How to get rid of it in 5 cleaning tips tested and approved by our editor
After the heat wave and the storms, comes the Sahara sandstorm and, therefore, the hour of cleaning. For the umpteenth time this year, sand from the largest hot desert in the world is rising towards France. A violent sandstorm whose particles represent a real threat to the health of the French. From Sunday to Tuesday, the southern regions of the country will be the most affected by this weather phenomenon. The result ? Terraces, gardens, facades, cars, swimming pools… everything will be covered with an orange veil. To eliminate the whole house of these small particles, here are 5 cleaning tips to adopt!
Sand after storm: Our 5 practical tips to get rid of it quickly
What is a sandstorm? Where does the sand of the Sahara go? And what are the consequences of a sandstorm on health? Deavita.fr experts take stock! First of all, it is a meteorological phenomenon generated by a purple wind called sirocco (also called calima in Spanish) whose force creates a whirlwind. And while the larger grains fall, the particles remain suspended and travel through the atmosphere across thousands of kilometres. They can then cause skin, eye or even respiratory irritation. That’s why it’s important to protect yourself during a sandstorm and during the cleanup that follows. Here are our expert tips for doing it easily this week!
Protect you from the sand
As mentioned above, Sahara sand can be effective for our health. It is therefore better to protect yourself by wearing a mask, gloves and goggles during the big clean-up after the storm. While large particles are difficult to inhale and therefore only affect the skin and eyes, those smaller than 10 mm can cause respiratory conditions, such as asthma, pneumonia, allergic rhinitis and silicosis .
Prioritize natural products
If the sand is quite visible on the car or on the terrace, this is not the case when it concerns other surfaces such as the windows of the vehicle or the house, for example. To make them shine, nothing could be easier. In no time at all, you can easily make your own homemade glass cleaner. Just mix hot water with a few drops of ammonia and dish soap. Rub the surface with a microfiber cloth and that’s it! 3 ingredients and goodbye traces of sand!
Vacuum cleaner and sand don’t mix
Your pretty balcony is covered with an orange veil? Rest assured ! There are solutions for overcoming sand after a storm. Be careful, however, not to use just anything to clean your outside corner. If the vacuum cleaner is an excellent idea to clean the living room of your cat’s hair, it is to be avoided to remove the sand from your wooden terrace. What’s more, the particles can damage the device. Opt for a pressure washer to restore your balcony to its original shine. Also, remember to remove all furniture and objects that are there.
Opt for a garden hose to clean the car
Cleaning the car after a sandstorm can quickly turn into a real ordeal. If you pass a rag over its surface, you risk scratching the bodywork. To avoid this kind of situation, use a hose to remove the sand. Then, opt for a soft microfiber cloth to scrub everything. Here, here!
Clean the pool after a sandstorm
Do you have an outdoor swimming pool? What luck ! However, you can quickly regret it after a sandstorm. Because the latter will surely transform your pretty pond into a swamp. The solution? Clean it after the storm is over to prevent algae buildup and the appearance of green water. To achieve this, there are a few easy steps:
- Empty the pool, the baskets and clear the residues from the pump.
- Filter background and parishes with a pool cleaner.
- Add chlorine to kill algae.
- Turn on the pump and let it work for 24 hours before cleaning the filters. Do not forget about the filters of the external units of air conditioning devices.