How to Reduce Allergens in Your Home
Pollen and dust are just two of the many allergens that can affect the health and well-being of friends and family who stay in your home. Allergies have the potential to be life-threatening or fatal, but most of the time they can make time spent in your house inconvenient and unpleasant. Getting rid of allergens is a very important task in cleaning your home. Here are some ways to get rid of the allergens in your home, and make your living space more comfortable for everyone.
Common Allergens and Where They’re Found
While there are many different particles and substances that cause allergies, there are many common objects that cause allergies:
Dust and pollen irritate the mucous membranes, and the nasal and respiratory passages. Counter tops and furniture eventually gather dust if they’re not cleaned on a regular basis. If you keep flowers and other ornamental plants in a vase, pot, or in a window flower box, you can possibly spread pollen that irritates people sensitive to it.
Mold and fungi can cause food and respiratory allergies; in some cases, mold and fungi can cause skin allergies. The fungi themselves do not cause the allergy, but spores from mushrooms and particles from moldy food and furniture can cause itching and sneezing. Some people may be sensitive to mushroom cheeses and specialty cheeses that are aged and flavored with mold.
Insects do not cause allergies by themselves, but fecal matter and carapaces they leave behind do cause skin irritation and respiratory problems. The chitin left behind by cockroaches and mites when they molt carries many disease-causing particles of dirt that can aggravate or trigger allergies.
Food allergens are rather uncommon, but remember that a food allergy can cause death. True food allergies are a hypersensitivity with certain foods, especially nuts, legumes, and seafood. Sneezing after getting a whiff of cracked black pepper is a natural reaction that many people share.
Consult a Doctor
Allergies can be potentially fatal, especially if a friend or neighbor is hypersensitive towards a certain substance or a source of allergy-causing particles. For asthmatics and other people with respiratory ailments, it’s important for you to consult the doctor to determine a short list of substances and particles that may trigger an allergic reaction. Keep a note of this list, and search around your home or your living space to see if you keep any of these allergy-causing substances.
Cleaning and Disinfecting
A thorough house cleaning is often the best way to get rid of allergy-causing substances. You need to dust your furniture and appliances, move flowering plants to the garden, and control pest and insect populations inside your house. Remember to dispose of allergy-causing objects properly so that they will not trigger further allergic responses.
Dirty spots in your home are almost always hotspots for allergic reactions. You may need to disinfect places that harbor mold and fungi, especially your bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. Disinfectant solutions and sprays are readily available from supermarkets and department stores. Make sure to dust and get into those hard-to-reach places to make sure that you’re getting rid of the source of the allergens.
Allergen Removal Tools and Gadgets
Many gadgets and small household appliances can help remove allergens and other free-floating particles that can trigger allergic reactions:
Dehumidifiers help draw out moisture and water vapor from the air. Drying up the air helps to inhibit the growth of mold, mildew, and other fungi that can cause allergy-causing spores to float around the air.
Air conditioners help circulate and purify air. Cold temperatures made by air conditioners can also help prevent dust from gathering on furniture and appliances, and prevent bacteria from thriving.
Ionizers change the electrical charge of air to stop free-floating allergenic particles. Ionizers also release electrically-charged particles that prevent bacteria and disease-causing microorganisms from circulating in air.
Allergens can make people’s lives miserable; it’s not just about sneezing and scratching, but some allergic reactions can land people a stay in the hospital. With these tips to help you get rid of the allergens found all over your home, you don’t have to worry about the potential dangers of allergic reactions taking place in your home anymore, and you can focus on living life and entertaining friends and family.