There are a lot of great things that come with spring, including warmer temperatures and the chance to spend more time outside. But one item that can throw a wrench into enjoying the season is the presence of allergens. From runny noses to itchy eyes, seasonal allergies can be an annoyance to any of your family members. And when you wake up with these symptoms instead of feeling like you’ve had a restful night’s sleep, you’re going to want identify a solution.
And while we typically think of the outdoors when it comes to allergy season, allergens can be present within the home. Many homeowners have become increasingly invested in their indoor air quality and the impact on the home’s occupants. However, while it’s difficult to eliminate those allergens from the outdoors, there are steps you can take to decrease these contaminants in your home.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) identifies the following as the main sources of indoor allergens:
- Pets
- Wall-to-wall carpet
- Soft furniture
- Stuffed toys
- Bedding
- Damp areas
- Indoor plants
- Mattresses that aren’t in allergy covers
- Pillows and bedding you can’t wash in hot water
The AAFA also provides a few steps to help you manage allergens in your home.
- Put plastic covers on your pillows and mattresses.
- Wash your bedding weekly.
- Vacuum one or two times a week.
- Cover your garbage cans.
- Keep pets out of the bedroom.
- Close the windows and doors to keep pollen from flowing into the home.
Keeping your home clean and minimizing the opportunity for dust, pollen and other contaminants to enter the home will go a long way to enhancing your home comfort. Create a plan so that you can prepare your home and get back to enjoying the warmer temperatures.
Don’t make this allergy season more challenging than it needs to be. If you would like more information on how you can increase your home comfort with purification or filtration systems, or if you have additional questions on how to address the quality of air in your house, give Three Rivers Heating & Cooling a call at 503-213-4433 to speak with one of our technicians.