Allergies Keep Dragging You Down?
For those who
suffer from spring and fall pollen allergies, the
summer and winter months signal a time of relief. But
for the millions
of Americans who suffer from mold, bacteria,
and dust allergies, each season is just a continuation
of allergy symptoms that last all year long. However,
there are steps you can take to help reduce the sneezing,
aching, heavy head and watery eyes associated with
common allergies.
To help reduce your allergy symptoms, Lowe's
Home Improvement Warehouse provides 10 simple suggestions
to keep your home allergy-proof.
1. Vacuuming
& Dusting - Vacuum at least twice a week, and invest
in a vacuum with a HEPA air purifying filter and allergen
filtration system. These accessories effectively
remove 99.97 percent
of all pollen, mold spores, animal
hair and dander, bacteria, smoke particles, and dust.
Use a damp cloth
or magnetically charged dust cloth in order to
prevent dust from flying up and resettling on the surface
of your furniture.
Feather dusters are ineffective because
they move dust
around instead of removing it from the home.
2. Storage -
Dust tends to gather on books and collectables, so
avoid storing them in bedrooms. If you must have them
in your bedroom,
store them in drawers or closed cabinets to reduce
dust. Don't store anything under the bed where dust,
animal hair and
bacterial particles gather.
3. Humidity
in the Home - Install a humidity gauge or hygrometer,
if it isn't already built into your home's heating
and cooling system. Use a dehumidifier to keep humidity
levels below 50 percent, especially in the basement
where mold spores and bacteria tend to thrive.
4. Cooling and
Heating Systems - Central air conditioning is the
cleanest way to cool your home, and radiant heat is
better than forced
heat. Central air and radiant heat both work
without blowing dust and particles throughout the
home. In homes with forced air conditioning or heat,
use a filter over
air vents to reduce dust circulation and have
all ducts in your home professionally cleaned.
5. Flooring
Options - Use hardwood, laminate or vinyl flooring
in your home. Dust mites love carpet and are
difficult to remove
without an air purifier and vacuum with a
HEPA filter. Washable throw rugs are not only
healthier and easier
to wash, but are also great accents for decorating
your home. If you want carpeting in your home,
choose a low-pile
instead of a higher-pile carpet because they
are easier to clean.
6. Window Treatments
- Choose window treatments that are easy
to clean and collect as little dust as possible. Roll-up
blinds, shades and short, lightweight, washable curtains
are better choices
than heavy drapes. Be sure to wash your curtains
and blinds every month or two.
7. Laundry Tips
- Dry clothes in a dryer instead of hanging them
outside where they can collect pollen. Be sure to vent
your dryer to the
outside, and keep both the washer and dryer
in an enclosed room away from the kitchen or eating
area.
8. Kitchen Tips
- Mold grows quickly in the refrigerator, so be
sure to clean it frequently with bleach, and throw away
old food.
Be certain to clean around the refrigerator base where
large amounts of dust tend to gather. Clean kitchen
countertops with
bleach or another household disinfectant, and
don't forget to wipe down garbage cans and other humid
areas with bleach
so bacteria and mold don't linger.
9. Bedroom Tips
- Dust mites thrive in warm places, such as mattresses
and pillows, so invest in allergen-proof, washable
covers to prevent dust mites and mold from entering
your bedding materials.
Avoid kapok, feather and foam rubber
materials because they can grow mold, especially in
damp climates.
10. Bathroom
Tips - Bathrooms are popular havens for mold, so
wash tiles and grout frequently, mop or wipe floors with
mold preventing
solutions, and make sure there is adequate ventilation.
For bathrooms with poor ventilation, use
a mold-inhibiting paint and use a squeegee to remove
excess water from
the tub, shower and sink.
Lowe's Companies,
Inc. is the world's second largest home
improvement
retailer. Lowe's and its 100,000 employees are
Improving Home
Improvement for nearly five million do-it-
yourself retail
and commercial business customers each week
at 596 stores
in 39 states. Visit http://www.lowes.com
.
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