Prepare your house and home for fall allergy season

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Prepare your house and home for fall allergy season

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Reducing home allergens can alleviate some of the environmental

pitfalls around the corner

(August 10, 2005 - Ann Arbor, Mich.) -- With autumn just around the

corner and humidity still on the rise, now is the time to do some

clean-up in order to prevent a harsh allergy outbreak in and around

your home. Fall brings a rise in mold spores, ragweed and other

environmental allergies that can easily find their way into your

home.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology,

about 40 million Americans have an allergic reaction brought on by

mold spores. Mold spores can cause nasal stuffiness, eye irritation,

coughing and other traditional hay-fever-like symptoms and can

quickly spread in humid conditions.

McClellan, vice president of marketing for Service Brands

International, recommends a good late-summer cleaning to reduce the

buildup of those allergens that can wreak havoc on your respiratory

system.

" Although most people think of spring cleaning as the essential time

to rid your house of dust, dander and other potential allergy-

inducing offenders, we also recommend our clients do a solid

cleaning in the late-summer to rid their home of big trouble spots, "

McClellan says.

While one big cleaning job every month or so may be a great start,

you need to be diligent about keeping up a regular routine of

cleaning including mopping up standing water around leaky faucets

and tubs, keeping counters free of crumbs and dirty dishes, store

opened food packages in airtight containers and make sure you clean

your microwave.

According to the American Lung Association, these allergens, along

with cockroaches, can aggravate cases of asthma.

Besides weekly dusting and vacuuming, McClellan also recommends

cleaning window screens to reduce the amount of pollen your

household is exposed to.

Also, McClellan says this is a particular time of the year where -

if you have allergy sufferers in your house - you should forego

hanging sheets and towels outside, since mold spores, ragweed pollen

and other environmental allergens can collect on these materials,

and you'll end up bringing these intruders indoors.

About Molly Maid

Molly Maid, based in Ann Arbor, MI. is one of 5 service companies

under parent, Service Brands International. The residential cleaning

franchise, ranked number one in the U.S., was founded in 1979.

Currently, more than 540 franchises are operating in the United

States, Canada, Japan, England, Portugal and Bermuda. Molly Maid has

been the recipient of numerous awards for entrepreneurship, software

innovation and humanitarian causes, including the Ms. Molly

Foundation, which collects money and goods for safe houses and

shelters for victims of domestic violence.