Indoor Allergens
There is nothing worse than suffering from allergies, even when you’re just at home. If you suffer from allergies all year round, perhaps it’s time you take a deeper look at your home. Seasonal allergies usually happen during spring when the pollen count is high. However, indoor allergies occur throughout the year.
That is why you should ensure to keep your home free from allergens through regular cleaning and maintenance. Aside from keeping your home allergen-free, you should also check other parts of your house, such as your drains and pipes, are clog-free and functioning well, and call a professional plumber for any necessary repairs.
What causes indoor allergies?
Among common symptoms of indoor allergies include sneezing, red/itchy/teary eyes, runny/stuffy nose, coughing, itching, and in the worst cases, breathing difficulties. Things usually trigger it in homes, such as pet dander, mold spores, dust mites, and even cockroaches. These allergens can be found in carpets, upholstery, pillows, and mattresses.
These are why homeowners should clean their houses every day to get rid of these common allergens. Not only will it lessen the occurrence of allergic reactions, including asthma, but it will also ensure a better quality of life.
How to get rid of indoor allergens?
Thankfully, you don’t need to move to a new home to eliminate allergies. All you need is to follow these tips to get rid of indoor allergens and improve your household’s quality of life:
Change your mattress.
If your mattress is more than a decade old, it is time to change it or suffer from allergies for longer. Mattresses accumulate dust, mold, dead skin cells, and other dirt and substances that could trigger allergy attacks. And since most people spend around 20,000 hours annually sleeping on a mattress, it’s no wonder many of them could catch allergens, too.
Avoid pet dander.
Many households worldwide treat their pets like family and live with them inside the house. Pet allergens are usually found in cat and dog dander and saliva. The only way you can somehow reduce the amount of dander at home is to bathe them once a week. After petting your dog or cat:
- Wash your hands with water and soap.
- Use a vacuum to remove the dander from the carpet and the floor.
- As much as you love your pets, try to keep them out of your bedroom.
Regulate humidity levels.
Too high or too low humidity levels can lead to the spread of allergens in your home. More than 75% and less than 30% humidity can cause dust mites to thrive and allergens to spread more easily. That is why it is best to keep your home’s humidity levels between 40 to 50%.
Change your air filter.
Make sure to change your air filters regularly. Your HVAC system plays an important role in creating a clean home by filtering the air you breathe inside the house. Poorly-maintained air filters won’t be effective in removing allergens. HVAC experts recommend changing your filters once every 60 to 90 days.
How to test indoor air for allergens?
To identify and address potential triggers for allergies, it is crucial to conduct tests for allergens in indoor air. Here are some methods that you can use for testing indoor air for allergens:
Allergen Test Kits: can buy allergen test kits for home use. These kits come with materials like sticky strips or Petri dishes to collect samples from different parts of your home. The included instructions will guide you through the collection process. After collecting the samples, you send them to a lab for analysis, and they will send you a report on the types and amounts of allergens found.
Professional Testing: If you want precise and thorough results, it’s recommended to hire an indoor air quality (IAQ) professional. They have specialized equipment to collect air samples from different areas of your house, which are then examined in a laboratory to determine the types and amounts of allergens present. This type of testing is especially helpful if you suspect having serious or complicated allergen problems.
Allergen-Specific Testing: think you are allergic to a particular substance, you can choose to have targeted testing. Let’s say you suspect that you are allergic to dust mites, then you can use dust mite test kits that can specifically detect their presence. These kits usually require collecting dust samples from your home and examining them to see if there are dust mite allergens present.
Mold Testing: mold is important as it can be a common indoor allergen. Home mold test kits are available, which use swabs, tape lifts, or air sampling cassettes to collect samples from areas suspected of mold growth. However, it’s important to keep in mind that professional help may be needed if there are concerns about extensive mold growth or potential health risks.
It is important to carefully follow the instructions for any testing method you choose to ensure accurate results. When interpreting the results and taking steps to reduce allergens, it is recommended to consult with healthcare professionals or IAQ specialists.
Hire a professional technician.
Hiring a professional technician or plumbing service in Spring Hill, TN, to help you with your pipe, air duct, or drain repair and maintenance needs is better.
