Finally! Spring is here and the dreadful, long and bitter winter is now behind us. Now, we can go out, enjoy the feeling of the sun on our faces and turn off our furnaces. Unfortunately, the warm weather, blooming flowers, budding trees, and grass growing also means that there will be plenty of allergens in the air. And as spring ushers in the long-awaited summer, it is imperative to know you can rid your home of these allergens without necessarily putting up with bad indoor air quality.
You see, better indoor Air Quality ( IAQ ) essentially tones down the probability of you being exposed to allergen while still ensuring that you are enjoying a healthier and fresher indoor environment.
What is the Genesis of Spring Allergies in your Home?
The onset of spring is often characterised by blooming flowers, budding trees and sprouting grass – all these are prime pollen producers. This pollen will – one way or another – find its way to your home either through open windows or via pets who may catch some on your coats and furs. You could also inadvertently bring some on your clothes and shoes after taking a leisurely stroll outside.
The pollen and other collected allergens will then be circulated around via your home’s central cooling and heating system spreading them further and deeper into all rooms and living areas. That’s how you could end up with microscopic airborne allergens deep in your basement or attic.
How to Eliminate the Problem of Allergens Indoors
Combating allergens in your living areas is a two-pronged strategy.
For starters, prevent the allergens from getting into your home by;
1. Avoid opening the windows mid-afternoon and mid-morning when the pollen density is usually high.
2. Don’t bring your shoes indoors.
3. If you cannot take off your shoes, place a mat on your doorstep which you could use to shake off the pollen dust off them before entering the house.
4. Change clothes immediately after coming into the house if you had spent considerable time outdoors. Take a quick shower too.
Secondly, remove allergens from your home by;
1. Dust and vacuum all surfaces in your house on a regular basis, preferable weekly.
2. Wash your beddings, curtains, window coverings, rugs, mats and other types of linens weekly or bi-weekly to remove allergen dust.
3. Change your furnace and HVAC filter as recommended by the manufacturers.
References: ACS, Advent Air, RhoadsEnergy