There are several great things that come with spring, including warmer weather and the ability to spend additional 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 exist within your indoor space. Many homeowners have become increasingly interested in their indoor air quality and the impact on the home’s occupants. However, while it’s challenging to eliminate those allergens from the outdoors, there are steps you can take to reduce 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 control allergens in your home.
- Put plastic covers over all mattresses and pillows.
- Wash your bedding weekly.
- Vacuum once or twice a week.
- Cover your garbage cans.
- Keep pets out of the bedroom.
- Close the windows and doors to keep pollen from getting in the home.
Keeping your home clean and reducing the opportunity for dust, pollen and other contaminants to enter the home will go a long way to increasing your home comfort. Make a checklist so that you can prepare your home and soak in the warmer temperatures.
Don’t make this allergy season more difficult than it needs to be. If you would like additional information on how you can improve your home comfort with purification or filtration systems, or if you have additional questions on how to tackle the quality of air in your house, give Patterson & Stirling Inc a call at 814-308-0416 to speak with one of our professionals.