Quick tips to improve indoor air quality?

More than half of Americans test positive when exposed to one or more allergens, according to the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. And more than half of all homes in the U.S. have at least six detectable allergens in the air, such as cat and dog dander, dust mites, pollen or mold spores. As the weather warms, more allergens are present in the air. Reducing the amount of allergens in your home can help improve indoor air quality and reduce your exposure to allergy triggers.

Dust is a primary cause of allergies and its particles can contain a witches-brew of irritants, such as insect droppings, pet dander, skin particles, food particles, mold spores and bacteria. Obviously, it is very difficult to avoid airborne triggers without sealing yourself into a bubble. But there are many ways to help reduce the impact of spring-induced allergies and minimize the medicines we take. Here are a few simple ideas to get you feeling better.

Shoes off: Take your shoes off before you enter the house leave dirt, dust and particulate outside. Your house stays cleaner and your feet feel better.

Dust frequently : If you do it, be certain to cover your mouth and nose with an inexpensive, disposable mask that permits you to breathe but minimizes the inhalation of dust particles.  Dust with damp paper towels (not old rags) and do not reuse.

Keep Pets Clean: Dogs and cats easily bring pollen and mold particles inside. When reentering the house, give those paws a wipe with a damp paper towel, along with the coat’s surface. While this is somewhat helpful, it is important to groom your pet’s regularly during allergy season.

Change your HVAC Filters: HVAC filters are dirty from a long winter. Check you HVAC filters more often and change them every three months. Turing on the air conditioning with dirty filters can send particulate all around your house.

Keep your windows and closed: Open windows during high winds can really load you house with tons of pollen and particulate.

Careful with your Spring Cleaning: Be aware of the cleaning products you are using for your spring cleaning. Often these cleaning products are toxic and can add allergy and asthma triggers the household environment. Read labels carefully.

Use a portable air purifier: Effective placement and use a good quality air purifier can provide excellent relief from allergy and asthma symptoms. An air purifier can remove the allergy triggers from the air reducing the need for medicines. Your house is cleaner.

We all want to enjoy this time of year, but it is impossible to control the outdoor environment. However, we can do many cost effective things in our home to make it as allergen free as possible. This will minimize our need for medicines and give us a place to come home to a healthy environment with good quality air.