How To Improve The Air Quality In Your Home'

 Most of us don’t think much about the air quality in our homes but improving the quality of the air can help to reduce allergy symptoms and asthma flare-ups. It’s not possible to get rid of all the allergens in your home, but you can reduce them and your exposure to them with a few simple changes. Here are some easy ways to improve the air quality in your home, and say goodbye to some allergens. 

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Keep It Clean

A clean house is a healthy house. Regular cleaning cuts down on dust and animal dander from pets. Put your cleaning efforts in ways to stop pet dander, mold, and dust from building up or lingering in your home. The most important jobs to get done include:

• Vacuuming carpets and rugs. Do this once or twice a week with a vacuum cleaner (more if you have pets that shed) that is equipped with a HEPA filter. Hard-surface flooring instead of carpet in every room can also cut down on allergens if this is a problem for you. 

• Regular cleaning of bedding, drapes, and other soft furnishings that attract allergens, especially if you have pets. Wash these items in hot water, and consider using dust-mite proof covers on your pillows, mattresses, and box springs, if you can. 

• Clearing clutter. Clutter traps and holds dust that can trigger an allergic reaction. 

Keep Greenery Outdoors

This might sound strange, but indoor plants, while pretty, can actually collect and encourage the growth of mold. In indoor allergens are causing you a problem, you will need to cut back on your plants. 

Some plants are thought to help to improve the quality of the air indoors because they release oxygen, but they can trigger allergies for some people. They can create more problems than they help, so go easy with them. 

Change Your Filters

If you have a forced-air heating system in your home, make sure you change the filters on a regular basis. Electrostatic filters can help to make sure that dust and other irritants in the air get trapped instead of circulating through the house. Don’t forget your furnace air filters too. 

Think about having your ducts cleaned to remove any trapped dust. This isn’t always advisable, but in some cases, it can help. 

Invest In An Air Purifier

If you have allergies to indoor allergens and can’t control the source of the problem, for example, a family pet you aren’t willing to part with, it can help to use an air purifier. Put the air purifier in the most used parts of the house, and it can help to capture some of the irritants that can trigger your symptoms. You won’t be able to shift all the allergens completely, but you can reduce them, which might be enough to help you. 

For damp areas, like the basement, you might need a dehumidifier to stop mold from growing. Make sure that bathrooms are well ventilated, and scrub away any mold that you see gathering in the shower, on walls, or on your fixtures.