The Home Improvement Blog by Slide-Lok Garage Interiors

Fighting Allergies during COVID

It is that time of year again. Spring has come to an end, but many of us are still experiencing allergies. From coughing to sneezing and even watery eyes. It can be a dreadful time, especially during this pandemic.

6/12/2020

Fighting allergies during the pandemic

It is that time of year again. Spring has come to an end, but many of us are still experiencing allergies. From coughing to sneezing and even watery eyes. It can be a dreadful time, especially during a pandemic from a novel zoonotic virus. Identifying what is giving you allergies can help alleviate the symptoms.

Whether you are sneezing whenever your dog comes into the room or you’ve noticed that you wake up with a runny nose and itchy eyes, there are ways to reduce these symptoms. Although seasonal allergies are very different from pet dander allergies, you can reduce the allergens within your home through filters, washing your linens and eliminating outside air from your home.

What causes allergies? Well, allergies are a disorder of the immune system. Symptoms can include sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, runny nose and sometimes coughing. These reactions come from airborne particles in the environment such as dust, pollen or mold. Some reactions can be as bad as getting hay fever which mimics a minor cold with coughing, runny nose, post nasal drip and fatigue.

Start With Your Garage

If you get allergies often, it is a good idea to prevent them before they start. This includes eliminating as much dust in your home as possible. Your garage can be the perfect area for dust to accumulate over time. This can be an issue if you suffer from allergies or if you don’t want insects and pests coming into your garage. To start cleaning, dust the area and work top to bottom. This means wiping down cabinets, shelves, slatwalls and any other surface with a microfiber cloth. Clear the floor from any storage containers and debris and rinse with water working back to front spraying out any dirt, leaves, etc. This will help from tracking in dirt and debris into your home and vehicle.

Routinely Change Your Airfilter

If you use air conditioning in the home, it is important to create a routine of changing out your filter as it plays a huge role in the air you breathe. Surprisingly, there are a lot of microscopic particles in the air including dust, pet dander, fumes and residues from cooking and flakes of skin. Most of these particles are picked up by your filter, but the question is - what if I am not routinely changing out the filter?

The first thing to mention is that your air quality in your home begins to decrease over time without changing out the air filter. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans spend nearly 90% of their time indoors where concentrations of pollutants are usually 2-5 times higher than the air outside. This data can relate to most Americans as many of us are teleworking during this pandemic and spending most of our time inside at home. As time goes by and you do not change out your filter, you will also notice your bills increasing. This is because your system is trying to cool down the house, but it is not able to push air through the clogged filters resulting in a stuffy room and a cool airspace above the filter.

Depending on the type of air filter you have, you would need to change the filter every month to every 3-6 months. To find this information out, simply check with the manufacturer or read the description on the packaging. A helpful tip is to calculate the day or week it would need to be changed and write on the side of the filter with a permanent marker, so you aren’t guessing the date of installation or changing it when it is too full.

Pillow and Covers

Washing your linens can be a chore at times, but it is very good for your health, especially during these times. Whether you are susceptible to allergies, you tend to sweat a lot or you don’t shower before bed, cleaning your linens often is highly recommended. Your sheets and bedding naturally attract bacteria, pollen, fungi and if you sleep with your pet - pet dander. To add to that, humans naturally shed skin cells, sweat and bodily secretions throughout the night as well. Combined with dander coming from a dog, it may be a good idea to wash your linens at least once a week.

When you buy a new mattress, it is the perfect opportunity to protect your mattress with a cover. Nowadays, you can buy a mattress cover that doesn’t sound and feel like you are laying on a tarp or any other heavy plastic. There are many options available when it comes to sizes and protection levels. Most mattress covers are now waterproof and block out bacteria, dust and other allergens. This can be ideal for new mattresses, or a mattress that needs a new cover.

Spot Allergen Magnets

Other ways to reduce your allergies are to be aware of objects in your home that collect dust and act as magnets when it comes to allergens. From the top of my head I can list objects in my home that always collect dust no matter how many times I wipe them down and disinfect them. Things like the entertainment center, ceiling fan, book shelf, and blinds. In other rooms, like the bathroom, I notice dust bunnies behind the toilet, the tank lid and sometimes on the mirror. In the kitchen, I notice dust will adhere itself to the olive oil bottle, spices, oven and the counter appliances. These are some areas to note the next time you are cleansing your house during allergy season.

Slide-Lok Is The Most Trusted Name In Garage Makeovers Since 1977

Solid Products, Great Prices, and Timely Technical Support since 1977! Slide-Lok Garage Interiors is the oldest, longest continuing garage makeover brand in North America. We were the first one stop shop garage makeover for storage systems and flooring. We were also one of the first outfits to offer polyaspartic floor coatings to the residential garage flooring market. Our leading polyaspartic coatings have been in use on garage floors for nearly two decades, our competitors can't make that claim. We also manufacture and sell epoxy coatings that are great for indoor floors.

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About The Author

Arizona Journalist Quindrea Yazzie

Quindrea Yazzie is a Phoenix-based journalist who specializes in digital content and client relations. Prior to Slide-lok, she has written for The State Press as an arts and culture reporter, AZ PBS as a digital producer and breaking news reporter and Indian Country Today as a reporter and producer. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. When she is not writing, she enjoys running, trying new coffee blends, hiking and finding new ways to be sustainable.

Keywords: flooring, chips, flakes, decorative, concrete, coatings, epoxy, polyaspartic, garage, floors, pandemic, covid, allergies, cleaning

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Contact Local Dealer

Find a Slide-Lok Garage Floor & Cabinet dealer in your area.

Call: 1-800-835-1759
E-mail: Click to e-mail.

Featured Blog Posts