Allergens like dust, dander, and pollen are notoriously sneaky, hiding in many overlooked areas of the home. If you’re struggling to keep asthma and allergies under control in your Baton Rouge, Louisiana, home, it’s important for you to clean carefully, with an eye to those areas where irritants like to hide. Check these key places to make sure you don’t have an unseen area teeming with allergens at home.

The Closets

Allergens like pollen love to hitch a ride on your clothing. If you wear an item such as a jacket more than once without laundering, this can easily bring a host of irritants into your closet. The closet is also a common gathering place for dust. If you store out-of-season clothing here, make sure these items are sealed so dust and dander can’t settle. Place clothing that’s not worn regularly in lidded plastic boxes or slip them into plastic garment bags to keep irritants off.

Make sure you include your closets in your spring cleaning routine. Vacuum or sweep the floor, dust baseboards back to the corners, and wipe down shelves. Turn on your air conditioner’s fan while you’re working so any dust you kick up is pulled through your HVAC filter and removed from the air.

Window Hangings

Your beautiful window treatments can help you maximize your energy efficiency by blocking the warming rays of the summer sun, but they’re not doing any favors for your indoor air quality. If you open your windows, your blinds and drapes become a filter for the pollen, dander, and other irritants coming in from outside. Even when windows stay closed, curtains and valances are a great gathering spot for dust.

Take down your window hangings and launder them at least quarterly. Perform this task more often if you have asthma or allergy sufferers in the home.

Pillows and Mattresses

Dust mites are notorious for gathering inside the depths of your mattresses and pillows. Laundering the sheets is only a small start toward eliminating the allergens in your bed. The best way to tackle this problem is to put allergen-proof covers around all mattresses and pillows. This will keep irritants from getting deep into the layers of your bed.

Plush Toys

Any type of stuffed animal or other plush is susceptible to dust mites, just as your mattresses are. This is particularly worrisome if you have children with asthma or allergies. The best strategy is to avoid these types of toys altogether.

When your child just can’t part with a treasured animal, there are a few steps you can take to keep it cleaner. Launder and machine dry any items that can stand up to the process. If you have delicate toys that can’t go in the washer and dryer, place them in the freezer for 24 hours to kill dust mites lurking within.

Ductwork

You don’t often see inside your ducts, so it’s easy to overlook the allergens gathering there. However, if you notice an unusual build-up of dust in the home, dirty ducts may be the cause. Your air ducts constantly circulate air through the home, so they’re highly susceptible to an accumulation of dust, dirt, and irritants. A professional duct cleaning is an efficient solution. Our technicians address every part of your HVAC system, including air vents, evaporator coils, and more.

Carpets and Rugs

You may think that your floors are safe due to your regular vacuuming routine, but a standard vacuum isn’t really strong enough to take care of all the allergens that can settle into carpets and rugs. A vacuum with a HEPA filter is the most effective option for capturing small irritants. This is your daily line of defense. Invest in a steam cleaning once or twice a year to penetrate the deeper layers of your carpeting and kill dust mites. If you have the opportunity, get rid of carpeting and opt for hard floors instead.

From installing indoor air quality solutions to cleaning your ducts, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Baton Rouge offers a wide range of services to help keep your air clean. If you’re struggling with allergens, give us a call at (225) 320-4162.