Being home for the holidays is usually associated with joy, warmth, and close friends and family. But one thing the holiday ads don’t mention is that all of those beautiful decorations could be affecting the air quality in your home.
Unfortunately, many homes experience a serious drop in air quality during December and January. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), close to two million emergency visits happen every year around this time as a result of asthma issues in the home.
To ensure that your home has excellent air quality this holiday season, here are a few things you can do.
Go for the Fake Tree
As wonderful as it may smell to have a live tree in your home for Christmas, it might not be great for allergies or asthma. That goes for any live greenery around the holidays, as well. Live firs, pine wreaths or evergreen boughs brings all sorts of allergens into the home.
Dust it Off!
Before you set to decorating, take your plastic bins outside and shake some of the dust off of the old decorations to limit the amount that gets stirred up in your house.
Clean the Beds
If you have guests staying in your home, make sure you take extra care to clean the sheets and shake out the bedding before they arrive. Dusty or dirty sheets can exacerbate asthma and allergies.
Take Care of Your HVAC System
One of the most important practices that few people seem to pay attention to during the holidays is the HVAC system. Aside from annual heating repairs and inspections, the air filters should be changed every one to three months to ensure good air quality in a home.
If you’re having trouble with the air quality in your home, you should consider calling for an HVAC inspection. Nothing puts a damper on the holidays like allergy attacks or discomfort.
