Would you like a healthier home?    Does anyone in your household suffer from allergies or asthma?  Almost 25% of the U.S. population does in fact suffer from allergies.  Allergies affect all ages from infants to seniors and are a major cause of illness and disability.

The health and safety of family members are key concerns of most home owners.  One of the main reasons people develop allergies is over exposure to assorted allergens such as pet dander, dust, dust mites, pollen, mold and mildew. 

Because the concentration of these contaminants is usually higher indoors,  it is important to practice environmental control.  With proper environmental control, exposure to these allergy triggers can be minimized. 

Here are some of the steps that can be taken to reduce the levels of indoor contaminants. 

1) Reduce humidity.  Mold and mildew thrive in warm, moist environments.  In humid climates, use a dehumidifier.  In warm humid climates, air conditioning will serve the same purpose. 

2) Remove allergens from the air.  Use a high quality hepa, ozone or ionizer air purifier to control dust, pollen, animal dander and some forms of bacteria.  

3) Keep carpet clean.  Vaccum regularly and have carpet professionally cleaned every six months.  Hot water extraction is the system recommended by all major carpet manufacturers and will effectively remove many common allergy triggers such as dust, dust mites, pollen and animal dander.  While it’s true that soiled carpet can aggravate allergy symptoms, properly maintained carpet can actually improve indoor air quality, making it a good choice of floor covering in homes with allergy sufferers.  Studies have shown that installed carpet acts like a filter to reduce the amount of airborne pollutants that can aggravate asthma and allergy symptoms.  In fact, several studies confirm that adults and children that sleep in a carpeted bedroom have fewer allergy symptoms than those sleeping in uncarpeted bedrooms. Choose a carpet cleaning company that uses safe, non toxic cleaning products.  Also, to avoid the risk of mold and mildew growth, choose a fast drying carpet cleaning process.

4)  Keep mattresses and bedding clean.  Sheets and blankets should be washed in very hot water at least every two weeks.  Use a mattress cover and regularly clean mattresses with hot water extraction to remove accumulation of dust mites.

5) Keep upholstered furniture clean.  Vaccum upholstery fabrics on a regular basis and have furniture professionally cleaned with hot water extraction at least once a year.

6) Carpet and upholstery treatments such as deodorizer and dust mite anti allergen applied by a professional cleaning company will also aid in reducing the amount of allergens in the home.

Follow these cleaning tips for a healthier home and a healthier family.