Spring has sprung and so has the allergy season. At times it may seem like there’s nothing you can do to avoid allergy symptoms when outdoors, but taking the following five simple steps may help drastically reduce — and possibly eliminate — symptoms when spending time indoors. Here’s how.
- Eliminate clutter.
It’s a no-brainer, really. The more stuff you have in the home, the more dust you’ll collect on surfaces. Rather than making time for daily dusting, remove things like books, magazines, and knick-knacks to help minimize the number of items that collect dust and aggravate your allergies.
Be sure to also clean upholstered furniture, and if possible, consider replacing it with leather sofas and chairs.
- Replace the air filter.
Another excellent line of attack to consider during allergy season is to replace the HVAC system’s air filter once a month. You’ll enjoy cleaner air with fewer pollutants and allergens. The more advanced your filter, the more contaminants are removed, and the greater the relief you’ll experience from allergy symptoms.
- Have your air ducts cleaned.
Just like air filters, the air ducts collect dust over time, gradually making it more difficult for the HVAC system to filter indoor air. How much dust is collected in the ductwork will depend on how clean the home is overall. One way to tell if you urgently need duct cleaning is to unscrew one of the vents and take a look into the ducts. If you notice dust bunnies, then you can bet your home has poor indoor air quality.
Give Blue Apple Electric a call to schedule duct cleaning. This is especially important if you have pets in the home.
- Clean the carpets.
Vacuuming the carpets is important, but it’s also necessary to have them professionally cleaned. You can either hire a professional carpet cleaner or rent a carpet cleaning machine at your local home improvement store. After a deep clean you’ll notice how much cleaner the air becomes.
- Research and purchase an air purifier.
When it comes to air purifiers, you have a long list of options to choose from. As you do your research, you’ll come across HEPA ratings. HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air. The higher the rating, the more particles are filtered.
For filter recommendations, give Blue Apple Electric a call — we’re happy to help!