When it comes to widespread spring cleaning, most homeowners view this task as a way to improve the look of their home and clean out dirt, dust, and unnecessary clutter to create a cleaner environment. While creating a clean and attractive environment in your home is important, many homeowners often overlook another important benefit of thorough spring cleaning, improving indoor air quality. The quality of the breathing air in your home can have a direct effect on the health of you and your family as dust, pollen, and other allergens can cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems. It is important to help improve the indoor air quality of your home with your spring cleaning routine by cleaning your air ducts, carpet, and watching for mold.
Why Improving Indoor Air Quality is Important
Most Americans spend the majority of their time inside their homes which makes it important to maintain a healthy indoor environment. Throughout the year, airborne allergens including bacteria, dust, pollen, dander, and spores come into the home, and during the winter, these allergens recirculate through your home by getting caught up in your air duct system. The carpeting and upholstery in your home also trap airborne allergens and if they are not cleaned thoroughly, the allergens will reenter the breathing air and contribute to indoor air pollution.
The main symptoms that are associated with exposure to indoor air pollution include fatigue, headache, shortness of breath, coughing, sneezing, congestion, dizziness, nausea, and dryness of the eyes, skin, nose, and throat. However, it may be difficult to determine if these symptoms are a direct result of poor indoor air quality because they resemble the symptoms of the common cold or the flu. The best indicator that these symptoms may be the result of indoor air pollution is if the symptoms occur only when in a specific place and disappear shortly after leaving that place.
Improving Indoor Air Quality with Air Duct Cleaning
One of the most common and effective ways to improve the indoor air quality of your home is with professional air duct cleaning services. As you run your heating and air conditioning throughout the year, the airborne allergens in your home get drawn into the system where they settle on the air ducts and components. When the system kicks back on, these particles are distributed back into the breathing air and this cycle will continue until the air ducts are cleaned. Professional air duct cleaning services, like those provided by ServiceMaster Professional Services,will help improve the indoor air quality as dust and other airborne particles are removed from the air ducts and component parts using state-of-the-art equipment. Having professional air duct cleaning services done in your home regularly is an effective way to maintain the indoor air quality of your home.
Improving Indoor Air Quality with Carpet Cleaning
Carpet cleaning can actually increase your indoor air quality, A LOT!
As dust, pollen, and other airborne particles that enter your home begin to settle, they often get trapped within the fibers of your rugs and carpet. This actually helps to improve the indoor air quality of your home as the carpet acts like an air filter, but when the carpet absorbs too much of these particles, it can contribute to indoor air pollution as walking on it may cause allergens to be redistributed into the air. Regular vacuuming, while important, will not adequately remove all the deeply embedded debris that could affect the indoor air quality from carpeting and area rugs. The most effective way to clean your carpet and improve the indoor air quality of your home is to hire a professional carpet cleaning service. The technicians of ServiceMaster Professional Services deep clean all types of carpeting using advanced equipment and cleaning products to remove embedded debris that contributes to indoor air pollution.
Checking your Home for Mold
The potential negative health effects of mold are well known by now as the fungal spores can circulate through the indoor air of your home. However, mold growth may not always be visible and it is possible for hidden mold to release mold spores into your home that can affect the indoor air quality. This makes it important to consistently check your home for mold, especially during the spring and summer as humid conditions make mold more likely to grow. The mold remediation professionals of ServiceMaster Professional Services can remove mold growth using the most advanced cleaning products and equipment of the industry. Because mold is more likely to form in the humid months of spring, checking your home for mold should be part of your spring home maintenance routine.
Mold growth may not always be visible so you need to make sure to check very carefully.
As you continue with your spring cleaning this season to improve the look and cleanliness of your home, you should also consider taking these actions to improve the indoor air quality. The dust, dirt, pollen, and other airborne debris that contribute to indoor air pollution build up during the winter as your home is closed up, making the spring the most opportune time to improve your indoor air quality with air duct cleaning, carpet cleaning, and mold remediation services. Improving the air quality of your home will help create a healthier, more comfortable environment with a reduced risk of adverse health effects.
