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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Panic! Dust allergic visitors: how would you deep clean for allergies?

17 replies

SuperConfused · 02/07/2013 15:31

For quite a while, I?ve been trying to figure out why our house is so dusty and what is making my partner?s allergies play up so much. I?ve now found out that the visitors who are coming this weekend have serious dust allergies, and am in a bit of a panic as to how to deep clean by then, as I know that his allergies, which have always been pretty minor, have been playing up hugely since we moved in and I?m not sure what steps to take to ensure the same doesn?t happen to them (and they don?t judge me for being a slattern).

We have put away any wool throws and blankets, which he didn?t used to have a problem with. We have no carpets anywhere, its all laminate flooring or tiles except for one brand new rug we bought last month. Windows are all venetian blinds.

Our cleaner comes every second week and washes all the floors, and she?ll be in on Friday so it they should be freshly done by then.

We do have a lot of books and papers, as I work from home in a research role, and we?re near a railway line which I assume must raise some dust (it?s a second floor flat.) The only other possible issue is there?s no extractor fan in the kitchen or bathroom, the bathroom just has a vent and a window that doesn?t open. Despite this, I don?t think there?s any visible mould.

When I dust, it takes about ten minutes for there to be a noticeable film on things again: we do have mostly dark furniture which doesn?t help. My plan of action is to put away everything that can be put away, and start damp dusting skirting boards, surfaces, etc. I don?t really know what else I can do. If you?ve got this far, what would you do if you were trying to attack dust? We realistically have about three evenings this week we can devote to the task.

OP posts:
ohmeohmyforgotlogin · 02/07/2013 15:37

Soft toys in freezer for 24 hrs kills mites.

Hercy · 02/07/2013 16:08

Have you got a decent Hoover with a selection of attachments? I have the dyson animal and I do all my dusting with it (with a soft brush attachment), then wipe/polish afterwards.

I know what you mean about dusting only to raise all the dust in the air only for it to settle again almost immediately. I find getting most of it up with the Hoover avoids this, then I use a spray (cif or polish depending on surface) with kitchen roll after, so any remaining dust sticks to the solution/kitchen roll. (I'm sure a cloth would work just as well, but you don't have to wash/change kitchen roll so I find it less effort).

If you have a decent enough Hoover with suitable attachments, you can do anything. I do skirting boards, tv stand, curtains, light shades, window sills, anything!

TheSecondComing · 02/07/2013 16:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
SuperConfused · 02/07/2013 16:18

It's a rental, so we have a really crappy Hoover with no attachments which I genuinely think is about twenty years old (took a lot of effort to track down replacement bags for it, they're not made anymore) Landlord thinks its fine, and doesn't want to replace it and we've already spent so much on a rental it seems a bit much though ill consider it. I bought a gtech in the hope it would help day to day keeping dust under control but I don't find it as good as others seems to.

OP posts:
Original poster
SuperConfused · 02/07/2013 16:23

Ooh, it never occurred to me I could dust generally using cif. That seems like a good idea.

OP posts:
Startail · 02/07/2013 16:27

I remind my DSIS to bring her piriton.

I do clean for her, but I simply don't clean enough the rest of the time and we have so much junk, she will sneeze.

larlemucker · 02/07/2013 16:31

I have a bad dust mite allergy (there are 2 types of mite, I'm allergic to both which is uncommon).
The worst places are the bed and your sofa. You can get covers for the pillows and mattress. Don't buy covers for the duvet as the duvet slips down in them, you can get hypoallergenic duvets.
The biggest change we made was buying a leather sofa as the mites can't live in it so there is no 'cloud' of dust when you sit down.
Open windows when you dust/Hoover.
You can also buy hoovered with HEPA filters which stop the dust mite protein from being blown out the back if the Hoover.

If you have people visiting DON'T dust or Hoover while they are there. Dust on a surface is fine, it's dust in the air that sets off the allergy

5madthings · 02/07/2013 16:31

I am allergic to dust, I hoover daily and wipe down surface switch damp cloth or wet wipes, tbh I go to houses and I dotn expect people to make a special effort so its nice you are :) I take extra anti histimine when away and I expect your guests will do the same. Are they sleeping. At yours? You could try and make sure that room is dusted well, no cuddlies, throws etc.

5madthings · 02/07/2013 16:32

Yes to a HEPA filter we have a miele hoove which is good, before any e have a sebo, I know you don't want to buy one but you can take it with you when you leave.

Bluebell99 · 02/07/2013 16:37

I think a good vacuum cleaner is essential. We recently got a new dyson and it is amazing the amount of dust it picks up. i didn't know what a gtech was but googled it. is it as effective as a vacuum cleaner? why not just buy a vacuum cleaner yourselves?

specialsubject · 02/07/2013 17:34

if your allergies are that bad buy a decent vacuum cleaner. You take it with you when you leave.

as for the visitors - ask them what they recommend.

Original poster
SuperConfused · 03/07/2013 14:05

Thanks everyone. The reluctance to buy a new vacuum cleaner is part cost, part storage - the proper HEPA filter ones seem more than a hundred quid which we just don't have right now, and the landlords have made clear with the things we want to replace that they think are fine that they want us to store the 'old' things in case they need them for future tenants. We can just about fit our existing hoover, don't know where a new one would go, and hopefully we'll stay in this flat at least another couple of years.

Will think about it though. Did a massive declutter last night, all clothes put away, lots of papers thrown out and boxed up from the study. Surfaces a lot cleaner, and did some serious damp dusting - a bit Blush about how much dust was raised, clearly we're not as clean as I thought! Have realised under the bed is quite dusty so put the mattress in the hallway and will do a proper hoover and wash underneath the bed tonight, as well as massive vacuuming of sofas.

The visitors (in-laws) will say its fine, and not a problem, and not to make a special effort, and then silently judge me for having a dusty home Wink So won't bother asking them what they recommend. But hopefully by Saturday it should be in such a state that I'm not embarrassed and I will know I've made all the effort I can.

OP posts:
RenterNomad · 03/07/2013 19:58

You can do a click-and-collect arrangement at M&S

This is Allergy UK's guide to cleaning (and decorating, though that doesn't help in rented accommodation, sorry)

RenterNomad · 03/07/2013 19:59

If you have any sun in time, its UV light will kill dust mites in bedding/upholstery.

RenterNomad · 03/07/2013 20:00

But not dust mite poo, though: that you'd have to vacuum with a proper hoover.

wheredidiputit · 03/07/2013 20:58

As someone who has very bad dust allergy I wouldn't expect you to go overboard with your cleaning.

It's my allergy and down to me to manage it.

As for hoovers I have just this Bissell one for £49.99 and it has a HEPA filter.

RenterNomad · 05/07/2013 10:38

Hope the weekend goes well! It's sunny where we are today, so maybe a good chance for you, too, to zap dust mites with the UV rays!

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