Even though spring is gone and summer is here, doesn’t mean that allergy season left us. With the warm weather and long days, you and your family are bound to spend more time outside than ever. Here are some tips to help keep the outdoor allergies out and a clean allergen free space inside.
The most common indoor allergens are dust mites, mold, and pets.
While no home can be 100% allergen free, there are several things you can do to help reduce your indoor allergens.
Tips to reduce dust allergens:
1. Reduce clutter- while the occasional knickknack on the coffee table can be aesthetically pleasing, your sinus’s will be much more pleased without being subjected to the dust settling on said knickknacks and other clutter. If you must have some ‘organized chaos’ within your home, just remember to keep your space tidy and dust regularly, to avoid unnecessary exposure to the allergen.
2. Remove carpet - carpet is a great place for dust mites to live and breed, by removing it you can significantly reduce your families exposure to dust mites. Try hardwoods or tile floors that can easily be wiped clean.
3. Wash bedding weekly in 130 degree water - dust mites thrive in fabrics, so by washing them once a week you keep your bedroom out of the ‘danger zone’ for an allergy attack. At a temperature of 130 degrees dust mites cannot survive and your fabrics are washed clean.
4. Keep humidity low- dust mites can breed and multiply when the humidity is high, try keeping your home’s humidity between 40-50 percent or below. At this humidity dust mites cannot survive.
5. Clean weekly - by keeping your house clean with a regular sweeping, mopping, and dusting of surfaces, you will not only help prevent allergies but the clean sweep will also cut down on pesky bacteria lurking around your home. (word to the wise: try to avoid cleaning products with harsh chemical scents, or you will only end up sneezing or wheezing more)
6. Mattress enclosures and pillow covers - by encasing your mattress and pillows, an area where you hopefully spend about eight hours or so, you cut out about eight hours of direct exposure to dust. Dust mites thrive in fabrics, and the biggest area of fabric is most likely your bed. So encase it, and eliminate unnecessary exposure! It is recommended that mattress and pillow covers be washed 3-4 times a year in warm water.
Tips to reduce mold:
Mold can generate wherever there is moisture, oxygen, and some organic matter. The best way to prevent it is by making an atmosphere that is difficult for mold to grow.
1. Get rid of any non-washable items that show evidence of mold
2. Repair areas that show signs of moisture damage, moisture left unattended can become a breeding ground for mold.
3. Wash out tubs, shower stalls and curtains, as well as bathroom windowsills with a disinfectant regularly to eliminate mold and mildew
4. Humidifier- using a humidifier to keep the humidity in your home below 50 percent during the more humid months, greatly reduces mold’s chances at survival.
5. Exhaust fan- having a fan to air out the kitchen and bathroom can help vent excess moisture.
Pets:
Wash/brush weekly - Your pet can pick up all kinds of things in their fur, especially if they are kept outdoors. By grooming your pet weekly you will keep not only your pet but you more healthy by helping remove any unwanted items in your pet’s coat.
Seeing as how dander (dead skin flakes) can not be vacuumed out entirely and can remain in fabrics for over a year, keep pets out of your bedroom and off of the furniture if at all possible.
Pollen and mold spores can settle on clothing. To avoid bringing the allergens into your home after being outside for an extended period of time, it is a smart idea to shower and change clothing.
Additional resources:
- If you’re looking for allergy free cleaning supplies, check out AchooAllergy.com, the nation’s fastest growing allergy, asthma, and sinus relief products retailer.
I'm the owner of a local, residential cleaning service called Two Maids & A Mop. We clean houses all over Birmimgham and we've seen our fair share of allergens over the years. If I had to pinpoint two things that contribute the most to your allergies - it would be your air duct system and your pet. Pets carry tons of allergies simply because they're bred for the outside. Their fur and hair transport everything from dirt to bugs inside your home. Once inside, those allergens get picked up by your air duct system & travel throughout your house. So, the best medicine is to keep your pet clean on a consistent basis. Of course, don't bathe your cat or dog too much because excessive bathing could damage your pets skin. But make sure that they are bathed at least once per week. Also, get an appraisal of your air duct system to determine if its loaded with contaminants. A dirty air duct system can cause problems for you - no matter how careful you are inside your home. Hope this helps!!
ReplyDeleteRon Holt
Two Maids & A Mop
(205) 940-2292
Cleaning Services in Birmingham