Have you been struggling with allergy symptoms, or live with someone who does? If so, you’re in the right place. We hope you find this article helpful. Although mold, dust, pet dander, pollen, and other allergens can feel inescapable during certain times of the year, you are far from helpless in your fight with these bothersome symptoms.
To help our readers recognize some steps you can take around your home to make allergy season more bearable, we at Greater Dayton Furnace & Air Conditioner suggest the following.
Easy Steps to Decrease Home Allergens
Air Filters Are Indispensable
Air filters play an indispensable role when it comes to indoor air quality. Because of this, homeowners should make certain their air filters are in good working condition and clean on a regular basis. Moreover, you must make sure they are the proper, exact, ones for your type of HVAC system.
If you have already reviewed both of these but still have allergy symptoms, you can invest in additional filters within your home if you do not already have them, either as stand-alone units or within your current central heating and air system.
Keep Pillows Clean and Always Use Covers
After a long day away at work or wherever, we all love being able to nestle into our bed and cuddle with our favorite pillows before drifting off to sleep.
Unfortunately, we aren’t the only ones who love our favorite pillows. Dust mites love our pillows and they can quickly flourish in them. This unpleasant fact is made evident in research showing that pillows and mattresses actually gain weight over time from the collection of the droppings and waste products of these little mites.
When a homeowner fully comprehends this, they will understand why washable pillow cases and covers are indispensable. In any case, we suggest washing pillowcases at least once a month. Depending on the sort of pillow you use, it too can be washed or dry cleaned every 3 to 4 months, or around the time of the changing of each season of the year.
Keep Mattresses and Beds Clean
If you’ve opted to utilize a dust cover on your pillow, you might also give some consideration to using one for your mattress as well, as this is another indispensable accessory for a lot of allergy sufferers. Mattresses, as noted above, are predisposed to becoming breeding colonies and sanctuaries for dust mites. Moreover, you should clean your headboard and bed frame regularly, particularly if either is covered with fabric.
Prevent Pollen From Coming In
As much as possible, keep your windows sealed if you have an A/C to stop pollen from coming inside. Another good method is to take off your shoes when entering your home and leave them outside or keep a mat near your doorways where you can clean your feet off before transporting allergens indoors with you. Sustaining cool indoor temperatures also helps curb humidity, which prevents mold and dust mites from thriving.
Use a Vacuum Cleaner With a HEPA Filter
Research reveals that not all vacuum cleaners are created equal in the war against allergens. Some are better at reducing the spread of allergens indoors. As such, we advise utilizing a bagless vacuum with a HEPA filter. If at all possible, wood or other kinds of hard floors that can be dusted and mopped are better than carpeting for people suffering from serious allergy problems.
Smart Dusting
We all realize dust particles, mold, and pollen are typical culprits of allergy symptoms. As such, we propose “smart dusting.” When you clean your home and go to dust, begin with the things that are the highest in your home, and work your way down to the lowest items. This will keep you from spreading dust to places in your home you have already cleaned, and help you remove it more efficiently. Also, experts say you should never merely brush the dust away with a feather duster or cloth. We recommend utilizing a damp cloth to confine the dust instead of just moving it from one spot to another. It goes without saying that you should address ceiling fans, curtains, and blinds first.
NEVER NEGLECT MAINTENANCE!
Last but not least, if you need to get a handle on your allergy symptoms, setting up a visit for routine maintenance with one of our friendly, skilled, technicians will serve you in a variety of ways. Not only do we keep your system working optimally, which has a direct impact on the quality of your indoor air, but we can also identify any issues that might be developing that could lead to future problems or even breakdowns.
We conduct various types of cleaning procedures and check your air ducts and air filters and other areas.
It’s like we say: It always pays off, in the long term, to be proactive with your system than to be reactive — particularly if you suffer from allergies. For more information, call Greater Dayton Furnace & Air Conditioning!
