Beat Indoor Allergies With These 5 Unstoppable Tips

Combat the sneezes and sniffles with the armor of knowledge.

Researchers state that over 50 Million Americans suffer from nasal allergies, and children account for 40% and the numbers are constantly increasing yearly. With most people spending majority of their day inside – at work, home and school, triggers like mold, pet dander, dust mites, and other indoor allergens can cause your allergy symptoms to flare. To combat the sneezes and sniffles, implement the following five tips to fight allergies at home.

Dust Without Chemicals

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If you’re used to dusting with a chemical aid and feather duster, this could backfire and irritate your allergies. Dusting with a feather duster is no good either because this simply spreads dust around. A better option is to use a microfiber cloth to attract and remove dust from your home. You can even throw the cloth in the wash and reuse it later. Remember to include places such as your lampshade, bookshelves, and your electronics, especially your laptop computers. To prevent collection of dust, pollen and other allergens on your laptop, consider a gel or rubber case that you can remove and wipe easily.

Wash Bedding Regularly

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Your bed is the favorite place for dust mite colonies and dead skin to settle. Medical experts strongly advise that you strip down your bed and wash the sheets weekly in hot water to kill dust mites and if possible, use your vacuum cleaner tools to remove excess debris from your mattress surface. Encase your pillow, mattress and box spring with hypoallergenic covers to further reduce allergen exposure. Don’t forget decorative pillows, upholstery on couches and stuffed animals, they too can harbor dust mites and pollen coming in from outside.

Manage Humidity

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A Canadian research in the Journal of Asthma and Allergy found that mold and moisture in homes are frequent causes of asthma. In the summer, your focus should be on lowering indoor humidity with a whole-house dehumidifier. This device works in conjunction with your air conditioner to remove excess humidity, reducing the chance of mold growth. The goal is to keep humidity below 35%, if humidity is above 50% fungi and mold thrive.

In the winter, it is recommended that you run a whole-house humidifier. This adds much-needed moisture to naturally dry air in the winter. Avoiding chapped lips, cracked skin and dry nasal passages by keeping the humidity higher, this discourages bacteria and viruses from flourishing. When germs die faster, you are more likely to manage your allergy symptoms indoors and survive the wintery conditions.

Use a Quality Air Filter and Change It Often

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We stress this many times, but the air in your home is extremely important to your overall health. This is why we urge consumers to change their air filter according their recommended time. Some require every 30 days, while other 90 days. The higher the MERV rating, the better the air filtration. Your AC unit collects air from the outside, and to protect your home from allergens and other harmful airborne hazards, the air filter function to is to trap those particles and give you the cleanest air indoors.

To get the best air quality , it is recommended that you use the best brand in America, the Filtrete Allergen Defense . This filter is rated between MERV 11 and 13 and considered a superior residential filter. It captures larger particles such as pollen, textile fibers, mold spores and hair spray as well as smaller bacteria and viruses that are carried by a simple sneeze. A clean filter catches more allergens and ensures ideal airflow and you will end up with lower energy costs.

Use an Air Cleaner/Purifier

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Setting up a portable air cleaner in your bedroom is a great way to freshen the air while you sleep. As you research which type of air cleaner is best for your needs, be sure to select a model that doesn’t produces ozone as a byproduct. This known lung irritant could undermine your allergy-fighting efforts.

Honorable Mentions: Curtains & Drapes

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Imagine the dust curtains collect, when they are right in front of the windows, especially when you open them. You think you’ve covered all the bases, but forget to change/ wash the curtains. The best curtains to own as an allergy sufferer, are plain cotton or synthetic fabric. But if you must have the beautiful lace and satin curtains, wash them as often as you would your bedding -weekly and with hot water.

Silk Flowers

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Although they might serve as floral decor, they harbor tons of dust and allergens. For those not willing to give up their silk Orchids, it is important to dust them with a damp microfiber cloth, to prevent dust from moving around. Another great suggestion that will help, is to get real plants, ones that enhance your air quality, such as Bamboo, Aloe Vera and various species of fern. They require little water, looks great indoors and cleans your air simultaneously.

Now that we've provided these guidelines to help you manage your indoor allergies, we hope that you will see better results in indoor quality.