Cold weather can lead to sniffling, sneezing, headaches and coughing. But the culprit may not be a virus. If your symptoms last more than 2 weeks, you are probably suffering from seasonal allergies. Learn where allergens might be hiding in your home.
Culprit: Bedroom Bookshelf
Solution: Move the Shelf to Another Room
Your books and collectables aren’t the only things on your shelves – winter allergens are lingering there as well. Bookshelves collect dust and mites that can trigger symptoms like itchy eyes, congestion and sore throat. You can get some relief by cleaning thoroughly at least once a week, but if you need a more permanent solution, you might want to remove the bookshelf from your bedroom entirely.
Culprit: Refrigerator Door Seal
Solution: Clean the Door Seal Weekly
Every time you open and close your refrigerator, mold spores that have collected in the door seal are released into the air. As spilled liquids and food crumbs find their way into the crevices, mold begins to grow, which can trigger your allergies. You can kill these mold spores and relieve your symptoms with a weekly cleaning. When wiping the seal down, use cotton swabs to get into the crevices where food, mold and dust collect.
Culprit: Excess Indoor Humidity
Solution: Keep Your Home’s Humidity Level Between 30% and 50%
If you use a humidifier to ease the irritating effect dry winter air can have on your nose and throat, be careful not to create an environment in which allergens are easily spread. Excess moisture in the air encourages the growth of both mold and dust mites. The humidity level in your home should be between 30% and 50% to ward off these allergens. A $10 humidity monitor can help track the moisture level in your home.
Culprit: Heating Vent
Solution: Change Heating Filters Every 3 Months
When the furnace turns on, it doesn’t just circulate warm air around the house – it spews out all the dust, mold and insect parts that have collected in the heating vents. If left unattended, this problem can lead to an entire season of headaches, sneezing and coughing. Make sure the heating vent filters are high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, and try and change them at least once every 3 months.
Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family. For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com. For more information on “Household Cleaning Products and Breast Cancer”, please watch our video at www.greencleancertified.com/greentv.
