaning or professional steam cleaning service today.