Why doing an 'autumn clean' could keep you and your home healthier this winter
Photo:
123RF
As the colder months approach, experts say that doing an 'autumn clean' could keep your household healthier this winter.
"Most people think 'spring clean', but actually if you think about it, an autumn clean makes more sense," scientist Dr Michelle Dickinson said.
"You're about to spend maybe up to four or five months hunkered down with all your windows closed because of winter in your home. So why not make sure that hunkering down space is nice and clean and dust-free and allergen-free?"
Dickinson said pollen, mold spores and dust mites were among the allergens that could lurk in the home.
"So, if you want your home to be healthy over the winter, actually getting a good clean in the autumn is a great idea."
Allergy New Zealand chief executive Mark Dixon said New Zealand was the "world capital" for dust mites. He said dust mites loved humidity and lived in soft furnishings such as mattresses, pillows, carpets and curtains.
He said they were often found in particularly high concentrations in bedrooms.
Dixon said during winter, the combination of closed windows, indoor heating and moisture from cooking and showers created a perfect breeding ground.
"If you can keep your home under 50 percent humidity, you're probably winning the war against dust mites".
Ventilation was also important. Dixon said opening a window for 15 minutes during the colder months would help clear the air inside the home.
Dickinson said being closed up over winter could also increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the home and make its inhabitants feel drowsy and lethargic.
"If you're feeling quite sleepy in your home, just crack your window open a tiny little bit, let some ventilation in. It won't freeze your house, but it will probably help you clear your head and make you feel a bit better."
[]Not just what you clean, but how you clean it
Dickinson said many household cleaners released "volatile organic compounds" which could cause headaches and eye, nose or throat irritation. She recommended using cleaners with natural ingredients instead, and ingredients such as citric acid worked just as well as bleach.
Michelle Dickinson.
Photo:
RNZ / Robin Martin
Ecostore research and development director Huia Iti said natural cleaners were not just healthier for the home, but when washed down the drain kinder to the environment. He said when purchasing a cleaner, consumers should look for products that were independently certified by credible organisations.
"Unfortunately, there is a lot of greenwashing out there," he said.
Some credible endorsements Iti recommended looking out for included B Corp, Eco Choice Aotearoa and Sensitive Choice.
To get the best out of a clean, Dickinson advised cleaning top to bottom, so any stray dirt would fall away from the clean area and be picked up later.
Cleaners, she said, also needed to be left on a surface for 10 minutes to be fully effective.
"When you spray a cleaner onto a surface, the surfactants are the first to kick in. These clever molecules surround grease and oil, lifting them off your benchtop and pulling them into tiny spheres that can be wiped away easily. The disinfectants then need time to kill germs by breaking down the proteins and cell membranes that keep bacteria and viruses alive. After 10 minutes, everything is in a form that easily wipes away.
"Also remember to do your high touch points, so your light switches, your door handles, and especially those areas that lots of grubby hands are going to be touching."
To reduce dust mites, along with keeping the home well-ventilated, Dixon also recommended using HEPA-filter vacuums, mattress and pillow dust mite covers, and if needed swapping out heavy curtains for washable blinds.
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The motel manager told RNZ that she and V became very close in the three months they lived there - but she was not aware the teen's health was deteriorating. "V was very anorexic when they came and continued to be so." But because the teen always wore a puffer jacket and baggy clothes, it was hard to tell whether things were better or worse, she said. "My concern was for that sad child. "My main concerns were 'Can I help this person become more resilient? Can I help them find happiness? Can I help them get hold of life somehow and enjoy it?'." The teenager repeatedly assured her they were "eating OK", and social workers from Housing First (run by the Salvation Army) regularly visited clients at the motel. "To be honest I knew very little about anorexia, but I now know that people with anorexia are very good at covering what they are doing or not doing." V frequently went food shopping and discussed food, there was "always food in the fridge". "We only discovered afterwards that lot of food was returned to the shops and money refunded." At Christmas, she gave V dinner and "treats". "As far as I know, no-one else visited. We were the only ones who gave V any presents for Christmas or their birthday." She described the teenager as "absolutely delightful". "They couldn't make eye contact but weren't averse to physical contact. "V would frequently ask me if it was alright to have a hug. "The only time they got upset with me was when I suggested that at some point, they had to learn how to do some things for themselves because they would be living independently in the future, and they didn't want that. "That scared them, they wanted to stay here. "V told me this was the safest they had felt for years, here with us." The last conversation she had with V was two days before they died, when she tried to get V to make their own bed. "I refused to do it because I was trying to encourage them to do more things for themselves. "V said to me 'L, do you hate me?'