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OMAHA, Neb. – Every day we spend more than 90 percent of our time indoors getting bombarded by contaminants and allergens such as dust mites, animal dander, mold, mildew and insect debris. Homes today are built so airtight that any air that gets in -- good or bad -- has a difficult time getting out, making your housekeeping practices all the more important. Try to prevent as many allergens and contaminants as possible from causing havoc in your home by following these preventive maintenance techniques provided by THE MAIDS Home Services. -- Clean and change your air conditioner and furnace filters according to the manufacturer's directions. Mold thrives in cooling systems and pollen gets trapped in the filters. -- Place floor mats by all entrances of the home to cut dirt and dust indoors. -- Wipe walls and mini-blinds with a damp cloth and vacuum draperies often. -- Vacuum mattresses. Put zippered, allergen-proof coverings on your mattress, box springs and pillows to prevent dust mite allergens from escaping into the air. -- Have your air ducts professionally cleaned. This helps reduce the amount of dirt, pollen and contaminants from being re-circulated into the home. -- If you have a humidifier, set the humidity level below 50 percent to inhibit fungus growth. -- To prevent mildew from forming in your refrigerator, wipe the inside with vinegar. The acid effectively kills mildew fungus. -- Throw away piles of newspaper; they could attract cockroaches. These pesky critters' body parts and dried fecal particles are strong allergens. -- Groom all pets outdoors. Source: THE MAIDS Home Services
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