When you have family members who are allergy sufferers, you want your home to be a safe place for them. Putting in extra time and effort into cleaning your indoor spaces will help keep allergens low in your home, improving your indoor air quality. According to WebMD, regular house cleaning can get rid of many allergy triggers and help relieve symptoms. Keep your family safe and healthy this allergy season by following these 5 helpful housecleaning tips:
Vacuum weekly
Dust, dirt, and pollen that enters your home will likely settle on your floor. If you have carpeted flooring, it becomes more difficult to spot and remove these allergens as they can hide under carpet fibers. That is why weekly vacuuming in your home is essential. To thoroughly clean your interior flooring, cleaning experts highly recommend using a vacuum cleaner with HEPA filters or High Efficiency Particulate Air filters. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this type of filter can remove at least 99.97% of any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (µm).
Cut clutter
Besides deep cleaning, reducing clutter can also help keep allergens low in your home. If you have items in your home that you no longer use, like storage boxes or containers and extra clothing, it’s best to donate, sell, or throw them out. Otherwise, they will just collect dust and provide a breeding spot for pests and insects.
Wash sheets in hot water
To allergy-proof your bedroom, be sure to wash your sheets, pillowcases, and blankets at least once a week. This will help get rid of dust mites that are lurking in your bed. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should wash your sheets in water heated to at least 130 F (54 C). You might also want to use dust-mite-proof covers in your home.
Keep your bathroom mold-free
Mold is a homeowner’s worst enemy. Besides producing foul smells around your home, mold can also trigger allergic reactions. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation in America (AAFA) says symptoms of a mold allergy may include wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath, much like asthma.
There are simple ways you can reduce mold growth in your bathroom, such as using an exhaust fan, removing bathroom carpeting, and fixing leaks as they occur.
Change your air filters
To maintain cleaner, safer indoor air, do not forget to change your air filters regularly. This important HVAC maintenance task can save you money on cooling costs and improve your indoor air quality at the same time. As a general rule of thumb, you should replace your air filters every 30 to 90 days.
Upgrade your HVAC system for better indoor air quality
Since you mostly rely on your air conditioner for fresh and clean indoor air, upgrading it to operate with an advanced filtration system would be a wise idea. This will help ease your allergies as well as provide comfort in your home during the hot summer months. Invest in a professional AC Repair Port St. Lucie today!
