By Gabriela Yorgova
From disinfecting surfaces to cleaning stains from clothes, bleach and cleaning solutions with strong scents and chemicals are used for many purposes at home. However, as much as they are effective in killing bacteria, they can also be harmful to our health.
Dust, pests, mould and other triggers can be present in a home, and it’s up to us to reduce them so that we avoid asthma attacks. It is crucial for people who have asthma or allergies to keep their place clean.
What you use for cleaning, can irritate your lungs – chemicals are common in many products, and they often can trigger asthma symptoms and allergies.
Bruna Pieratti, 40, a mother of two young boys, shared her favourite alternative to bleach: “I don’t use bleach at home at all because of my boys. I use Method cleaning products – they are amazing, especially the floor cleaner, it smells lovely!”
To reduce the exposure to such solutions that can worsen the air quality, you can try liquid or gel products. It is always recommended to open the windows, even if you don’t suffer from asthma. Also, try using a damp cloth to clean surfaces as it will collect those dust particles that could potentially go into the air.
Making sure that other potential triggers are kept at bay is also crucial. The mother of two shared that she vacuums the house at least three times a week to keep it “free of dust”.
Top tips for allergy-free spaces
Follow these tips to keep your home as healthy as possible:
- Washing your bed sheets in hot water plays a huge part in maintaining the cleanliness of your home.
- It is recommended that you don’t hang dry your laundry outside, as pollen can stick to the wet linens and clothes and trigger allergic reactions in those who are sensitive.
- Homemade cleaners can also be effective for day-to-day cleaning and even for disinfection. Recipes that include baking soda, vinegar, borax, hydrogen peroxide, or dish soap are less likely to trigger asthma.
- For a better scent, you can use essential oils; however, if it’s too strong, it can also cause breathing issues.
- Alternatives to cleaning solutions are baking soda to clean carpets, and white vinegar to remove limescale from the shower, Pieratti says.
- Other changes that you can implement in your home are: removing carpets and rugs as they collect dust and other particles; using a dust-proof mattress and pillows; avoid letting your pets sleep on the bed.
Allergyuk.org suggests using Koh Universal Cleaner, as it is an asthma and allergy-friendly cleaning solution. “Whilst our Allergy Friendly and Seal of Approval products are very unlikely to cause an allergic reaction, Allergy UK advises that you always wear protective gloves when using cleaning products to avoid direct contact with your skin, particularly if your skin is extremely sensitive,” it says.
Using a mask when cleaning is another way to protect yourself from being exposed to allergens for too long, as the chemicals can damage your lungs and, in some cases, impair breathing.
It is not always possible to avoid all allergy triggers; however, letting them pile up will increase the chances of your body reacting negatively.
Leave a Reply