The thought of cleaning out the attic is a personal nightmare for most people. The sheer volume of the stuff stored in attics can bring out laziness in even the most hardworking person. Hence, as the cleaning is postponed, the dust and dirt is allowed to gather at a leisurely pace while the objects stored also multiply. But you need not worry, all hope is not lost. The following tips and tricks can help you get started and increase your efficiency when cleaning out your attic.
A dirty attic is to rodents what a flower is to a bee. Therefore, letting dirt settle in your attic invites bigger problems in the future such as rodent infestations, with rats well-known for establishing their houses in attics. Hence, you should sweep your attic regularly, in order to throw out any rodents present as well as getting rid of their feces, which host a large number of bacteria. In addition, a dirty attic can encourage several allergies, which is why a clean attic is a necessity for safe health.
Before you properly clean out your attic, remove all of your belongings from it. This is so that there are no obscured or hidden corners that can escape your view. Furthermore, this also gives you a chance to sort out the useful stuff from the useless objects lying around. Take stock of everything that is present in the attic, so you don’t end up losing something.
Clean the walls, frames and windows of the attic with either a wet cloth or a duster. Pay special attention to cleaning the fans, roof, light bulbs, fixtures, and hatchets. If you have a high power vacuum cleaner, you can use it in order to get rid of even the most microscopic particles that may be present in the air in the attic.
Regularly check the roof of your attic for any leaks that may be present. Leaks can also lead to growing problems as all the moisture that manages to seep in can encourage the growth of molds as well as insects. To de-moisturize your attic, you can use a dehumidifier, which has the effect of reducing the humidity in an enclosed area. Dehumidifying your attic will help you in tackling the growth of insects and unwelcome bugs.
A fact that not many people know is that the dust mites that you tend to see floating in the air are actually composed of vermin, feces, urine, dried saliva, and even roach parts. As is obvious, these dust particles are very unsafe for anyone who accidentally inhales them. Not only are they gross, but they have a tendency to trigger allergies, which can be very unpleasant for the victim – to say the least. You should search for any minor cracks or opening that may be present in the wall, the roof, or the windows, and seal them by using polyurethane foam and caulking. In addition, you need to repair and cover over any holes that may be present in the attic ventilation screens.
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