3 Tips To Reduce Allergens in Your Home

3 Tips To Reduce Allergens in Your Home

Dust, mold and pet dander are just some of the allergens that lurk everywhere in your home. They accumulate in upholstered furniture, carpets, rugs and ventilation systems. If you have environmental allergies, this accumulation can bother your sinuses year-round. That’s why taking steps to minimize the number of allergens in your home is important; below are three ways you can do this.

Get Your Carpet Deep-Cleaned

If you have carpet or rugs in your home, it’s important to ensure they’re regularly cleaned. Although vacuuming frequently is important to capture pet fur, dust, and other loose particles in the carpet, it’s not the best method to remove dirt and oil. Regularly scheduled carpet cleaning Santa Monica will keep your carpets clean and remove allergens by breaking up the dirt and oil so it can be eliminated with a professional carpet-cleaning machine. Since you and your pets use the carpet year-round, be sure to schedule at least a few deep cleanings with a carpet cleaning company each year.

Regularly Change the Air Filter

If you use a furnace to heat your home, there’s an air filter in it that filters out allergens and dust before the warm air circulates. It’s typical for it to be changed every 90 days, but it’s a good idea to change it every 60 days if you have pets that shed or other environmental factors that increase the amount of dust, hair and debris in the air. While 60 to 90 days is average, some have a shorter or longer lifespan depending on the quality of the air filter. It’s best to check the packaging to be sure. Regularly changing your air filter will help reduce reactions to environmental allergens.

Properly Care for Bedding

Theoretically, you’re in your bed for at least eight hours per night if you’re getting the number of hours of sleep that’s recommended. During that time, your body sheds dead skin, and oils from your body get in your sheets and through to your mattress. Dust, dander and pet fur also collect in bedding whether you’re using it or not. There are ways to manage these allergens. Wash your bedding once a week in hot water, use an allergen-friendly mattress cover that can also be laundered, and regularly clean your pillows. This will reduce exposure to dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens.

Tending to the cleanliness of your environment can help in managing allergy symptoms