This post is submitted by Squaberry.
Did you know that the air inside your home can be twice as polluted as the air outside? That calls for taking some serious measures to beat allergies, especially with pollen season around the corner. The good news, however, is that by following these few simple tips, you can keep your living space allergen free and save yourself the sneezing and congestion.
1. Upgrade Your Vacuum Cleaner
While vacuum cleaners are a common find in every house, especially those with carpets, not all vacuum cleaners are built to remove allergens. Therefore once you’ve discovered you’re allergic to something, get a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner. This filter has the capability to remove micro-sized particles and allergens, preventing you from getting seasonal allergies. This filter also traps pet hair which many conventional vacuum cleaners are unable to do. If you’re on the hunt for buying a new vacuum, visit this link for some affordable options.
2. De-clutter Your Room
When the pollen season strikes, you have to go the extra mile to stay free from allergens. Old clothes and unused stuff is an incubator for allergens and dust mites. Therefore, the foremost step towards an allergen-free room is de-cluttering your room and the house at large. This includes all hidden and visible areas in your house, especially underneath the bed, behind the curtains, air conditioner filters etc as these are the breeding hub for dust bunnies. Additionally, you can find simply maid’s cleaning locations and ask them about the work if you are unable to do it.
3. Keep Bathrooms Ventilated
Molds love washrooms, especially ones that are ignored and remain uncleaned. You will be surprised to learn where these molds can grow out and give you allergies. Deep cleaning your washroom minimizes the chances of their growth considerably. Pouring about half a cup of bleach into a bucket of water makes the perfect solution for wiping those washroom floors clean. A washroom cleaner specially made for cleaning molds would help.
Also, ensure that your washroom windows let in ample air for ventilation as that helps reduce mold growth.
4. Keep Pets at a Bay
Now that might sound like a tough decision to make, but if they’ve got you sneezing, you have got to get rid of them, or on the minimum, maintain a safe distance from them. Bedrooms should definitely be a no-entry zone for pets. Not only can pet hair be a direct source of allergies but can also bring in various kinds of pollen and debris from outside that may prove to be harmful to you. If you let your pets inside the house, make sure to clean the house with a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner to diminish the chances of worsening your allergy.
5. Avoid Carpets
Did you know that walking on carpets releases the dust and dander back into the air again? This is probably the biggest argument against having carpets in your house. Carpeting is the biggest hindrance when it comes to keeping your house clean and free of allergens. On the other hand, hard flooring prevents breeding and growth of dust mites and is way easier to clean.
Those who can’t possibly get rid of the carpeting in the house right away should ensure they are vacuumed properly with a HEPA filter or a steam cleaner.
6. Invest in Air Cleaners
Goes without saying, clean air is key to staying free of allergies. It is important to keep your filters in your heating and cooling system clean. That being said, it is necessary that the temperature doesn’t exceed 68 degrees as it assists in mold and allergen growth. A dehumidifier and air filter remove moisture from the air, which keeps microorganism growth at a bay.
Air purifiers are a simple and cheap solution to remove dust and other allergens from the air. TheMostChic recommends this and a few other low-maintenance ideas for keeping your space organized in their guide.
7. Have a “No Shoes Inside” Policy
Just like your pets, you are capable of bringing in allergens and pollen from outside via your shoes. Bringing the shoes inside your living space can result in worsened allergies, which is why precautionary measures should be taken. Make sure you have a no shoe policy for indoors. Place a No Shoes Inside signboard at the front door, and carry them by hand if you must, to keep the carpet free of allergens.