Spring and summer are the worst times for allergy sufferers. If your family is still sneezing and rubbing itchy, watery eyes after taking medication, it’s time to consider how to prep your home for allergy season.
These go-to tips from Warner Service in Frederick, Maryland, are meant to help eliminate allergens and pathogens in your home and improve indoor air quality during the humid months of the year. Go from room to room in your home, and use the following tricks:
Bedroom
- Encase pillows, mattresses, and box springs in impermeable zippered plastic coverings to control dust mites.
- Replace pillows every five years and the mattresses every decade.
- Keep the space under your bed clutter-free.
- Keep your pets on the floor and out of the bedroom to avoid dander, pollen, and mold spores in your bed.
Laundry Room
- Avoid hanging clothes and linens outside to dry.
- Wash all comforters, sheets, curtains, and stuffed toys in hot water once a week to rid of existing allergens and pathogens. Use a hypoallergenic laundry detergent for extra power.
Kitchen & Bathroom
- Reduce mold spores, moisture, and dust mites by installing a dehumidifier on the HVAC unit to control areas with constant moisture, such as bathrooms and the kitchen.
- Use an exhaust fan with the stove and shower to decrease kitchen fumes and steam, respectively.
- Wipe down the sink and counter daily to remove puddles.
- Never leave food or garbage out, and store everything in airtight containers.
- Remove crumbs and/or spilled liquids on countertops, and always wash the dishes as soon as possible.
- Use insect traps to catch cockroaches, as liquid and aerosol pesticides can aggravate allergy symptoms.
- Shower before bed to avoid transferring allergens and pathogens from your hair and face to your pillow.
Basement
- Caulk and quickly repair leaks, especially near the water heater and central HVAC unit, to prevent mold spores from growing behind the walls.
Whole Home
- Get an air purifier with an ionizer, which attracts negatively charged ions like allergens and pathogens rather than ozone gas.
- Avoid using whole-home air fresheners.
- Vacuum twice per week using an HEPA, small-particle or special double bag filter to trap everything.
- Replace carpet with wooden floors, especially if you have furry pets, and keep doormats on the outside and inside of your front door. Once-stagnant allergens and outside irritants are invited into the air, otherwise.
- Cover vents with a thin, loosely woven cloth to prevent pet dander from sticking to ventilation systems
- Turn on the air conditioning instead of opening windows and doors. This reduces humidity, controls dust mites, and prevents pollen and mold spores from rotten wood, plants, or soil from getting into your home.
If you see mold spores, immediately call a professional to remove it. - Change the air filter to catch debris, hair, smoke, and dust mites.
- Wear a surgical mask when you clean to prevent dust mites from getting into your nose and mouth.
- Change your clothes as soon as you get home, because pollen sticks to fabric and spreads spores throughout your home.
- Purchase the Air Scrubber by Aerus. For more information, click here.
- Download Warner Service’s Reducing Allergens And Pathogens Checklist to target and clean specific areas for the most efficient and effective allergen and pathogen elimination. This reduces allergy season symptoms without the need for medication.
From the bedrooms to the basement, your home is meant to be allergen-free year-round. For more information on how to maintain your home heating, cooling, and plumbing for a nonexistent allergy season, click on the button below to subscribe to our tips:
