Indoor allergies are a significant problem for many people, and they can’t always be blamed on contact with Indoor allergens. Indoor allergens are found in places like animals and dust mites, but also the air you breathe when indoors. Ventilating well to improve your home’s indoor quality is one way of preventing or alleviating these symptoms—after all, 6 out of 10 Americans have been exposed to cat or dog dander!

Indoor Air Allergy Symptoms

Common symptoms of Indoor allergies include but are not limited to:

• A stuffy nose and sore throat
• Itchy eyes or skin rashes
• Chronic headaches

While these symptoms could have other causes, the best way to tell if you have an allergy is to see a doctor for an examination. If you suspect that indoor allergens are causing your symptoms, you should take all precautions possible to get away from them as much as possible!

What You Could Be Allergic to Indoors

As we mentioned above, there are a variety of substances in your home that you may be allergic to. Cleaning agents such as bleach and ammonia can cause allergies, as well as natural elements like pollen.

Some people don’t realize the importance of indoor air quality. Most people breathe comfortably indoors with no idea what’s causing them to feel better or worse when they move from room to room in their office or at home.

But decreasing allergens in your indoor environment can help improve your overall health status dramatically—allergies included. If you spend the majority of your time inside, then it makes sense to learn how to clean for optimal indoor health!

Common indoor allergy sources are:

• Cleaning products
• Furniture or upholstery
• Your pets
• Mold and mildew
• Dust mites
• Pollen

Controlling Indoor Allergens Improves Air Quality

Grime and contaminants in your indoor environment are major sources of allergies. It is very important to control these contaminants if you want to improve your indoor air quality.

The benefits of doing so are four-fold:

1. The level of dust in the air will decrease as you remove contaminants from your home or office, thus improving the overall healthiness of everyone who spends time there.
2. You will likely notice fewer allergy symptoms because the allergens have been removed from an area where they may be causing problems for someone with allergies.
3. Removing dirt and grime also gives you a chance to clean up mold and mildew, which can also cause allergy symptoms! These two substances tend to worsen existing allergies by creating more problems for your immune system’s natural response to them.
4. Halting the growth and development of mold, in particular, can protect you from long-term health issues including asthma, sinus infections and even melanomas associated with exposure. Allergy symptoms are only temporary, but the effects of mold exposure are both immediate and long-term!

Will A Whole-Home Air Purifier Solution Really Reduce my Allergies? The most common substances that cause allergies are things like pollen, mold spores and pet dander. Air purifiers can help reduce these allergens in the air you breathe by trapping them before they get to your nose. Air purifiers actively help reduce and eliminate indoor air pollutants, including allergens. Learn how to choose the best air purifier for allergies ➞

How to Keep Indoor Allergens Under Control

1. Wear a dust mask when cleaning (especially if you have allergies). It may not seem glamorous, but it will help stop airborne pollutants from getting into your lungs where they can wreak havoc on your delicate respiratory system.  Dust masks help trap debris so that they don’t enter your nose or mouth either.
2. Keep your home clean. Regular dusting, vacuuming and sweeping will help keep airborne allergens from settling into the carpets or other surfaces in your home.
3. Use high-quality filters on your heating and cooling systems to avoid recirculating harmful particles throughout the indoor environment. If you’ve got a window unit air conditioner or furnace that isn’t vented properly, consider making some improvements (just make sure it’s safe for you to do so).
4. Wash bedding frequently and launder clothing when you can tell it may be contaminated with pet dander or pollen. This is especially important if anyone in the house has allergies!
5. Monitor pets regularly for signs of shedding to prevent excessive hairballs around the house.
6. Maintain good indoor air quality to mask odor-causing substances. Whether you’re trying to mask the smell of smoke or pet odors, it’s a good idea to keep your vents clean and the filters in your heating system changed on time!
7. If possible, use a dehumidifier in your home during allergy season. This whole-home solution helps trap mold and mildew spores from growing inside so they don’t spread throughout the house. Once those allergens have been removed, your immune system can focus its energy where it belongs—stopping allergic reactions before they start!

Air Filters Can Help Reduce Allergies Indoors: A recent study found that having a higher-rated air filter in the home can help reduce allergy symptoms and allergies. This is because it reduces the number of indoor allergens, such as dust mites or pet dander. Find out which filter to choose ➞

Indoor Air Seasonal Allergies

How can you get rid of seasonal allergies? The best way to overcome the symptoms of seasonal allergies is not to be exposed to allergens in the first place!  You can prevent the most unpleasant allergy symptoms by controlling your exposure to allergens like pollen and dust mites. Here’s how:

1. Close windows and doors when pollen counts are high. This will keep allergens from entering your home! If you’ve got a door that opens to the outside, consider installing an interior screen door to help stop those pesky allergens from harming your family.
2. Remove carpets if you can—at least during allergy season! Carpet fibers tend to trap airborne allergens like dust, dirt and pet dander.
3. Use air filters in your home or office if you’re going to be around lots of dust—which should be pretty much all the time because it is everywhere!
4. Check for leaks in your home and have them repaired before they cause mold growth which could lead to full-blown allergies.

IAQ Tips to Combat Spring and Summer Allergies in Your Home: Allergy season can be a painful time of year for many people. The constant sneezing, itchy eyes and sinuses are just the beginning! Allergies happen when something triggers an immune response in someone’s body which causes reactions like runny noses or watery eyes that come along with allergies. But there is good news: You CAN take steps indoors (and out) to prevent these symptoms from happening at all! Learn where to start ➞

Frequently Asked Questions