When someone at home has asthma or allergies, how you clean matters as much as how often. The habits below come from guidance published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with a link beside each one.
This is general cleaning guidance, not medical advice. Follow the asthma action plan from your doctor, and ask them about the triggers that matter most for you.
Common triggers inside the home
The CDC lists common asthma triggers that include dust mites, mold, furry pets, cockroaches and other pests, secondhand smoke, and breathing in some chemicals or fragrances. Most of the cleaning advice below targets one of these.
Bedding and dust mites
The EPA notes that every home has dust mites, and that they live in mattresses, pillows, carpets, upholstered furniture, and bedding. Its suggestions:
- Wash bedding in hot water once a week, and dry it completely.
- Use dust-proof covers on pillows and mattresses.
- Choose stuffed toys you can wash, and wash them in hot water.
Dusting and vacuuming
- Dust often with a damp cloth, as the EPA recommends.
- Vacuum carpets and fabric-covered furniture every week, using a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
- People with asthma or allergies should leave the area while it is being vacuumed.
A HEPA filter is defined as one that can remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles 0.3 microns in size, which is the hardest size to catch; larger and smaller particles are trapped even more efficiently.
Moisture and mold
Mold needs moisture, so the EPA’s advice centers on keeping things dry:
- Dry damp or wet items completely within one to two days, and fix leaks as soon as you can.
- Keep indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent. A humidity meter from a hardware store will tell you where you are.
- Run an exhaust fan or open a window when showering, as the CDC suggests.
Chicago winters keep windows closed for months, so watch for condensation on the inside of windowpanes, which the EPA says can be a sign of high humidity. For mold covering more than about 10 square feet, or after significant water damage, the EPA points to professional remediation guidance. That is specialist work, separate from house cleaning.
Products and fragrances
Because some chemicals and fragrances can trigger asthma, pay attention to which products bother the person with asthma and avoid those. Strong scents are worth noticing even when a product is labeled as natural. For pests, the CDC advises against sprays and foggers and suggests keeping food in sealed containers, trash in a closed bin, and cracks sealed instead.
Pets
If a furry pet is a trigger, the EPA suggests keeping it out of the bedroom of the person with asthma and off the furniture, and vacuuming carpets and furniture when that person is not around.
If you book a cleaning service
A few details help a cleaning team plan around asthma or allergies:
- Tell us about sensitivities before the visit. Eco-friendly products are part of the Craft Cleaners Chicago service approach. If anyone in the home has a product sensitivity or allergy, share it when you book so we can discuss the available options.
- Plan to be out during the clean. You do not need to be home while we clean, which makes it easy for the person with asthma to be away during vacuuming and dusting, as the EPA suggests.
- Name your priority rooms. Bedrooms, upholstered furniture, and other dust-heavy areas can be called out in your quote request.
A deep cleaning details reachable trim, baseboards, vents, fans, and light fixtures, and standard cleaning on a biweekly or monthly schedule keeps everyday dust under control between visits. Send your details through the quote form or call (312) 569-0302.