. And I said 'No, I love you, that's why I'm asking you to make your own bed'." She found out later that V had persuaded another guest to make it for them. "That guest is pleased the last thing they did for V was something kind." V's death was a tragedy, she said. "They were a lovely person - we laughed and chatted, it was a pleasure to know them and I'm just really happy that - at least for the time they were here - they enjoyed themselves, they felt safe, they were comfortable." Vanessa's parents both saw her for the last time on 1 January, 2023 - but only at a distance. "She was wearing a puffer jacket in the middle of summer. She wouldn't let us near to see how thin she was, using the excuse 'You don't accept I'm a man'." However, her parents said subsequently, Vanessa phoned her father and then her mother to say she was "seriously questioning the 'gender identity thing'" and wanted them to know she was indeed their daughter. They were hopeful their child could be returning to them, but that was not to be. In an email to V's GP, the Family Works team leader said the teenager had dropped "a significant amount of weight" since she had last seen him in early December. "His weight loss alerted several staff members in the office. I spoke with V about his health and encouraged him to make an appointment with his GP to ensure he is getting the appropriate support." The teenager reported feeling tired from exercising and "overwhelmed" due to autism. "He fell to the ground at one point saying his legs were so tired, when I dropped him at home, he lifted his legs to get out of the car. He stated he has enough food and is eating well, as well as sleeping okay, however this is not obvious in his physical appearance." The worker said she was "breaching his confidence" because she was so concerned for him and wanted to alert the doctor. A GP appointment was booked for the next week - by then, however, the teenager would already be dead. "I do not understand why no-one called an ambulance that day," Catherine said. "How can it be that a child collapses in front of all these people [at the Family Works premises] and no-one calls an ambulance?" It was the height of summer and temperatures were sweltering. Catherine later heard the teenager had asked the motel manager for a walking stick and a hose to drink water from the tap without getting out of bed. "The manager said she thought it was weird but did nothing about it. I asked her as calmly as I could 'A minor asks you for a walking stick and a hose to drink water from the tap - are you not going to anything about it?'. "She got angry with me and said 'We are a motel, not social services'." The motel manager told RNZ she did not recall any mention of a walking stick, but the comment about the hose pipe had been taken "out of context". "V often made odd requests. With hindsight it possibly meant more than it sounded like, but it wasn't uncommon for certain requests that were unusual." Catherine said Vanessa last left her motel room on a Thursday. Saturday was her parents' wedding anniversary, and they decided to go for a drive in the country and were out of cellphone reception for a few hours. After that final text on Saturday night, Vanessa could not be contacted. "She would always text back because she knew I got worried. So we were worried." On Monday, Catherine rang the motel, but the manager said if it was not a "professional call", she could not put it through. So Catherine rang Vanessa's GP, who organised "a welfare check". When Catherine rang the motel again, the phone was handed straight to a police officer. "I knew immediately that Vanessa had died." When they arrived at the motel, there was a stench. Vanessa was lying in bed with her laptop propped up on her lap, dead two days. "At the scene, the Police corrected us when we used Vanessa's name and insisted on using a male name and pronouns," remembers Catherine. "I was so distressed by this." Vanessa's parents believe the teenager's death was the result of the removal of the protections of the Compulsory Treatment Order nine months previously. Catherine said it appeared there was "wilful blindness" on the part of those professionals, who were so focused on affirming Vanessa's gender identity, but did not pay the same attention to the eating disorder which would kill her. Their crushing grief is made worse by the knowledge that so many chances were missed. "Acknowledging and reporting her deterioration would have been a simple matter. Had they done so, our treasured daughter would still be alive." *Names have been changed for privacy reasons. Health New Zealand National director mental health and addictions service enhancement Phil Grady: "On behalf of Health New Zealand, I would like to extend our sincere condolences to this family for their loss, which we recognise has had, and continues to have, a profound and long-lasting impact. "As the matter is still before the Coroner, it is not appropriate for us to comment further at this time." Oranga Tamariki Deputy chief executive tamariki and whānau services Rachel Leota: "The death of any child is devastating for their family and community, and I would like to acknowledge the grief this young person's family will feel. "As this matter is still active before the coroner, we are unable to comment further at this time." Ministry of Social Development Group general manager client service delivery Jayne Russell: "Because your questions involve matters before the Coroner, we are unable to comment." Ministry of Education Spokesperson: "First and foremost, I want to express my deepest sympathies to you, Catherine, and your family for your loss. I cannot begin to imagine the pain of losing Vanessa. "Because this is an active case before the Coroner, we are unable to comment. I understand how difficult it must be for you and please know that our thoughts are with you, and we appreciate your understanding." Presbyterian Support Tumu Whakarae Tauiwi (Co-CEO) Barry Helem: "I am not able to provide any comments regarding an individual client. Presbyterian Support contractually cannot provide personal information as all client case notes are held by the Ministry of Social Development Youth Service Support Unit. "It would also not be appropriate to comment while this tragedy is under active review by the Coroners Court. "Our service is contracted to the Ministry of Social Development to assist young people to access the Youth Payment benefit. Part of a young person's obligations in receiving the benefit is to engage in education where clients have a choice of which area of study they wish to pursue. Our Youth Coach roles are not social worker positions; however, staff often advocate for clients and refer to other agencies/organisations if clients require other supports such as; a client's GP, transitional housing providers etc." The Salvation Army Regional housing manager: "In regard to your query relating to Vanessa, The Salvation Army has supported countless New Zealanders over the years in their housing situations, and we always complete regular assessments as well as care and support procedures for tenants, often in collaboration with referrals from other organisations we work alongside. "We are bound by strict guidelines under privacy legislation and professional social work ethics to protect the dignity and confidentiality of those we support, regardless of whether they are named publicly or not. Even with assurances that a person will not be identified, questions that pertain to individual cases risk breaching those standards. For this reason, we are unable to comment on specific individuals or their circumstances." If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
