Four Steps To Surviving Spring Allergies
Spring can mean rainy days, beautiful flowers, the start of baseball season, and so much more. For some, it can mean an allergy flare up is starting. Pollen is the biggest reason for allergy flare ups. As trees and flowers begin to bloom, they release pollen into the air. Every year, there are about 58 million Americans that deal with hay fever. This entails a lot of coughing and sneezing. Even though the pollen comes from the trees and flowers, it can easily get into the house, making your home a dangerous place for your allergies. In an effort to reduce the allergens in your home, here are some things you should do.
Clean Carpets
Every time you go outside and then walk on your carpets with your shoes, you are spreading the allergens around. For those who suffer from allergies, dirty carpets can be a big pain. By vacuuming about 15 to 20 minutes every 300 square feet of carpeting, you can eliminate around 83% of the soil in your carpets. A professional cleaning from a company like All Around Town Carpet Care can help remove even more soil and allergens. To help avoid allergens from getting in the fibers of your carpet, you want to choose a low pile carpeting for your home. This makes it harder to trap allergens from outside.
Dust Surfaces
Not only is dust unpleasant to see, but it can actually be harmful to your health if you suffer from allergies. Using feather dusters can end up just pushing the dust from one place to another. Instead, you want to trap the dust by taking a damp cloth and going over the surfaces. Be sure to check all areas that are prone to getting dusty. Ceiling fans, door frames, and windowsills are just a few of the places you want to dust often to prevent dust from accumulating.
Change Your Filter
Your HVAC filter is designed to help keep the air flowing through the home, but allergens can get caught in the filter. This not only blocks the airflow so that your HVAC unit has to work harder, but it can also force the allergens into the air of your home. To help avoid this, you want to be sure to change your filter at least every 6 to 12 months. This will keep your filters doing the job properly and allergens out of the air.
Dry Out the Home
A home that is warm and moist will be a haven for mold and mildew. To help keep the mold and mildew away, you want to keep it cool and dry. This can be done by opening up the windows occasionally to help it dry out. Running fans can also help keep areas dry and cool so mold and mildew don't have a place to grow.