If your immune system continuously gives you a hard time during spring and summer, you may be at the end of your rope. Your allergies and illnesses can become even worse when everyone in the household suffers from the same thing, like a set of dominoes falling one by one as soon as that first sneeze enters the home. Above all else, you should feel healthy and comfortable in your home, so how can you reduce household allergies once and for all?
Vacuum Regularly
Dust is one of the biggest causes of allergies, but it’s often worse than it seems. While you can wipe down surfaces, it’s easy to forget about dust and dander caught in the fibers of your rugs, carpets, cushions, and more.
You can overcome this by regularly vacuuming the house. Depending on the style and layout of your home, this can be done once a week, although you may need to do it more often if you have pets, at least in the parts of the house where they spend the most time. A simple vacuum can only do so much, though, so investing in one with a HEPA filter will be much more effective.
Get Your Appliances Fixed
If you have an HVAC system, air purifier, dehumidifier, or extractor fan, you need to get these appliances fixed and serviced every year. Since the filters are often out of sight and out of mind, you may not realize how clogged they really are. Over time, dust and dander collect in the grate and filter system which reduces performance and means the motor must work harder for the same results.
Booking air conditioning repair can make your appliance more efficient and ensures the summer is more comfortable in your household. Similarly, you can rely on your other appliances to improve the air quality by removing pollutants that can contribute to household allergies.
Take Your Shoes Off
If you spend a lot of time outside, you bring back more than you think when you come home, especially if you go on nature walks or visit local parks. Allergens will cling to the bottom of your shoes and settle in your home, which can cause allergies to flare up. Considering you’ll spend more time outside once the weather is nice, you should take more precautions to prevent passing on allergies when you get home after a day out or even just after walking the dog.
Keep the Windows Closed
While many people assume that you need to keep the windows open during the summer to let air circulate, it’s the opposite. Opening the windows allows warm air to creep in, and you want to keep warm air out to ensure comfort on the hottest days of the year.
There is also a benefit for allergy sufferers. Keeping the windows closed means that pollutants can’t waft into the house. This is especially true if you live near a meadow or a busy street. Many types of pollutants can cause allergy flare-ups, so keep your windows closed to keep as many out of the house as you can.
Pick the Right Houseplants
Houseplants can improve your home’s air quality, but you need many more plants than you think. For most homes, this isn’t possible. You simply don’t have space to recreate a jungle in your home or apartment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still find some benefits from choosing the right houseplants.
While your plants won’t clean the air entirely, you can pick plants that don’t have common allergens such as pollen. If you feel like you’re sneezing more often than usual, consider whether any of your plants are causing the problem and move them somewhere else to see if there is any improvement.
Wash Your Bed Sheets and Linens
People should clean their bedding regularly anyway, but you might not be cleaning it as often as you think. Experts recommend washing your linens every week to wash away dead skin cells and other allergens that can cause a reaction.
Not only will this make it easier to sleep and spend time in your home, but it’s also more hygienic, so you can feel healthier and fresher, enabling you to manage your household better and enjoy the soft comforts of a freshly washed bed.
Bless You
While the odd sneeze can be satisfying, no one wants to spend their summer stuffed up and snotty. If your family often experiences severe allergies, these tips should help you reduce the number of illnesses and other problems around your home, so you can at least breathe comfortably there, if nowhere else.
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