How Cleaning Can Affect Your Asthma

When you have allergic asthma, it’s a sad reality that the very place you love and spend the most time may be your #1 site of allergen triggers. Keeping a clean home free of dust, pet hair and other particles floating through the air is a large part of managing your asthma, but the cleaning process itself can provoke an allergic reaction. If you are stuck with cleaning house cleaning, protect yourself using the following tips. 1. Wear a face mask to block inhaling debris and chemicals. High-quality masks can be purchased at your local hardware store. 2. Wash your cleaning clothes in hot water. Hot water can effectively kill dust mites. 3. Wear plastic gloves and toss them immediately afterward, or rinse them before storing them away. RELATED: Asthma vs Allergic Asthma: Do You Know The Difference? 4. Use a wet towel to pick up dust so that it doesn’t fly all over. 5. Always shower after you clean. 6. Use a vacuum with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance) filter. Unlike regular vacuums, those with HEPA filters don’t release allergens back into the air. & Visit the BlackDoctor.org Asthma center for more helpful articles and tips.