As the colder months approach, experts say that doing an ‘autumn clean’ could keep your household healthier this winter.
“Most people think ‘spring clean’, but actually if you think about it, an autumn clean makes more sense,” scientist Dr Michelle Dickinson said.
“You’re about to spend maybe up to four or five months hunkered down with all your windows closed because of winter in your home. So why not make sure that hunkering down space is nice and clean and dust-free and allergen-free?”
Reducing allergen load makes for a healthier home
Dickinson said pollen, mold spores and dust mites were among the allergens that could lurk in the home.
“So, if you want your home to be healthy over the winter, actually getting a good clean in the autumn is a great idea.”
Allergy New Zealand chief executive Mark Dixon said New Zealand was the “world capital” for dust mites. He said dust mites loved humidity and lived in soft furnishings such as mattresses, pillows, carpets and curtains.
He said they were often found in particularly high concentrations in bedrooms.
Dixon said during winter, the combination of closed windows, indoor heating and moisture from cooking and showers created a perfect breeding ground.
“If you can keep your home under 50% humidity, you’re probably winning the war against dust mites”.
Ventilation was also important. Dixon said opening a window for 15 minutes during the colder months would help clear the air inside the home.
Dickinson said being closed up over winter could also increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the home and make its inhabitants feel drowsy and lethargic.
“If you’re feeling quite sleepy in your home, just crack your window open a tiny little bit, let some ventilation in. It won’t freeze your house, but it will probably help you clear your head and make you feel a bit better.”
Not just what you clean, but how you clean it
Dickinson said many household cleaners released “volatile organic compounds” which could cause headaches and eye, nose or throat irritation. She recommended using cleaners with natural ingredients instead, and ingredients such as citric acid worked just as well as bleach.
Ecostore research and development director Huia Iti said natural cleaners were not just healthier for the home, but when washed down the drain kinder to the environment. He said when purchasing a cleaner, consumers should look for products that were independently certified by credible organisations.
“Unfortunately, there is a lot of greenwashing out there,” he said.
Some credible endorsements Iti recommended looking out for included B Corp, Eco Choice Aotearoa and Sensitive Choice.
How to get the best results out of an autumn clean
To get the best out of a clean, Dickinson advised cleaning top to bottom, so any stray dirt would fall away from the clean area and be picked up later.
Cleaners, she said, also needed to be left on a surface for 10 minutes to be fully effective.
“When you spray a cleaner onto a surface, the surfactants are the first to kick in. These clever molecules surround grease and oil, lifting them off your benchtop and pulling them into tiny spheres that can be wiped away easily. The disinfectants then need time to kill germs by breaking down the proteins and cell membranes that keep bacteria and viruses alive. After 10 minutes, everything is in a form that easily wipes away.
“Also remember to do your high touch points, so your light switches, your door handles, and especially those areas that lots of grubby hands are going to be touching.”
To reduce dust mites, along with keeping the home well-ventilated, Dixon also recommended using HEPA-filter vacuums, mattress and pillow dust mite covers, and if needed swapping out heavy curtains for washable blinds.
rnz.co.nz
