It’s that time of the year: when we get the moisture we need and beautiful sunsets each night. Many people here love the monsoon season, which typically begins in early- to mid- July and lasts until about September. The monsoons can, however, create some concerns.
Mold and mildew can create health issues and additional dirt, debris and germs that enter our homes can cause us trouble down the line. Here are a few tips to help us stay safe and healthy this summer monsoon season.
Wash your hands regularly. Additional germs and allergens are growing during this time of the year. We bring them in on our hands and feet and on our clothing. Don’t allow wet or damp clothing to sit in the hamper. Wash and dry it immediately to avoid mildew and germs. Shoes are bound to get wet. Clean and dry footwear regularly and make sure shoes are completely dry before wearing them again. Use antibacterial foot powder.
Don’t leave recently washed wet laundry in the washer for more than just a few minutes. It will smell sour very quickly when it is hot and damp in the house.
Keep kitchens and bathrooms clean. Check in areas that sometimes don’t get cleaned every time, like high corners above the shower, behind and under things, window tracks and sills, the rubber ring around the washer and dryer door and on the ceilings above sinks, tubs and showers. All of these are areas that can collect mildew, dirt and germs.
Keep windows closed when you leave the house. As you know, it may be sunny one minute and a cloudburst the next. Water entering through an open window can damage sills, walls, curtains, furniture and floors. Open windows again when you are home and it is not raining. Your home needs as much fresh air ventilation as possible.
Make sure to use area rugs on the interior and exterior side of each door to the outside. Leave soiled shoes in a shoe rack instead of walking around the house and spreading the dirt and germs.
Remove any containers or buckets outside that may collect rainwater. Once the rain stops and the sun comes out, that standing water is a place for mosquitos and other pests to gather and breed. Keep pets clean and dry them off before letting them into the house.
Keep furniture clean and dry and disinfect all hard surfaces often. Outside of appliances, walls, fixtures, door handles, ceiling fans can all collect dirt, dust and germs.
Make sure your pets are safe during the thunderstorms. Many normally well-behaved pets totally lose it during the storms and will dart out of the door or over a fence. Some people have had success with the “thundershirts” that can be purchased at most pet stores. If you don’t have one of those, and your dog or cat is sensitive to the sounds of thunder, place a crate with a comfortable blanket, one of your t-shirts and a toy inside. Place it in an interior bathroom or closet with a radio or music playing. You can cover the crate with a sheet. The crate serves as a “den,” which is a natural comfort for most dogs and cats and is a safe place for them until the storm subsides. Microchip your pets so that if they do get separated from you, they will have a better chance of returning home safely.
After monsoon season subsides, it is a great time to get windows, tracks and sills, as well as carpeting, upholstery and draperies professionally cleaned. Having these things done will prepare for the upcoming holiday season and avoid the continued growth of mold.
Enjoy the exciting monsoon season and stay safe and healthy! QCBN
By Lucy Leyva
Lucy Leyva is the owner of Prescott Maid to Order.
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