How to Get Rid of Indoor Allergens
Oh goody, fall allergy season is upon us! Well, for some it’s “oh goody” while for others, that famous line from Winnie the Pooh is much more relevant – “Oh bother.”
You see, an estimated 20 million Americans suffer from hay fever every single year – that’s about 6% of the current population. The fatigue, itchy eyes, runny nose, and sneezing that accompany fall allergies can make the season down-right unbearable. To add insult to injury, those who suffer from hay fever may also find they’re sensitive to animal dander, dust mites, and mold spores.
Fortunately, there are several ways to keep the sneezing and coughing to a minimum. Here are just a few.
Cover your face. For many, fall equals yard work. Yet all that raking, bagging, and fertilizing can be tough to bear if you suffer from seasonal allergies. If you must tend to your yard and garden, wear a face mask to keep from breathing in pollen. Once the work is done, change out of your work clothes and toss them in the wash right away. Consider taking a shower to get pollen out of your hair and off your body.
Rake and bag leaves regularly. While this may seem counter-intuitive, leaving piles of wet leaves and other debris to sit provides the ideal environment for mold to grow and spores to become airborne. Rake up fallen leaves and bag them weekly, just don’t forget your mask!
Vacuum at least once a week. Pollen may start off as airborne, but in time it settles onto your floors, sofa, drapes, and other surfaces. Ideally, try to vacuum twice a week using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter, dust all hard surfaces, and mop tile, wood, and other hard flooring.
Dry laundry indoors. Nothing beats the freshness of drying laundry outside – unless it comes back inside loaded with sneeze- and cough-inducing allergens. Avoid using an outdoor clothesline during peak allergy months and dry your laundry in the dryer or on an indoor rack.
Watch for mold and mildew. Both require moisture and warmth to thrive – conditions that are common in bathrooms, basements, and any place that might be susceptible to a plumbing leak. And while it’s important to maintain indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent all year long, it’s even more important come fall when mold spores are more common. Repair water leaks immediately and run a dehumidifier in areas where humidity levels are too high.
Replace HVAC filters. It is recommended that homeowners replace their air filters at least once each season. But if you or someone in your household suffer from hay fever, asthma, frequent colds, or other respiratory ailments, change filters every four to eight weeks.
Correct Temp has a couple of solutions up our sleeves, too. First, we offer annual preventive maintenance for forced air, radiator, and baseboard heating systems. That helps keep your system clean and mold-free. If you have a forced air heating system, we also can install a whole-house air filtration system to remove 99% of airborne pollutants. In fact, we have multiple air cleaning alternatives to share with you, with just the right one for your home and budget.
So, if fall allergies are on your mind, make some time to speak with the indoor air quality specialists at Correct Temp.