CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 06/08/04

Don't wait until spring to thoroughly clean

By Sharon Omahen
University of Georgia

Springtime has become synonymous with cleaning time, but if you're an allergy sufferer, you shouldn't wait until spring to thoroughly clean your home.

"Cleaning on a regular basis in a thorough manner may reduce the numbers of allergens in the home," said Jorge Atiles, a housing specialist with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. "You can keep allergens in your home to a minimum by maintaining cleanliness year-round."

Set a weekly cleaning schedule

Atiles suggests creating a weekly cleaning plan and sticking to it. For example, on Mondays, clean the bedroom thoroughly and on Tuesdays, wash all bedding, and on Wednesdays wet mop the floors.

"For your allergies' sakes, take time everyday to maintain a clean home," Atiles said. "Even if just have five minutes to spare."

You can reduce allergens in your home by removing dust, dust mites and mold. To remove accumulated dust and dust mites, cut down on clutter in your home and reduce relative humidity (moisture levels)indoors to under 50 percent.

"Allergens can accumulate in clutter as well as on your upholstery and carpeting," he said.

Vacuum all upholstery and carpeting with a HEPA filter vacuum weekly and consider having them professionally cleaned once or twice a year, as well.

"If your allergies are severe, you may want to consider replacing your carpeting with wood, vinyl or linoleum flooring," Atiles said.

Also clean window treatments, dust blinds, and remove and wash curtains, if possible. Regularly clean fan blades, light fixtures, ceilings, walls and vents to remove dust.

Control moisture to fight mold

And don't forget to fight mold, too.

"Mold is ubiquitous in the environment, and it is extremely difficult to remove all molds from an indoor environment," Atiles said. "But you can control moisture to aid in the elimination of mold growth."

To fight mold, eliminate moisture sources such as dripping faucets, puddles of water and wet bathmats. Use a squeegee after bathing to remove water from shower walls and bathtubs.

Make sure there is adequate ventilation while cooking and bathing to reduce moisture build-up. Remove mold and mildew from surfaces using cleaners designed specifically for the job.

Once surfaces covered with mold and mildew have been cleaned, Atiles recommends cleaning them once or twice per week.

Sharon Omahen is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:
Jorge Horacio Atiles
uga commencement CAES News
CAES to celebrate new graduates during May 9 convocation 04/18/24 Sameeka Prabath Rajamani
As another academic year draws to a close, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is gearing up for its Athens campus convocation ceremony, which will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, at The Classic Center in Athens. “Each year, it’s an honor to celebrate the success of our CAES graduates,” said CAES Dean and Director Nick T. Place. “It’s amazing what these students accomplish during their time with us, and I’m always excited to commemorate this next step in their lives as they continue on to either further studies or the start of their careers.”
A student harvests red clover at UGArden. CAES News
UGA horticulture class shows students the science behind herbal remedies 04/16/24 Sameeka Prabath Rajamani
The field of medicine is ever-changing, and the use of herbal medicines may play a bigger role in health care as the value of natural remedies gain recognition in the Western world. Students at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are delving into the field of medicinal remedies through the class “Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants.” Offered to undergraduate students through the Department of Horticulture, the class helps students develop a deeper understanding of the connection between nature and health.
Using robotics to help sort onions on Georgia farms CAES News
Using robotics to help sort onions on Georgia farms 04/15/24 David Mitchell
During the pandemic, labor problems became acute on many farms in Georgia and across the country. Farms once staffed by humans to bring produce from the field to stores for purchase were suddenly short-staffed, and the global supply chain was severely impacted. Working with UGA’s Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center and A&M Farms in Lyons, Georgia, a team of researchers led by School of Computing Professor Prashant Doshi is designing collaborative robots to mitigate some of these potential challenges.
2024 honorees are William D. Branch, Georgia Seed Development Professor in Peanut Breeding and Genetics in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, and Elzie Argene Claxton, an agriculture educator and 1980 CAES agricultural education graduate who went on to earn a master’s degree in 1982 and education specialist degree in 1984 from UGA’s College of Education. CAES News
Innovator, educator inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame 04/11/24 Maria M. Lameiras
An innovator in peanut breeding whose research revitalized an industry and an ardent champion of agricultural education were inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame at the 68th University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Alumni Association Awards in Athens. The 2024 honorees are William D. Branch, Georgia Seed Development Professor in Peanut Breeding and Genetics in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, and Elzie Argene Claxton, an agriculture educator and 1980 CAES agricultural education graduate.
Peach growers are looking forward to a fruitful season as the weather this winter and spring have been near-perfect for the sensitive crop. This year is projected to be a much-needed comeback from the disastrous season they experienced after a late freeze in March 2023 took out more than 90% of the state's crop. (Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA) CAES News
Growers hopeful 2024 peach season will rebound from disastrous 2023 04/10/24 Emily Cabrera
Last year, the peach industry lost $60 million due to the late freeze that hit much of the Southeast in mid-March 2023, said Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agent for Peach and Taylor counties. With no freezing temperatures in the forecast and hope for strong pricing during the upcoming season, peach growers are looking forward to a much-needed rebound year.
UGA wheat breeder and geneticist Mohamed Mergoum smells one of several test brews created by Creature Comforts on its annual Get Comfortable collaboration using a variety of wheat Mergoum developed at CAES. CAES News
Creature Comforts partners with UGA wheat breeder to create 2024 Get Comfortable brew 04/09/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Wheat breeders spend years meticulously crossing varieties to coax the best traits out of each species, carefully propagating plant varieties that are healthier, heartier and better suited for the environments where they are grown. Brewmasters are equally painstaking when choosing the components that will give their beers a specific flavor profile. These two exacting professions came together this spring when Athens-based Creature Comforts Brewing Co. reached out to the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences to find a sustainable wheat variety they could use to make a good beer for a great cause.