Domestic Cleaning Tips

Here are five quick cleaning tips for allergy relief.

1. Use special bedding covers and launder sheets and blankets weekly in 130°F water to kill dust mites. Washer water not hot enough? Try tumbling items first in a hot dryer for 30 to 60 minutes (longer for thick comforters), then washing on hot.

2. Clean drapes, throw pillows, and stuffed animals — prime allergen collectors — every few months. Spritz no washable, water-safe fabrics with Clorox Anywhere Anti-Allergen Fabric Spray ($5 for 22 ounces) to help neutralize dust mites.

3. Trap dust and prevent it from becoming airborne with electrostatic dusters, like those made by Swiffer.

4. Zap mold by scouring bathtubs, tiles, and trash cans with a mildew-removing cleanser.

Attention, Pet Owners
5. The Dyson DC28 Animal vacuum sounds like it’s designed for you, but while it did fine on our embedded-dirt, bare-floor, and filtration tests, it needed nearly six times as many passes to clear up pet hair as other models. Quicker picks: the Miele S7 Bolero and Eureka Boss Smart-Vac Pet Lover uprights. Check out our HEPA vacuum cleaner reviews for the full report.

More cleaning tips coming soon