Many people use this time of year to carry out a spring clean in their homes and get ready for the year ahead. This deeper level of cleaning is often focussed on freshening various aspects of the home to make it a more pleasant place to be. One of the best ways to do this is to carry out cleaning to improve the quality of your indoor air. This will help your HVAC system to distribute fresh and cleaner air throughout your home. Let’s take a closer look at three spring cleaning tips that will help you to get cleaner indoor air.
1. Start in the Bedrooms
Many of us don’t like to think about dust mites in our bedsheets and pillows, but they are present nonetheless. Dust mites can trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions in sensitive people. These mites can also be found on your drapes, in your carpets, and on your upholstered furnishings. Washing bedding weekly, regular vacuuming, and your HVAC system can help to keep these mites at bay. The air filter in your HVAC system needs to be cleaned or replaced regularly for the most effective results. When the air filter is clogged, it can allow the dust that should be filtered to be re-circulated throughout your home. For the best results, you could also install a high efficiency air filter in your HVAC system with a MERV rating of 11 or higher.
2. Cleaning Bathrooms
The tile grout in your bathroom has skin like pores that are a breeding ground for dirt and mold spores. Cleaning your tiles can be a tough job, but once it’s done, you should also clean your bathroom fans as they could also be caked with dirt and mold. Start by turning off the power, then remove the cover and get ready to clean. Wash the cover with warm soapy water and clean the fan blades with an old toothbrush. Dry the cover thoroughly, place it back into position and turn the power back on. Your fan will now have improved airflow and will not be distributing mold and dust throughout your home.
3. Spring Clean the Laundry Room
This room is often used, but many of us neglect it for most of the year. During a spring clean, we can organize this busy room by decluttering and tidying. The best way to help your HVAC system in this room is to clean out your dryer ducts. When the dryer ducts are blocked, your washing machine will need to work harder than necessary, and this will decrease energy efficiency. Start by unplugging your dryer and if you have a gas dryer don’t forget to turn the gas off. Then loosen the vent clamp at the rear of the dryer and slide the vent off. Reach into the vent hole and pull out all the lint and any other buildup that’s lurking there. Make sure that you clean out the vent tubing before you put everything back together. This process is necessary even if you regularly clean your lint screen because smaller fibers can still bypass the trap and get into your dryer vent.