Keeping your home free of allergens such as dust, pet dander, pollen, dust mites and other irritants can be an ongoing challenge. Here are five steps that you can take to effectively allergy proof your Southwest Florida home.

1. Regularly vacuum and dust: Vacuum carpets, area rugs and larger floor coverings at least once a week. Use high-efficiency particulate air filters in your vacuum cleaner to capture and hold more allergens. Dust shelves, tabletops and counters weekly. Dust furniture coverings, smaller rugs and similar fabric items regularly; if possible, take them outside, and shake the dust out of them.
2. Take action against mold and pests: Regularly clean your bathroom to prevent mold growth. Scour the corners of the tub or shower, and clean bath mats and shower curtains with hot water and a bleach solution or commercial bathroom cleaner. Turn on the ventilation fan while bathing to vent moist air to the outdoors. Regularly clean under sinks and appliances to remove food particles that can attract roaches, mice and other household pests.
3. Change your HVAC system filter: Keep the filter in your air conditioning system fresh and clean. The filter traps and holds dust and other particulates that flow through your HVAC system. A dirty filter cannot keep the allergens out of your indoor air. Check the filter at least monthly and change as needed.
4. Clean your bedding: Wash blankets, sheets and other bedding in water that is at least 130 degrees. Buy allergy-stopping sealed covers with zippers, and put them on your pillows, mattress and box springs.
5. Maintain appropriate humidity: Keep your indoor humidity at the recommended level of 35 to 50 percent. Use individual dehumidifier units, particularly in the basement, or install a whole-house dehumidifier to control humidity throughout your home.

For 50 years, Conditioned Air has provided top-notch air conditioning sales, maintenance and repair to residential and commercial customers in Naples and Southwest Florida. Contact us for more suggestions on how to allergy proof your Southwest Florida home.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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