Allergy season in Asheville, North Carolina, can be heavy. That’s because there are a number of blooming plants and trees in the area, filling the air with pollen and other irritants. Keeping your home clean and free of allergens can help improve not only your family’s health but also maintain home comfort Here are five ways to reduce allergy symptoms at home:
Use a Dehumidifier
Home humidity levels can have a huge effect on your allergies. While super dry air can trigger asthma symptoms and other lung problems, too much humidity can lead to bigger allergy issues. Biological growth thrives off higher levels of humidity and can get into hard- or impossible-to-reach spaces.
A dehumidifier can reduce overall humidity levels to keep your home healthy without completely drying out the air in your home. This is important, especially as the seasons change and humidity levels outdoors increase with the warmer weather.
Perform a Deep Clean
Deep cleaning your home can help get allergens under control and give you a good base for keeping levels to a minimum going forward. However, cleaning for allergens needs to be far more in-depth than your typical spring cleaning.
Pay special attention to fabric decorations, including drapes and pillows. Dust behind shelves and other difficult-to-reach places, like the top of cabinets and ceiling fan blades. The more dirt and dust you can get rid of, the better off you’ll be when seasonal allergens hit.
You’ll always want to do a full-house vacuuming, including under furniture. Make sure that you use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to ensure all the particles that you pick up stay in the vacuum and don’t return to the circulating air.
Limit Contact With Irritants
A great way to keep allergens out of your home is to limit contact as much as possible. Pollen can easily adhere to clothing and get caught in bags. If you regularly walk around outside, consider changing clothing as soon as you get home. Wash your clothes in hot water to get rid of the allergens. This is also useful if someone in your house has pet allergies and you spend time with animals outside of your home.
You can also reduce allergen contact by keeping windows and doors closed during allergen season. While window screens can catch some of the irritants, most screens don’t have a fine enough mesh to stop everything. Also, avoid performing outdoor activities in the morning. The best time for outdoor activities is after a heavy rainfall. The worst is on a warm, dry and windy day, when allergens are blowing around.
Replace the Air Filter
Part of your regular home maintenance should include changing out your the air filter. Filters are one of the last lines of defense between outdoor allergens and your home’s air. A clogged filter isn’t as effective and can actually decrease your climate control unit’s efficiency. When allergen season starts, changing out your filter can help ensure it’ll trap all the particles in the air.
Change the Bedding
Finally, regularly changing your bedding can help get rid of allergens like dust mites and any pollen that cling to your skin and clothing. You should change and wash your sheets in hot water at least once a week. Wash your pillow cases often as well. For extra protection, washing the pillow itself can help get rid of deep set-in allergens that may irritate extra-sensitive lungs.
If you’re concerned about your home’s indoor air quality, give the experts at Gentry Heating a call at 828-581-4045 today. We carry many products that can reduce allergens and help keep your home healthy throughout the year.
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