After a long winter, warmer weather is finally here! Thank goodness, right? That probably means you are soaking up the sun, the kids are playing outside, and your neighbors are hosting outdoor grilling parties.
Oh, and you’re probably sneezing, itching your eyes, and blowing your nose thanks to what many are calling the “Pollen Tsunami.”
Pollen and other allergens and irritants are in the air this spring—with force—and it can be hard to keep those triggers where they belong, outside! You can’t control outdoor triggers, but you can take a few steps to help keep them from sneaking inside your home with you.
I have a few tips that will help to keep your home healthier this summer:
- When you and your family come home, remove items worn outdoors by the front door and take them to the laundry to avoid spreading allergens to surfaces like furniture and bedding.
- Place Certified bedding on all your mattresses and pillows to keep allergens from seeping into your bedding.
- Be sure to wash that clothing and your bedding at least once a week in a Certified washing machine. These machines reach 130 degrees F which is needed to kill dust mites and their eggs.
- Keep windows and doors shut to keep allergens from blowing into your home.
- Use Certified cleaning products and dry dusters designed to trap and lock allergens and other particles for easy removal from your home.
- Keep household humidity levels below 50 percent to prevent mold and mildew growth inside your home.
- Run your main home HVAC unit with a Certified filter to trap the allergens that do get indoors. It’s best to replace your filter every 60 to 90 days.
- Use Certified vacuums on floors and furniture weekly to prevent allergen particles from becoming airborne. Also, consider having a Certified professional carpet cleaning service 3-4 times a year.
What are you doing to battle the “Pollen Tsunami?” Tell us in the comments below.