Common Allergens and How to Protect Your Home From Them

According to recent data, allergies affect up to 30% of adults and 40% of children in the United States. Over-the-counter medications can provide some relief, but allergies persist and are a source of discomfort and annoyance for many of us.

One place we can all agree should be a place of comfort and relaxation is our homes. However, allergies are at their fiercest in most homes from dust, pets, pollen, or even mold.

In today’s post, we’re going to talk about some common household allergens and how to protect your home against them.

Safeguard your home against mold

Mold is gross at its best and dangerous at its worst. Caused by excess moisture, the most important thing you can do to prevent mold in your home is to identify areas that are at risk.

Bathrooms, basements, and around faucets are all prone to water damage and mold. Usually, the best intervention to take is to provide proper ventilation. A well-ventilated room dries out quicker and prevents mold from growing in the first place.

Many surfaces in your home, such as wood, drywall, paper, and cardboard are all susceptible to mold growth. Use a mold-inhibiting paint to prevent the mold from growing in the first place.

Prevent indoor pollen

Protecting your home from pollen is trickier than you might think. Most of us like to open doors and windows in the summer time to let fresh air in. The problem? We inadvertently let the pollen in as well.

There are a number of ways to decrease pollen inside of your home. Using HEPA complaint filters in your home and vacuum cleaner can help.

Vacuuming often and emptying the vacuum outside can also have an impact on reducing pollen indoors.

Defend against dust mites

Arguably the nastiest item on the list, dust mites feed on dead skin and love warm temperatures and moderate humidity. This makes the interior of your home the perfect place for dust mites to thrive.

Frequently washing your bedding, dusting your home, and vacuuming with a HEPA certified filter are among the best things you can do to help reduce dust mites in the home.

Protecting against pet allergies

The most important thing you can do to prevent pet allergies is to make sure you aren’t allergic to a pet before bringing them into your home. However, if an allergy does arise, it can often be managed with the use of air and vacuum filters and a strict cleaning regimen.

Some people who suffer mild pet allergies are able to cope with them by simply making their bedroom a no-pet zone and keeping up with cleaning.

Finally, keep in mind that outdoor pets can often bring in pollen from outside. So, when letting your pets in the home in the spring and summer time, try to give them a quick brush down.