Allergy cleaning gives extra space to breathe

Behind entrepreneur Sari Lehtonen's business idea lies a simple under­standing, to which attention is not generally paid, however: cleaning has a major influence on the purity of indoor air. When this is combined with knowledge of how, using the correct cleaning methods and equipment, the feeling of those who suffer from asthma and dust allergy in particular can be eased, a new opportunity for specialization in the cleaning business has been born.

Allergy cleaning differs from ordinary cleaning mostly in terms of methods and equipment. It is vital to employ damp cleaning methods so that as little dust as possible is kicked up into the air. The cleaning equipment must be of the sort that collects up the maximum amount of dust. The appliances must also be absolutely clean, to avoid spreading allergens from one place to another.

All benefit from clean indoor air

The clientele of Siivousweera, a firm that began operating in February 2005, consists predominantly of families in which there are asthmatics or sufferers from mildew dust allergy. Allergy cleaning has also proved of interest to families with small children, in which one of the family members suffers from a food allergy and as a result more attention than usual is paid to allergy matters.

"Cleaner indoor air is also a benefit in those families where people do not actually suffer from allergies", Lehtonen underlines.

The idea of an allergy cleaning service was sparked a few years ago when Lehtonen was writing the dissertation for her Bachelor in Hospitality Man­agement degree at Jyväskylä Polytechnic. She examined the cleaning plan for a day care centre taking allergic children and noticed how little was generally known about allergy cleaning. Allergy cleaning appears to be a new concept for others, too, since as far as is known Lehtonen is the only entrepreneur specializing in this business in the whole of Central Finland.

--------

Photo: "Cleaner indoor air is also a benefit in those families where people do not actually suffer from allergies", Sari Lehtonen says.

By Tommi Salo Photo by Petteri Kivimäki