Allergy season seems to get worse every year. The hotter the temps the more potent the pollen from trees, grasses, flowers, and weeds, and the more miserable seasonal allergy sufferers feel. And while you can’t do much to control the weather, you can manage your indoor environment.

The first line of defense for allergies is avoidance. But we can’t stay cooped up inside all season long. So, what’s a seasonal allergy sufferer to do? Follow these simple but impactful tips to eliminating allergens throughout your home so that everyone can breathe a little easier.

1.  Stop allergens at the door. Pollen particles, dirt, pesticides and a slue of other pollutants and allergens cling to your shoes and waltz right into your home. Avoid tracking them in by creating a spot for everyone who enters to remove their shoes. Don’t forget to place a water-resistant doormat outside to wipe off shoes before crossing the threshold.
2. Shed and wash away. For serious allergy sufferers, remove as much clothing as you can as soon as you come home and keep a hamper nearby so you can easily toss in the dirty clothing until wash day. Head straight to the shower after coming inside if you have time, or wash your face with a mild, fragrance-free cleanser.
3. Choose solid flooring over carpet. While carpet feels warm and plush underfoot, wood, tile, and vinyl plank are ideal flooring materials for allergy sufferers. Mold is a common allergy trigger for many. Carpeting is very hard to dry completely after a spill, producing an ideal environment for mold growth, not to mention all the dirt, dust, and other particles that get trapped in carpet fibers. If you can’t do without, choose area rugs with a short-pile or no-pile style over thick, fluffy wall-to-wall carpet.
4. Vacuum frequently and thoroughly. Regardless of your flooring choice, be sure to vacuum regularly with a vacuum that contains a HEPA filter that traps even the tiniest of particles. If you have wall-to-wall carpet, have it deep-cleaned on a regular basis.
5. Don’t forget fabric upholstery. Like carpet and area rugs, fabric upholstery is a magnet for dust and allergens. If you can, choose leather or faux leather for sofas and loveseats so you can easily wipe off dirt, pollen, and pet dander. Otherwise, vacuum upholstered furniture often. Additionally, wash or vacuum window drapes and curtain.
6. Rid bedrooms of dust. Remove decorative throw pillows and fabric curtains that are not washable and cover mattresses and pillows in dust-mite-proof encasements. Wash bedding once a week on the hottest setting and vacuum mattresses using the upholstery brush on your vacuum cleaner. Finally, remove excess clutter that attracts dust.
7. Run the air conditioning. In addition to keeping you cool, your central air conditioning system also removes excess humidity from the air. Just remember to change the filter every 8 weeks or as recommended by the manufacturer to ensure that only the cleanest air possible is flowing through your home.
8. Use an air purifier. Cleaning regularly, keeping windows closed, and running the AC all do a fine job at limiting the amount of allergens that can infiltrate your home. But if you want to take things to the next level, consider having a whole-house air filtration system installed by the professionals at Zach Heating & Cooling. Installed right in your ductwork, it goes to work to rid your home of up to 99 percent of airborne pollutants.

Say good-bye to the sneezing and watery eyes and say hello to a new whole-house air filtration system expertly installed by Zach’s. Contact us today to learn more.

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