How to Reduce Allergens in the Home

How to Effectively Reduce Allergens in Your Home

For some of us, the main allergen we need to combat in our homes comes during summer, with pollen. But many of us can also suffer from other allergens indoors, from dust to pet dander.

No matter how hard we try, it can be difficult to keep these to a minimum. And keeping windows and doors closed in hot weather can make things uncomfortable.

So, below are some Speedy top tips on how to reduce allergens in your home. From practical solutions you can attempt right away, to hiring the right appliances to clean your air, we have loads of tips for you to try.

 

How to Reduce the Risk of Allergens

1. Keep windows closed

In summer, when our homes get really hot and humid, all you want to do is crack open a window and let fresh air in. Unfortunately, all this does is bring in traffic pollution, dust, and pollen too.

So, keep windows and doors closed, and instead utilise something like a portable air conditioner to keep your home cooler. While air conditioners and dehumidifiers won’t necessarily remove harmful particles from the air, they can improve air quality, and keep your home cool so you can avoid opening windows.

 

2. Clean carpets and other soft furnishings

Vacuuming is often not enough to remove particles which have been trodden deep into carpets, rugs, and other furnishings over time.

Use a carpet cleaner to remove these. Even though they’re deep in the fibres, some can still be released when you walk over the carpet, and they can still be breathed in too.

The water, cleaning solution, and suction of a carpet cleaner will help. Pollutants are dampened, trapped, and removed. Use a vacuum when the carpet is dry to properly keep on top of it all.

If you’re really affected by pollutants in furnishings, you may be best swapping to laminate flooring or hardwood floors than carpet. Also ensure you buy curtains and cushions which can be machine washed, and sofa covers which can be removed and washed too.

 

3. Vacuum frequently

If you often vacuum weekly, you might want to increase this to as much as daily if you’re affected by dust and pollen in the home. Vacuuming is better than dusting; not only can you remove particles from carpets and soft furnishings, but it also removes dust rather than moving it around.

Ensure your vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter. This stands for “high-efficiency particulate arresting”, referring to filters that trap 99.97% of all particles 0.3 microns or larger.

The Numatic James JVH180, available to hire from Speedy, has HepaFlo Filtration and uses triple-layer HepaFlo vacuum bags. So, all pollutants are captured and trapped until disposed of.

If your vacuum doesn’t have these features, it could be worth hiring one every few weeks during summer to give your home a proper spring clean.

 

4. Shower and change when you come inside

Whether it is pollen or dust or vehicle pollution, our clothing, hair, and skin picks up a lot of harmful airborne particles we can’t even see.

Before making contact with any indoor surfaces--especially upholstery, chairs, and bedding—remove clothes and take a shower.

You don’t need to wash your hair with shampoo but wetting it will help. Putting clothes straight into the washing machine rather than into your laundry basket will limit the spread, too.

Wash bedding every few days, even if you are trying not to contaminate it. Your mattress and pillows should also be steam cleaned where possible, and use mattress and pillow protectors all year round.

 

5. Remove shoes and outerwear immediately

Remove shoes, coats and jackets at the front door and keep away from the main living room. If you have a vestibule or similar, keep everything enclosed in this room, which you can then clean afterwards.

SPEEDY TOP TIP: Place a doormat at the front door. This can catch loose particles on the bottom of shoes

 

6. Keep humidity low

Humidity in our homes should be around 30% to 50%. High humidity can cause mould and dampness, which then causes respiratory problems and provides a ground for mould spores, dust mites, clothes moths, and fleas.

Anyone with asthma or a weakened immune system should take care. The higher temperatures in our homes in summer can cause humidity, as can not opening our windows in winter. Hire a dehumidifier to maintain the correct level of humidity in your home.

 

7. Wash and brush pets

Whether a dog you take for walks or a cat who is allowed to roam outdoors, pets can not only produce their own dander and loose hair which some of us are allergic to but can also bring in dust and pollen on their fur from outside.

Before they come inside, give them a brush. This way, the loose hair doesn’t end up in your home.

Then, wash a dog’s paws in warm water. You may also want to wet their fur with plain water and a sponge. Pollen can be hard to destroy unless it is wet. Towel them off with a dry microfibre towel afterwards, which you can wash straight away.

Alternatively, and especially for cats, you might want to use pet-friendly disposable wipes instead. Limit where they go in the home, too. Don’t let pets on your human bed during the high pollen season.

Limit when they go out too. The lowest pollen counts are usually before dawn and in the late afternoon to early evening, so walk them during this time. If pollen is really high that day, you might want to limit how much they go out. Stick to indoor games instead.

With pets, keep the house cool during summer, and remember to watch them closely to ensure they don’t also have allergens and hay fever!

 

 

 

HIRE CLEANING PRODUCTS FROM SPEEDY

Throughout the year, you need to keep on top of cleaning your home to reduce allergens and pollution, and keep your home nice to live in.

You’ll find all the cleaning equipment you need right here. From steam cleaners to wet and dry vacuums, all our hire equipment is professional standards, giving you a deep clean without the need for a professional.

Why not start planning your next DIY project and open a Speedy account online or visit us instore for all your tool hire needs?

Speedy has more than 200 local service centres across the nation, hire counters in selected B&Qs and nationwide 4-hour delivery. It has never been easier to hire the tools and equipment you need.

 

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