Maintaining clean air in your home is essential when living with allergies or environmental sensitivities. Ensuring that the air within your home is clean reduces your exposure to environmental irritants and allergens. Every day we each take approximately 20,000 breaths, most of our time indoors. Ensuring our home or office environment is clear of these irritants can significantly improve our day. You introduce outdoor air into your space whenever your door or window is opened. This air can carry mold, dust, pet dander, and smog, all contributing to air pollution. So how do you protect your home and keep the air and lungs clear of these allergens?
Indoor Air Quality And Protecting It
There are other factors impacting your indoor air other than the introduction of outside pollutants. If you use incense, burn candles, smoke, or heat your home with furnaces or wood-burning fires, you are introducing additional pollutants into your home. If you’ve recently bought new furniture or done any home renovations, they may release chemicals into your home. Many homes have indoor air quality that is as much as five times worse than the air outside. If you’re trying to improve the air quality in your home, consider taking the following steps:
- Establish consistent cleaning routines
- Keep humidity in your home below 50%; use a dehumidifier if necessary
- Keep your windows secured during peak pollen times or periods of high outdoor pollution
- Avoid strong scents in candles, harsh cleaners, or potpourri that triggers your sensitivities.
- Replace your carpets with allergy & asthma free surface flooring
- Invest in a certified air cleaner and HVAC filter
- Replace your pillows every two years with certified allergen protection
Certified pillows and pillow covers employ an outer fabric to block allergens and dust mites from passing through. They are easily cleaned and can withstand substantial wear and tear. You can also protect your home by cleaning your mattress with a vacuum and using allergen-barrier mattress covers. Once or twice a week, strip your bed and let it breathe and air out to eliminate moisture and warmth that can encourage dust mite growth. Bathrooms are another area that requires special attention, especially if poorly ventilated. You can get special dehumidifiers that can be used to ensure that moisture from showers and baths doesn’t cause mold formation. In all cases, you should avoid using aerosol cleaners when cleaning your home, as airborne particles can be a significant trigger for some people.
Speak To Your Allergen Specialist For More Information
If you need to find new and effective ways of cleaning the air in your home, your allergy specialist is an excellent place to start. These experts are well-versed in protecting a home from allergens and dust for allergy sufferers. They’ll give you the latest information on protecting your home and guide you in selecting the best products for managing them. Call and schedule your consultation today and start being able to breathe easier in your home.