You’re coughing, wheezing, sniffling, and rubbing your eyes all the time inside your house. But when you step outside, your symptoms vanish. Are you allergic to your own home?
You can find all sorts of allergens in your home, including dust, dust mites, pet dander, mold, and pollen. Luckily, you can remove some of these allergens with filtration and cleaning.
Read on to learn how to get rid of allergens in your home.
Use High-Efficiency Filters in HVAC Systems
Since air constantly cycles in and out of your HVAC system, using the right filters is one of the best ways to remove allergens from your indoor air. A standard filter catches large dust particles, but smaller particles slip through.
Invest in high-efficiency filters that can capture 99% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns–these will trap dust, pollen, and even bacteria. Some filters are electrostatically charged to attract pollen and other allergens.
You can learn more about HVAC servicing and get advice about filters at websites such as antonshvac.com.
Use an Air Purifier
Air purifiers can trap dust and allergens. Buy an air purifier with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. This can help you reduce allergens such as dust mites allergens, mold, pollens, and pet dander.
If you suffer from severe allergies and need to reduce allergens throughout your house, buy an air purifier for each room.
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Vacuum
Vacuuming your home also allows you to trap dust. Vacuum high-traffic areas twice a week, and other areas weekly. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter or a double-layered microfilter bag to prevent dust from re-entering the air.
Change Bedding
Beds become magnets for dust mites, tiny creatures that eat skin flakes. Their waste products cause allergic reactions.
You can’t kill all the dust mites — they’ll keep coming back no matter what. Instead, slide an allergen-proof cover over your mattress to keep dust mites from burrowing inside. Launder your bedding frequently to reduce the allergens that the dust mites produce.
Close Windows
Opening the windows allows allergens to enter your home from the outside, including pollen and dust. If you suffer from allergies, keep the windows closed to reduce indoor allergens.
Remove Shoes
Allergens also travel inside your home on the soles of your shoes. One study found that removing shoes and using a doormat reduced the amount of lead dust and other outside pollutants that enter the home by about 60%. So remove shoes at the door.
Control Moisture
Damp conditions inside your home can lead to the growth of mold and fungi. People living in homes with mold may suffer from eye and nose irritation, coughing, wheezing, and worsening of asthma symptoms.
To address mold issues, ventilate damp areas and check basements for moisture. If you have mold growing inside your walls, contact an expert to take care of it, because the mold won’t go away on its own.
Learn How to Get Rid of Allergens in Your Home
If you’re having allergy problems inside your home, you may be able to reduce your suffering when you learn how to get rid of allergens in your home. Filter your air, vacuum regularly, and hire professionals to take care of mold problems. If your health improves, the extra effort will be worth it.
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