You have spent your hard earned money on your home and furniture. But is it possible that your home is causing your allergies to act up? Even if you are someone who takes meticulous care of your home and its contents, you might be missing out on one or two things.
Here are 4 tips to help you make sure you reduce allergens like dust and dander throughout your home.
1. Change air filters
Do you know when you last changed your air filters? The air filters in your home should be changed every 3 months. The frequency of changing your filters should be more often if you have pets. If you still aren’t sure, take a look at what is currently there and take note of its color. If your filter looks dark like it might be filled with dust and other allergens, switch it out!
Changing Your Filter
- Air filter locations are usually near the thermostat
- Open up the grill to reveal your air filter
- Use a high efficiency air filter for better purifying properties
- Place your new filter based on the indication of the air flow; You want the air flow to go in and through your new filter
You can easily find air filters at your local grocery, wholesale, or home improvement store.
2. Consider new linens
You may feel like you wash your sheets and other bed items often enough. But what if the fabric is the root of the cause? Loosely woven fabric, especially extremely soft fabric, can trap a ton of dust and dander. Try selecting bedding options made from tightly woven materials like bamboo, 100% cotton, and silk. Certain types of fabrics with additives in them like non-organic dyes or chemicals can also irritate the skin and cause allergic reactions. There are brands out there specifically geared towards those who suffer from allergies and can provide complete selections of hypoallergenic bedding like Brooklinen. You can also shop online through places like Wayfair to find hypoallergenic options. Here’s an extra tip! Be sure you are using detergent and softeners that are gentle on the skin. Heavily scented cleaners can cause your newly purchased bed set to become an irritant all over again.
3. Tidy it up
Cleaning your home reguarly will heavily reduce your allergy concerns. When dust mites, dander, mold, mildew, and other unwanted irritants are regularly taken care of, there’s nothing left to upset your allergies. Again, updating your cleaning supplies to solutions with fewer chemicals may help as well.
If your home has carpet, it may be time to invest in a quality vacuum. By using an old or cheap vacuum, you may be sucking up dust and dander only to have it spread elsewhere in your house! Take a look at some of these best-selling vacuums you can purchase yourself without having to shell out a ton of cash to get the clean that you need.
4. Consider new flooring
The chances of your home holding more allergens is high if you have carpet in every bedroom. Carpet and other soft surfaces are a usually an ideal place for allergens and dust mites. Though dust mites are nearly impossible to completely get rid of, the amount of them decreases greatly when carpet is removed. Reflooring a home is no easy solution. It can be costly and put you in a bind for a few weeks. But it can be well worth it if you are someone who regularly suffers from allergies. There are a few affordable alternatives to hardwood floors which can run you $3-$10+ a square foot. Bamboo, laminate, linoleum, and vinyl are all great alternatives that won’t cost nearly as much as some top-grade hardwoods.
