If allergic reactions run in your family, keeping your home free of allergens is a constant struggle. Keeping irritants like pollen, dust mites, and pet hair out of your house can have you ready to rip your hair out from frustration. It takes some vigilance and a few thoughtful changes to your lifestyle, but keeping allergens out of your home helps your family feel better.
Treat pest infestations
Some pests, like termites and cockroaches, can trigger allergies. Fortunately, pest control companies like GreenHow can help remove these allergy triggers. While the pests themselves do not cause the allergies, their droppings, saliva, and shed skins and wings do.
The tiny body parts and droppings get caught into HVAC systems and blow around the house, triggering allergy symptoms like stuffy noses, water eyes, hives, and wheezing. If you’ve got the sniffles and can’t determine why, there’s a good chance you might have a bug problem in your home.
Remove shoes and clothing
Another helpful way to keep allergens out of your home is to remove your shoes as soon as you come into the house. Leaving shoes at the door keeps grass, pollen, and other outdoor allergens from spreading around your home.
You can also keep allergens from bothering your family by changing your clothes when you return home from work. Your children and family members can change their clothes after coming home from school or running errands.
On windy days when pollen allergies are high, it’s helpful to jump in the shower to remove allergens from your hair and body after removing shoes and clothing.
Get rid of carpet and draperies
Pollen and dust like to embed in carpet, drapes, and curtains. Rather than having a house full of carpet, choose tile, wood, or vinyl flooring that is mold and mildew-resistant. Low-pile rugs and easy-to-clean sisal are good options for homeowners who like to have rugs on their hard floors.
Drapes and curtains can also be a thorn in the side of people with allergies. Blinds can be guilty of dust-catching too, but they’re typically easier to clean than drapes and curtains.
Use air conditioning in the summer
When pollen counts are high, close the windows and run your air conditioning. Your air conditioning unit has a filter that catches pollen, dust mites, and other allergens. If your windows are open, pollen, dust, and other allergens can easily travel into your home.
If you want fresh air even with the windows closed, consider adding an air purifier to your home. The best air purifiers have a HEPA filter and a high Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR).
Clean your bedroom regularly
Bedding can also trap allergens. To help relieve allergy problems, wash your bedding in hot water at least once per week.
Remove dust catchers like decorative pillows, cloth drapes and curtains, and high-pile carpet. You can also help remove allergens by vacuuming the floor and your allergy-friendly mattress. Lastly, wrap your pillows in allergy-friendly pillowcases that prevent dust mites.
Wrap up
With a high-quality air purifier, your air conditioner, and allergy-friendly flooring, you can make your home comfortable for your friends and family members who suffer from allergies.