First thing's first - start by identifying what you're allergic to:
Dust, motes, mold, pet dander, and pollen are the most common household allergens, but it’s not a bad idea to see an allergist to pinpoint what you’re actually allergic to. In order to make changes in your home and to create a healthier environment, you must be able to identify the exact cause of your allergies.
Weekly Cleaning:
The first step in creating an allergy proof home is to establish a weekly cleaning routine. This routine should include vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping while also keeping your home free of clutter. A messy home can lead to more dust mites, bugs, mold, and mice. You’ll want to use a vacuum cleaner with a small-particle or high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in order to pick up all the trapped particles in the carpet.
Instead of changing or cleaning your heating and cooling system filters every month for better air quality, you can install WarmlyYours Radiant Floor Heating or Radiant Panels. Unlike forced air heating systems, radiant floor heating warms your floor and the objects surrounding you, eliminating inconsistent room temperatures and reducing the percentage of dust mites by 80 percent.
Pests:
To control cockroaches and mice, you can purchase inexpensive traps from the hardware store. And if that's not effective, you should hire a professional exterminator. Allergy-triggering insects and mouse residue are key reasons to thoroughly vacuum carpeting and wash hard surfaces. To prevent re-infestation, you should seal cracks and other possible entryways.
Outdoors:
If you have pollen allergies, it’s not a good idea to hang fresh laundry out to dry. When coming from outside, you should shake out your clothes to reduce bringing pollen into your home. Pets can also bring in pollen, so keep a brush and wet wipes handy to clean off their fur and paws. Make sure to keep your grass short and avoid planting high pollen producing flowers near windows and doors. To catch allergens before entering your home, you can place mats on both sides of the front door.
Mold:
A dehumidifier is your best defense against mold. It should be set between 35 and 45 percent and kept in the basement where mold often breeds. Make sure that you drain or dump any areas of stagnant water in your yard, and keep soil on your property moist, but not damp, to reduce airborne mold. And never linger outdoors or open the windows after a heavy rain!
Allergies affect as many as 40-50 million people in the United States, so you are not alone. Following these guidelines should enable you to keep your home healthy and allergen free for you, your family, and friends!