How to Minimize Household Allergens
Allergens cause issues with allergies, breathing, and more. We've outlined seven steps you can take to help you reduce those allergens in your home for better, cleaner breathing.
1. Dusting Is a Must
Dusting around your home is one of the easiest steps you can take to reduce allergens in your home. When dusting, be sure to start at the top and work your way down, in order to keep from knocking dust onto the areas you just cleaned. And don't forget to dust your ceiling fan blades, light bulbs and mini-blind slats.
Traditional feather dusters and dust rags don't pick up dust; they just move it around. Instead, use a damp microfiber cloth, which traps dust, mold and pollen particles.
2. Use a HEPA Vacuum Cleaner
Controlling the dust in your home can be crucial to preventing allergens from accumulating, and vacuuming twice a week is one of the simplest, most effective ways to control irritating dust.
You can maximize the effectiveness of your vacuuming by using a HEPA vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters trap 99.97% of the particles that are 0.3 microns and larger, which means you'll catch far more allergens like pet dander, dust or pollen than you would with a standard filter.
It's helpful to know that there are also generic filters that are labeled as "HEPA-type" filters. A true HEPA filter will have a serial number and display HEPA test results on the package.
We carry a wide selection of vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters, including stick, canister and upright models.
3. Get Rid of Your Carpet
While we're on the subject of vacuuming your floors, consider switching from carpet to a hard surface, such as laminate, wood, vinyl or ceramic tile. Hard-surface floors don't trap dust mites, pollen, mold or dander like carpets do, making them the preferred flooring for those with allergies. Check out our guide — How to Choose the Right Flooring — for buying advice.
4. Add Air-Purifying Plants
Want an easy, effective and super-low maintenance way to reduce the allergens in your home? Try adding air-purifying plants that help reduce pollen and other allergens from the air. Certain plants may even absorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air. Need help deciding which plants to buy? Ask a Lawn and Garden associate for help with our large selection of air-purifying plants.
Most air-purifying plants have larger leaves that collect dust, so be sure to clean them every week with a damp cloth. Don't overwater the plants, either, as soil that's too damp can make it easy for mold to grow.
5. Choose the Right Air Filter
Home air filters (also commonly called furnace filters) keep the coils and heat exchanges on the heating and air conditioning system clean. Not only will changing your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) filters improve the lifespan of your HVAC system, it will also help eliminate allergens from your home, making it one of the simplest changes you can make to improve your home's health.
The first thing you need to know is the size of your air filter. Most filters for residential HVAC systems are 1-inch thick, but some houses require up to 4-inch filters due to the volume of air circulating in the home. Be sure to check the dimensions of your air filter before purchasing.
Performance is affected by the size and density of the material used, as well as the size and volume of the particles being filtered. The least expensive filters have a layer of fibers (most often fiberglass), and in some cases, a filter is covered by a honeycomb-shaped grille. When you shop for HVAC filters, look for a model that captures microscopic particles including bacteria, mold spores and pollen.
Pleated filters are more efficient because the pleats provide a greater surface area to trap particles. Many pleated filters are electrostatically charged to help them attract and hold microscopic particles. There are even reusable filters made of material that can be rinsed clean with water.
Most filters are labeled with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating number, which measures a filter's ability to trap particles ranging in size from 3.0 microns to 10.0 microns. A residential air filter commonly has a MERV rating of 1 to 12. The higher the MERV rating, the more efficient the filter is, and the more particles it can filter. MPR (Micro-particle Performance Rating) is an example of a vendor-specific rating system. MPR is a measurement of the efficiency a filter has to capture particulates, such as bacteria and smoke. As with MERV, a higher number means a more efficient filter.
6. Get an Air Purifier
If some of your family members struggle with respiratory problems like asthma, you may want the added assurance of an air purifier to keep your air clean. Tabletop air purifiers are less expensive options, and they can be transported from room to room as needed. However, whole-room air purification units have larger filters and collecting plates, so they do a better job of cleaning the air.
Make sure that the unit you choose fits your room's dimensions. A smaller unit in a large room will not be effective. As you shop, look for a higher clean-air delivery rate (CADR) number. The higher the number, the stronger the air-cleaning power of your unit.
Avoid models that generate ozone as part of the cleaning operation.
7. Wash What You Can
Remove as much clothing as you can when you come inside from mowing grass, doing yard work or doing other activities that expose you to allergens. Keep a hamper in the closet to collect your dirty clothes, jackets, scarves, etc. Then head straight to the shower. If you don't have time for a shower, at least wash your face and hands.
Clean your furniture upholstery on a regular basis. Consider switching to leather or faux leather furniture, which can be cleaned with a simple wipe. If you can't afford to upgrade your furniture, use machine-washable slipcovers. In the bedroom, decorative pillows and fabric curtains are dust magnets — wash them frequently. Buy dust mite-proof covers for your pillows and mattress and wash all of your bedding once a week.