If you regularly suffer from allergies, then you know there are certain times of the year that you should avoid the outdoors. Spring and fall are especially bad seasons, when all you want to do is hide away in your home. Unfortunately, your house isn’t always the allergen-free refuge you wish it were. Pollen, dander, dust, and other allergens can collect in your rooms and wreak havoc with your sinuses. Blame your windows for your misery, as they provide direct access to all that you want to escape, but with a few minor adjustments to your window treatments and your daily habits, you can cut down on the allergens contaminating your home.
Keeping your windows closed is an obvious first line of defence. With their panes shut, you can keep out any pollen or other allergens that may blow in with the breeze. Closing your windows will also limit the amount of humidity allowed into your home, which will help those with asthma. Check the caulking around the windows and look for small cracks that can let pollen or mould spores into your living areas. Typically windows will need new caulking and weather stripping every 10 years or so. If you get a little squirrely with the windows closed at all times, open them in the evening, as pollen and humidity are at their lowest at this point in the day.
If you don’t have one already, an air purifier is a great way to limit the amount of allergens in your house. They come with HEPA filtration systems that can trap 99% of airborne contaminants. Place it near a window so it can get to work filtering the air before it gets a chance to circulate. It can also boost the conditioning power of your A/C if you have that particular appliance.
Regardless of how well you keep your home locked up, it will always accumulate dust. Stay on top of it all by following a regular cleaning schedule. Wipe down surfaces before you vacuum, and don’t forget about lamp shades and upholstery. Your window shades – especially those that have heavy fabrics or small, hard to reach slats – will collect dust and pollen quicker than you think. Use one of your vacuum’s narrow attachments to keep these free of allergens.
(For a more in-depth look on how to clean various blinds, shutters, and shades, look through our previous blog posts)
If cleaning isn’t your thing, there are window treatments that require less cleaning. Those shades and shutters that are made out of impermeable materials won’t absorb contaminates like fabric coverings. Our design consultants can walk your through our stylish and allergy-conscious selection and help you choose a design that fits with your health and cleaning habits. All you have to do is give us a call and we can schedule a convenient at-home consultation.
Make your home as allergy free as possible this summer. Follow these tips and get in touch when you’re ready to update your window treatments.