Can you feel it? Spring is in the air! The flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, and … your eyes are watering and your nose is running. Fort Wayne is lucky to have gorgeously pleasant springs, but we’re just as vulnerable to airborne allergens as other parts of the Great Lakes region. Aside from medication, there’s not much that one can do about allergies outside, but your home should be a space where you can live relatively free of allergy attacks.
We consulted our expert team of house cleaners in Fort Wayne for advice on how best to get rid of indoor allergies. Read on and get one step closer to an allergy-free home!
Understanding Fort Wayne Pollen Allergies and How to Prevent Them
Pollen is one of the first things that you probably think of when someone mentions seasonal allergies. According to this in-depth report from Wyndly, the past two springs have been predominated by tree pollen, but starting in the summer, weed pollen takes over. Winter is nearly the only time of year that some kind of pollen isn’t a problem, but even that break is only a brief respite.
Stop Pollen at the Door
Rather than fighting the battle of cleaning outdoor allergens like pollen out of your home, why not stop them at the door before they can even make it inside? Most types of pollen can make it into your home by hitching a ride on your clothes. If you’ve taken a refreshing walk when pollen counts are high, take your jacket off at the door and leave it in the entryway or mudroom (if you have one). Do the same with other easily removable outerwear like hats, shoes, and scarves.
Even if you love the smell of fresh air through the open windows, it might be best to keep them closed if you’re sensitive to pollen and other outdoor allergens. That warm breeze carrying in that fresh air is also carrying allergens that you could’ve avoided!
Dust Allergies Are More Complex Than You Think
You might have heard the statistic that dust is made up of 80% dead human skin cells, but the story is (fortunately) more complex and less gross than that. Dust does contain some old skin cells, but it’s mostly made up of all kinds of other matter, including hair, microplastics, and soil from outside. But none of these are the allergens causing your reaction to dust, so what is?
The allergens present in dust vary from home to home and person to person, but here are some of the top culprits.
Dust Mites Won’t Go Away Just Because You Don’t Want to Think About Them
Bug haters should probably stop reading now because these facts are going to give you the heebie-jeebies. Dust mites, a microscopic species of insect related to ticks and spiders, are found in a startling majority of homes. Homes with dust mites can have up to 1,000,000 individuals in a bed (we warned you to stop reading)!
Many people’s dust allergies are caused by dust mite waste or dead bodies in dust. So what can you do to stop this insectoid nightmare? You’ll be happy to learn that it is possible to get rid of dust mites.
- Dust-Mite-Proof Bed Covers: Allergen-proof bed covers, especially those that work against dust mites, will help protect your mattress from dust mites.
- Wash Bedding Weekly in Hot Water: Dust mites can’t survive the hot water setting of 130 degrees F, so you should wash your home’s bedding at this setting every week until the allergic symptoms go away.
- Dehumidify the Home: Dust mites like a nice, warm, moist environment. You can remove one of those preferred elements with a dehumidifier (which is good for reducing other allergens, too!)
Pet Dander
Another potential allergen in dust is pet dander. Unfortunately, our Fort Wayne house cleaners haven’t invented the magic cure for pet dander allergies. If you’re allergic to your cat, dog, or other pet, your solutions are limited. You can try to keep them out of your bedroom and other spaces you frequent, but pet dander can still travel through the air ducts. You can also reduce the amount of pet dander in the environment with regular home cleaning, but there’s no way to get to zero pet dander.
Mold Spores
Mold is an all-too-common allergen in Fort Wayne; with our average relative humidity hovering around 70% year-round, mold has plenty of opportunities to thrive if unchecked. Here are some steps you can take to prevent it:
- Dehumidify the Home: Just as with dust mites, lowering your home’s humidity can go a long way to stop mold growth.
- Regular Bathroom Cleaning: Bathrooms are, of course, some of the most humid places in a home. Everyone loves a hot, steamy shower, but so does mold! Make sure you’re cleaning the bathroom with something that kills mold, such as a vinegar+water solution or bleach.\
- Kitchen Cleaning: Don’t let dishes pile up and sit out, and make sure to regularly clean the sink and surrounding surfaces.
General Allergen Advice for Cleaning and Prevention
Now that we’ve touched on how to tackle a few specific allergens, we wanted to give you some broader tips on keeping your Fort Wayne home’s allergen level low.
- Vacuum Cleaning: If your home has wall-to-wall carpets, regular vacuuming is a must. Use the hose attachment (if available) to vacuum dust and particulates off your furniture, too.
- Dusting: This might feel like a “no duh” idea, but cleaning the dusty surfaces of your home will reduce the presence of allergens. Just be prepared to have an allergic response while cleaning! We recommend wearing a mask while dusting if you’re sensitive.
- Run and Clean Your Central Air: Your home’s HVAC system has air filters built in that can help reduce airborne allergens. Running your central air (even on FAN mode when it’s not hot or cold) and changing your filters regularly is an excellent step you can take year-round.
CottageCare in Fort Wayne Can Help!
We understand that not everyone has the time, energy, or ability to clean their homes on a regular basis. If this list of cleaning ideas is more intimidating than inspiring, don’t worry! The friendly, thorough, reliable home cleaning services from CottageCare Fort Wayne are just a scheduling phone call away. Plus, we’ve been using environmentally friendly cleaning products for decades, so you can rest assured that we’re only removing allergens, not adding them.