How to control indoor allergens in the vents to improve air quality?
Asthma and allergy control begins when you keep the air vents in your home clean of allergens. Many people with allergies and asthma stay indoors, especially when the mold and pollen are high outside. Little do they know, the pet dander, the allergens, and the dust mites are also present indoors.
Tips to prevent indoor allergens
As the Environmental Protection Agency tells us, indoor allergens can be controlled in the following ways:
- Using clean air vents
- Ventilating all the indoor areas
- Controlling contact with airborne particles and allergens
Better air quality at your office, school, and home can stop asthma and allergy triggers.
What are the main sources of indoor allergens?
Reducing allergens and controlling pet dander require professional help from an air cleaning company. However, the culprits to store allergens, pet dander, dust mites, and airborne particles are:
- Bedding and pillows that you can’t wash, especially in hot water
- Bed covers
- Damp areas
- Indoor plants
- Stuffed toys
- Upholstery
- Soft furniture
- Pets
- Wall-to-wall carpet
- Bedding
- Wallpapers
According to research, there are more allergens on the above surfaces than in the air. The surface allergens transfer to air when you disturb, touch, or sit on one of these surfaces.
Does air cleaning the surfaces make a difference?
Yes, air cleaning might help to reduce the number of allergens but you won’t get rid of allergies and asthma until you clean the haven for allergens. The best way is to seek professional help to control the spread of allergens and open your windows for outside air.
Increasing humidity decreases mold growth and dust mites. Turning on the air conditioner might also help with increasing the humidity but the air vents of your air conditioner are a haven for allergens as well. It is better to get them cleaned by a professional cleaner before switching on your AC.
Ways to reduce indoor allergens on budget
Here are some of the ways to reduce indoor allergens on a budget:
Prevent pet dander
It is better to keep animals without fur or feathers if you have allergies. There are no pets in the world who are hypoallergenic. People get allergies due to the pet dander, which is thousands of dead skin cells.
However, few animals shed fewer dead cells due to which they produce less pet dander as compared to furry pets.
The best way to reduce the symptoms of pet dander is to keep your pet outside the bedroom. Moreover, wash your pet’s stuffed toys on a regular basis and cover the air vents with a thick cloth when they are not in use.
Brushing and washing your pets also reduce the symptoms. But make sure to wear a mask or put on a cloth near your nose and mouth to prevent developing allergies.
Vacuum twice a week
The vacuum reduces the allergens in the air but, make sure to use a high-end vacuum. The low-quality machines put the dust into the air instead.
Avoid mold growth
Reduce the moisture where there’s water, such as in the kitchen, bathroom, sink, etc. You can reduce mold growth by:
- Running less water during the showers
- Using humidifiers to prevent dust mites and mold
- Fixing all leaks
- Repairing all the damp areas
- Keeping only a few plants
Conclusion
Living with allergies and asthma can be hard, especially if you live in an area where the air quality is poor. Regardless of the air quality outdoors, you can follow the above steps to improve the air quality indoors.
