Allergy-Proof Cleaning Guide for Boynton Beach, FL

Boynton Beach stretches from the Intracoastal Waterway west past Congress Avenue and on toward Hagen Ranch Road and Green Cay, and the allergy picture shifts a little along the way. East of Federal Highway, older cottages and condo buildings catch the ocean breeze, along with the salt and fine sand it carries. Out west, newer subdivisions sit beside lakes, golf courses and preserve land, where lawns, oaks and wetland plants keep pollen in the air for much of the year. Either way, the house is shut tight and air conditioned most months, so whatever gets inside tends to stay there.

Allergy cleaning is not about making a home smell clean. It is about removing the particles that set off sneezing and itchy eyes, and doing it in a way that does not stir them back into the air. Here is a practical plan for a Boynton Beach house, villa or condo.

What you are actually fighting

Most indoor allergy trouble in South Florida comes from four sources.

• Pollen. Florida trees often release pollen from January into June, with oaks heaviest from February through May, and bermudagrass can pollinate all year in this part of the state. Spring is when you see the yellow dust on screen enclosures and cars along Woolbright Road.
• Mold. The NWS Miami wet season runs from mid May to mid October, and that is when most of the yearly rain falls. UF/IFAS suggests keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent, and drying any wet spot within 48 hours.
• Dust mites. They live in bedding, mattresses, upholstered chairs and carpet, and humid air suits them well.
• Pet dander. It clings to fabric and settles into grout lines and rugs long after the animal leaves the room.

Start at the door, not the bedroom

The fastest way to lower allergens is to stop them at the entry. In Boynton, that means two doors for many homes: the front door and the slider to the lanai or pool deck.

• Use a washable mat outside and another inside each door, and wash them often during pollen season.
• Make shoes-off the house rule. Sand, grass clippings and pollen ride in on soles.
• Wipe the slider track and the bottom of the screen. Pollen and beach sand pile up there and blow inside every time the door opens.
• Hose off the screen enclosure and lanai furniture after the heavy spring pollen weeks, before the dust gets tracked in.

The bedroom matters most

You spend a third of your life in the bedroom, so give it the most attention.

1. Wash sheets and pillowcases weekly in hot water. Wash blankets and duvet covers at least monthly.
2. Cover the mattress and pillows with allergen-blocking encasements. They are a one-time purchase that keeps mites out of the stuffing.
3. Keep the nightstand clear. Fewer objects means fewer surfaces holding dust.
4. Dust from the top down with a damp microfiber cloth: ceiling fan blades first, then shelves, then the headboard, then the baseboards.
5. Vacuum slowly with a sealed HEPA vacuum, including under the bed.

Bathrooms and the humidity problem

Boynton Beach water is softened and treated at the city's plants, but bathrooms still collect soap film, and soap film plus humid air feeds mildew. Run the exhaust fan during every shower and for a while after. Squeegee glass doors, hang towels where they can dry fully, and pull the shower curtain closed so its folds do not stay damp. Check caulk lines around the tub and the base of the toilet for dark spots, and look under the sink for slow leaks.

In older homes near downtown and the Ocean Avenue area, small tile and many grout lines give mold more places to settle. Scrubbing grout regularly, rather than once a year, keeps it from taking hold.

Air conditioning is part of cleaning

In a home that runs AC most of the year, the filter is working as hard as any vacuum. Change it on the schedule the manufacturer suggests, and more often in spring pollen season or if you have pets. Keep the air handler closet clear of stored boxes, and make sure the drip pan drains. Wipe supply vents and return grilles, which collect a gray film that blows back into the room.

If the home sits closed for part of the year, as many seasonal homes in western Boynton communities do, set the thermostat to keep humidity under control instead of shutting the system off. A closed, warm, damp house is an invitation to mold.

Floors, rugs and furniture

• Tile and terrazzo are easy for allergy sufferers: dry mop or vacuum first, then damp mop so dust is lifted, not pushed around.
• Vacuum carpet and rugs at least weekly, twice weekly with pets.
• Vacuum upholstered furniture and cushions, including the crevices.

Products and fragrance

Strong scents can bother sensitive noses as much as dust does. Choose fragrance free cleaners when you can, never mix bleach with ammonia or acids, and open windows or run the fan when you clean. Leftover chemicals you no longer want should not go in the trash; the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County takes household chemicals for free at its Home Chemical and Recycling Centers.