During the winter season, many people are forced to stay indoors, exposing them to different kinds of allergens like pet dander, dust, and mold. These indoors allergens have a lot of adverse health effect like stuffy nose, sneezing, teary, itchy or red eyes, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, wheezing, coughing, and Itching.
One of the ways to reduce the levels of allergens in your home is by using environmental control products. These products will help minimize the effect of the indoor allergens on your health. The five tips to reduce indoor allergens are as follows:
Replace the furnace filter
You should not overlook the furnace filter when getting rid of allergens in your home. Allergens like pet dander and dust can accumulate in the air duct. The use of an high-efficiency furnace filter is an effective way to minimize the amount of harmful indoor allergens in your home. Make it a point of duty to change your every ninety days.
Change your bedding
Carpets, mattresses, pillows, and rugs are some of those things we use in the house that harbor allergens. To help minimize allergens in the home, consider the use of box springs, encased mattresses, and pillows covered with allergen-proof material. By so doing, you will reduce your exposure to allergens while you sleep.
Tidy up your house regularly
Dusting the house when necessary will help cut down on allergens like pet dander and dust mites. For proper cleaning of your home, you can use a HEPA filter to vacuum the whole house and use an electrostatic cloth or a microfiber when dusting your books and other necessary areas of the house. A microfiber or an electrostatic fiber cloth that will attract the dust is essential because the dirt will stick to the surface of the fabric rather than moving around while you are dusting.
Avoid pet dander
Just like humans, winter season forces pets to stay indoors. The saliva and dander of common pets such as dogs and cat are allergic. You can minimize the amount of dander your pet sheds by bathing them once in a week. Moreover, always wash hands thoroughly after petting a pet and keep the pets out of bedrooms.
Monitor Humidity Level
Many people use humidifiers in their homes to improve the amount of moisture in the air during winter. Humidifying is an excellent way to prevent dryness, but if you don't monitor the level of humidity, you might be making your home favorable for the growth of dust miles and mold. Employ the use of humidity meter to control the level of moisture in your home.
Consider the tips given above to reduce the indoor allergens in your home and put an end to its adverse effect on your health. If you’re shopping for a new home, let your real estate agent know about any hypoallergenic needs so they can find properties with integrated air filters and other similar features.