The warm weather, blooming flowers and budding trees can mean only one thing—allergy season has arrived. Here are a few spring and summer-related tips for minimizing the allergens in your home.
1. Clean up surface dust as often as possible and be sure to dust effectively. Sometimes you can stir up more dust when you're dusting—and that could mean more airborne allergens! Pledge® Multi Surface Spray and Wipes contain anti-static agents that help remove more dust and allergens* than traditional dry dusting. They’re great for cleaning cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom, coffee tables, bookshelves, windows, electronics and other hard surfaces.
2. Do a full-scale vacuuming. Even if you've been vacuuming weekly, tackle the full range of needs now: carpets and areas under beds, behind and around furniture and even behind big appliances like washing machines and refrigerators. If you're allergy prone, use a filtered HEPA vacuum (HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air). And make sure you vacuum the interiors of couches and lounge chairs (remove the cushions first). Those crevices are magnets for dust, dust mites and pet dander. Upholstered furniture should be vacuumed frequently since it traps more dust and allergens.
3. Try to keep windows closed at all times. Run the air-conditioning, which cleans, cools and dehumidifies the air. Lowering humidity reduces the number of dust mites and dust mite allergens in your home.
4. Reduce allergic triggers in your closet. Closets are often a breeding ground for allergic triggers such as mold because they tend to be dark and damp. Store your off-season shoes in boxes. To help keep dust out, make sure to keep drawers and closet doors tightly closed when you’re not using them.
5. Protect yourself in bed. Many allergies start in the bedroom. Clean all bed casings frequently (at least once a season) and invest in allergen-proof encasings for pillows, mattresses and box springs. Avoid storing anything under beds that might collect dust.
6. Reduce humidity. Dust mites and mold, which are the cause of many allergic reactions, thrive in warm, moist environments. Reducing the humidity in your home can help control their growth. Running an air conditioner helps. Also, make a seasonal check of exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathrooms. Steam from cooking, if not vented, can lead to mold in the kitchen. And steam from showers and baths, if not vented, can lead to mold on walls and ceilings and around enclosures. An overhead heat lamp in the bathroom can help reduce the buildup of moisture.
7. Install air filters. Added to a furnace or a room unit, air filters can reduce the levels of allergens. Electrostatic and HEPA filters can effectively remove many allergens from the air. Make a seasonal check to ensure that yours are functioning properly.
1. Clean up surface dust as often as possible and be sure to dust effectively. Sometimes you can stir up more dust when you're dusting—and that could mean more airborne allergens! Pledge® Multi Surface Spray and Wipes contain anti-static agents that help remove more dust and allergens* than traditional dry dusting. They’re great for cleaning cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom, coffee tables, bookshelves, windows, electronics and other hard surfaces.
2. Do a full-scale vacuuming. Even if you've been vacuuming weekly, tackle the full range of needs now: carpets and areas under beds, behind and around furniture and even behind big appliances like washing machines and refrigerators. If you're allergy prone, use a filtered HEPA vacuum (HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air). And make sure you vacuum the interiors of couches and lounge chairs (remove the cushions first). Those crevices are magnets for dust, dust mites and pet dander. Upholstered furniture should be vacuumed frequently since it traps more dust and allergens.
3. Try to keep windows closed at all times. Run the air-conditioning, which cleans, cools and dehumidifies the air. Lowering humidity reduces the number of dust mites and dust mite allergens in your home.
4. Reduce allergic triggers in your closet. Closets are often a breeding ground for allergic triggers such as mold because they tend to be dark and damp. Store your off-season shoes in boxes. To help keep dust out, make sure to keep drawers and closet doors tightly closed when you’re not using them.
5. Protect yourself in bed. Many allergies start in the bedroom. Clean all bed casings frequently (at least once a season) and invest in allergen-proof encasings for pillows, mattresses and box springs. Avoid storing anything under beds that might collect dust.
6. Reduce humidity. Dust mites and mold, which are the cause of many allergic reactions, thrive in warm, moist environments. Reducing the humidity in your home can help control their growth. Running an air conditioner helps. Also, make a seasonal check of exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathrooms. Steam from cooking, if not vented, can lead to mold in the kitchen. And steam from showers and baths, if not vented, can lead to mold on walls and ceilings and around enclosures. An overhead heat lamp in the bathroom can help reduce the buildup of moisture.
7. Install air filters. Added to a furnace or a room unit, air filters can reduce the levels of allergens. Electrostatic and HEPA filters can effectively remove many allergens from the air. Make a seasonal check to ensure that yours are functioning properly.
* from dust mites and pet dander found in dust
