Tips for Creating an Allergy-Friendly Home During Spring Season
Taming Spring Allergies: A Guide to Allergen-Free Living
Say goodbye to sneezing fits and itchy eyes as spring arrives - at least in your home! Even if you hate stepping foot outdoors during allergy season, pollen and other irritants can still sneak indoors, clinging to clothes or drifting through open windows.
But don't lose hope just yet! A well-planned cleaning routine and some strategic preparation strategies can help you allergy-proof your home and breathe more easily this spring. Here's how to conquer the battle against allergens and take control of your indoor sanctuary.
- Marla Mock is the big boss of Molly Maid, a company that falls under the massive Neighborly family.
- Marilee Nelson is an expert in environmental and toxin issues and the cofounder of Branch Basics, a popular brand that prioritizes human safety in its cleaning products.
First, Let's Get to the Bottom of How and Where Those Allergens Hide
Even if you manage to stay indoors, allergens like pollen can quickly make themselves at home. Since their particles are incredibly tiny, they easily sneak past our defenses and hitch rides on items like clothes, shoes, pet fur, and even your own tresses.
According to Marilee Nelson, these pesky particles can even infiltrate through HVAC systems or enter through open windows and doors when there are gaps or damaged seals. Once indoors, they usually chill out on surfaces, carpets, upholstery, and bedding, just waiting for allergy season to peak to strike again.
Cleaning: An Essential Weapon for Keeping Allergens Away
When the count of pollen rises, stepping up your cleaning game can make all the difference in keeping your home allergen-free. Here's how to make allergens your arch-nemesis:
- Damp Dust: Swap your dry dusting cloth for a wet microfiber one that captures and eliminates allergens rather than redistributing them into the air.d Both Mock and Nelson swear by this allergy-friendly method.
- Vacuum: Vacuum frequently in high-traffic areas and on rugs, upholstered furniture, and other soft surfaces using a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter. These filters help capture even the tiniest particles, making them super effective against pollen, pet dander, and dust mites, says Mock.
- Launder: Bombard your laundry room during allergy season. Mock and Nelson recommend washing bedding and curtains weekly, as allergens love to chill on soft fabrics.
- Wipe Down: Don't forget to wipe window treatments, baseboards, and air vents frequently, since they can accumulate allergens over time. These often-overlooked areas can serve as excellent hiding spots.
- Clear Clutter: The more stuff you've got, the more spaces for allergens to hang out. Decluttering can help reduce allergens where other tools may miss.
Ready to Siege the Outdoors? It's Time to Squash Allergens at the Source
While cleaning up allergens can help during allergy season, keeping them outdoors is even better. After all, prevention is worth more than the cure! Here's the master battle plan to stop allergens in their tracks:
- Seal Leaks and Gaps: Check your home's entry points, keeping windows and doors closed on days with high pollen levels and sealing any gaps or leaks where allergens might creep in.
- Halt Allergens at the Entrance: Place doormats at entrances and encourage everyone to leave their shoes at the door to minimize allergen tracking. For extra protection, Nelson suggests changing clothes immediately after returning home. If you've got pets, make sure to groom them outdoors and wipe them down with a damp microfiber cloth before they invade your clean home.
- Freshen Up the Air: Using an air purifier equipped with an HEPA filter, or upgrading and maintaining your HVAC filters, can help remove airborne allergens for a fresher home atmosphere.
Last but not least, Nelson strongly advises avoiding synthetic fragrances as they can trigger asthma and make your eyes, nose, throat, and entire respiratory system more sensitive to allergens. Here's to a happier, healthier, and sniffle-free spring!
- Marla Mock, the CEO of Molly Maid, a company under Neighborly, shares advice on home cleaning to manage allergens.
- Marilee Nelson, an expert in environmental toxins and co-founder of Branch Basics, also provides tips on using safe cleaning products for allergies.
- Allergens like pollen can hide in various places, including clothes, shoes, pet fur, and even hair, as they are extremely small and can bypass our defenses.
- Allergens can infiltrate homes through HVAC systems or open windows with gaps or damaged seals.
- Damp dusting using a microfiber cloth is an effective allergy-friendly method, as it captures and eliminates allergens rather than redistributing them.
- Vacuuming frequently with a HEPA filter vacuum, particularly in high-traffic areas and on soft surfaces, is crucial for capturing even the tiniest particles.
- Washing bedding and curtains weekly, bombarding the laundry room during allergy season, helps deal with allergens on soft fabrics.
- Wiping down window treatments, baseboards, and air vents frequently keeps allergens that accumulate in overlooked areas at bay.
- To prevent allergens from entering the home, seal leaks and gaps around windows and doors, place doormats at entrances, encourage people to leave their shoes at the door, and use an air purifier or upgrade HVAC filters.