Some people have seasonal allergies, while others are allergic to food, pets, or even dust. The quality of a person’s life can be greatly affected by his or her surroundings, and the moment that breathing becomes difficult, it feels trapped and suffocated. Some allergies can’t be avoided, if you identify any allergy symptoms, here are some simple tips to help you have an allergy-free home.
1. Clean the air: Install an air filter
An air purifier can be a helpful approach to rid your home of dust mites, pet dander, and other irritating particles in unfiltered air. In severe cases, where a person’s allergies can affect his or her ability to breathe, resulting in an asthma attack, an air purifier can be a saving grace.
If there is a smoker in the home, even if he or she smokes outside of the house, the residual smoke clings to the clothing, skin and hair, and is still brought into the house. An air purifier can be a great way to help eliminate and reduce second-hand tobacco smoke.
There are smaller stand-alone units available, as well as larger units that attach to another unit within the house. Either type of purifier can help eliminate the number of bacteria, virus, and other harmful particles that are found in a typical home.
2. Dust allergies: Install a HEPA filter
Vacuuming on a regular basis is a great way to rid your house of dust particles, pet dander, and other indoor allergens that become trapped in the mattresses and pillows or other upholstered furniture around the house. If you want a deeper clean, then a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter is a great way to go.
This type of vacuum cleaner is better at removing more particles, to an almost perfect 100 percent, that will provide you with fewer allergens overall within your home. The particle size that these filters pick up is smaller than that of what an average vacuum can pick up, thus allowing for more harmful particles to be eliminated.
3. Mould allergies: Regular bathroom cleaning
Mold and mildew can build up rather quickly in a moist environment, like that of the bathroom. To eliminate this problem, regular cleaning can make a big difference. This can include small changes, such as hanging moist towels properly and eliminate bath rugs that collect moisture on the floor. You can even squeegee water from the walls of a shower to rid excess moisture from getting trapped in the caulking around the edge of the bathtub.
Another helpful tip is to install an exhaust fan that can either run after the use of a shower or bath, or one that runs while you are using the shower. The vent that covers the fan should be cleaned with hot water regularly, as dust has a tendency to build up, especially with the residue of moisture.Proper ventilation also prevents mold spores.
4. Skin allergies: Regular wash
Dust and other particles love to settle on soft fabric, this can include your curtains and the soft fabrics on your bed. If the weather is nice, you can shake out any bedding outside to eliminate a lot of built-up dust before you place the fabric in the washing machine.
Changing your bedding sheets more frequently can also aid in reducing indoor allergens. For children who sleep with a lot of stuffed animals, these too can be thrown in the wash to help reduce the buildup of dust.
After you have washed soft fabrics in your home, don’t forget to also change the filters that are attached to your dryer and those that filter the air of your home. Your home filter should be replaced with the change of the seasons if you suffer from indoor allergens in the air.
5. Pet allergies: more covers & space
If you have a beloved pet that sheds a lot and you find yourself constantly having allergies as a result, you may want to consider bathing your pet more frequently. There are shampoos that are great at eliminating the allergen of pet dander. Some pet owners choose to spray their pets with a dander spray or even use a special cloth to wipe away any excess dander.
Try having a couple of rooms that your pet is not allowed in, in order to give yourself a needed break from extra housework and a room with uncontaminated air. In some extreme cases, as dander sinks within the carpet, you could consider installing hard flooring for easier floor maintenance.
For soft materials, such as couches, try having a designated blanket for your pet to use that can be frequently washed. Allergen-free covers are also great at preventing dander from embedding itself within the exterior of a soft material, such as a blanket.
6. Other allergy elements: humidity level
If the humidity level is high in your home, this can increase the moisture level that clings to your windows in the winter time when you are heating your home. As a result, mold can start to grow not just on the outside of your windows, but also within the glass and the outside screen. Check the humidity levels in your house by following this simple guide.
Regular window cleaning is a great way to help watch out for the development of mold. If your home does not have a dehumidifier built directly into an air purifying system, you can purchase a dehumidifier for your home and place it in the most humid part of the house.
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7. Detox your home with green cleaning products
Allergens to strong chemical smells can be hard to avoid when wanting to maintain a clean home. There are more natural and green ways to help clean your home and cut back on the chemicals used, resulting in physical reactions.
Some natural ways to clean your home can include baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, tea tree oil and even a mild dish soap. Using less chemically strong products to clean your home can greatly help a person who has a strong revulsion to chemical cleaners. Learn how to detox your home with these natural ingredients.
Maintain a healthy and allergy free home
Being able to comfortably breathe in your home is important if you, or someone within your home, suffer from asthma and allergies. Regular maintenance of your home, although important, can become exhausting if you feel as though it never ends. Try some of these tips to help aid in having an allergy-free home and one that you don’t have to go outdoors to escape from.