Five ways to control allergens and pollutants
Indoor air quality has a major impact on health, and in today’s tightly sealed homes, there’s a high risk of exposure to allergens, pollutants and toxic mold.
The air inside your home can actually be more polluted than the outdoor air of a large industrial city, but there are several simple ways to clear the air and protect your family from asthma, allergies and other health problems. Following are five tips for improving indoor air quality and overall comfort by controlling the allergens in your home.
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Change HVAC filters regularly. No matter how cleanly your heating and cooling equipment runs, dirty filters can keep dust and allergens in play while hampering your system’s efficiency. Check and change filters every three months, and use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, which capture 99.9 percent of the mold spores, dust mites and other pollutants that tend to travel through an HVAC system .
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Maintain proper ventilation. High-moisture zones of the home create opportunities for mold to take hold, so tune up ventilation systems and turn on fans in the bath, kitchen and laundry to maintain indoor air quality.
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Install a whole-house air cleaner. Individual air purifiers and ionizers can make a dent in indoor air pollution, but for more effective results, a whole-house unit is worth the investment. Whole House Air Cleaners can be installed as part of your home’s HVAC system to remove several amazingly tiny, hard-to-catch contaminants.
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Make dust-resistant selections in finishes and furnishings. Cut down on cleaning time and control the dust and dander that settles by decorating with indoor air quality in mind. Fiber-free floor coverings such as hardwood, laminate and tile are great choices, and reducing the presence of fabric-upholstered furniture and dust-collecting draperies can make a big difference. To effectively clean what remains, invest in a vacuum with a HEPA filter situated after the motor and gaskets that keep air from bypassing the filter.
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Sleep soundly with hypoallergenic bedding. Indoor air quality shouldn’t take a rest when you do, so make your bed with allergen-reducing mattress, box spring and duvet encasements and pillow covers. CleanRest is a great source for bedding that banishes dust mites, mold spores and allergens for the indoor air quality of your dreams.
