Use the right bedding.
Credit: Metro file
Use the right bedding.
Credit: Metro file
Healthy space designer Robin Wilson knows that spring cleaning spruces up your space — and can make it healthier. Thepresident of Robin Wilson Homeandambassador for The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America,whohas a line of hypoallergenic bedding products at Bed, Bath & Beyond,offers these tips for taking spring cleaning to the next level:
- In the bathroom, get rid of your vinyl shower curtain because it holds mold more easily and off gases. Use a nylon curtain instead. Use non-toxic cleansers, and always lower the toilet seat when flushing to ensure that spraying particles do not land near or on your towels, toothbrushes or soaps.
- For bedding, wash your pillow case once a week, your pillow protector at least once a month and replace pillows every three years. Cover your mattress with a hypoallergenic cover, wash every two months and make sure that it is non-toxic without formaldehyde-based fire retardants.
- Use non-VOC paints: The start of spring is a great time to paint a room. Use non-VOC paints in your home which won’t off gas, leave an obnoxious paint odor and stir up asthma or allergies. You can’t even tell the difference in how it looks on the wall.
- Flooring: Get rid of wall-to-wall carpeting. Tile and hardwood floors are a much better choice, but must be vacuumed or cleaned on a regular basis to eliminate dirt and dust. Each Spring, remove everything from the room as if you were moving, and mop or steam clean the floor.
- Check for mold in dishwashers, under the fridge in the water pan and in sink and bath drains. Change water dispenser and icemaker filters.
- Wash or freeze stuffed toys: Wash or freeze your child’s stuffed animals to kill dust mites.
- Consider using slipcovers on your upholstered sofas which can be washed regularly and have come a long way from slipcovers of 10 years ago. Make sure to limit the use of drapes as they are “dust catchers.”
