Allergens and formaldehyde: how to remove them and take care of the air in the apartment?

The first rays of the spring sun, renovation or moving are one of the best opportunities to carry out general cleaning in the apartment. True - for allergy sufferers allergic to dust, plants sensitive to pollen, mold or formaldehyde – such activities can turn out to be a real problem. However, both on allergens located in airAnd formaldehyde - there are ways. How to delete harmful substances and purify the air in the apartment? 

It should be borne in mind that contact with common allergens or formaldehyde in the air cannot be completely avoided. However, you can try to limit it. In order to minimize the impact of allergens or the harmfulness of formaldehyde in the apartment on our health, it is worth thinking about implementing a few tips that you will read about in this article. Let's take care of health together - not only for ourselves, but also for our families!

Allergens in the air: basic types inhalant allergens

Inhalant allergens, as the name suggests, enter the human body through the respiratory tract. Among the most common allergens in the air, we can mention: pollen, mites and house dust, mold spores, as well as allergens from animals.

Plant pollen 

We can mention, among others, grass, tree and weed pollen. They are carried by wind, insects, or even on outer clothing. They become a nuisance (both outdoors and indoors), especially in the spring season, when nature awakens to life, which is known to people who are allergic.

Dust and house dust mites

Another type of inhalant allergens present in the air are: dust and house dust mites. Dust can consist of many different ingredients, which include, among others, exfoliated epidermis - both of human and animal origin. Dust can also include allergens that we have already mentioned - i.e. plant pollen, but also animal hair, mold fungi or live mites.

House dust mite are microscopic arachnids related to ticks and spiders. They can be found in the dust. The frequency of cleaning the surface is irrelevant here. Dust mites like to appear in blankets, mattresses, curtains, carpets, plush toys, but also on furniture, decorations or ... on the floor.

Mites can bother us both in the summer and winter seasons - mainly because then we are more often in closed, often inadequately ventilated rooms.

Mold spores

Mould we associate it with moisture. As with plant pollen, mold spores can be present in the air of closed rooms as well as in the open air. In rooms such as the basement, bathroom or attic, mold can develop all year round.

Pet allergens

Animal allergens can be found primarily in dust - often not only in apartments where there are animals, but also where there are no animals, e.g. in public places, i.e. schools or hospitals. Of course, the concentration of allergens in the air is then proportionally lower, but often enough to cause allergy symptoms.

When we think of pet allergies, our first thought is probably pet dander. However, it is not directly the cause of allergies, but only carrier of allergenssuch as animal secretions or epidermis.

Formaldehyde: what is it, mischievousness 

Before we answer the question of how to remove formaldehyde from the air, we should first consider whether we know what this substance is? By the way, we will mention its harmfulness to the human body.

Formaldehyde: what is it is? 

This substance is gas, considered to be one of the most common indoor air pollutants. It consists of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen. It can be emitted by many products, such as furniture, carpets, paints, adhesives or even varnishes or nail polish removers. Therefore, before buying a product, it is worth getting information on the level of formaldehyde emission.

Allergens, formaldehyde and other harmful substances: how to delete them from the air?

In order to ensure clean air, free of allergens and substances of confirmed harmfulness to humans (e.g. formaldehyde), it is worth following the guidelines listed below. How to remove pollutants from the air in the apartment? The improvement of air quality is positively influenced by:

• Ventilation of rooms;
• Using air purifiers – with HEPA filters to clean the air of the smallest pollutants, which include PM10 and PM2,5 pollen, hair, bacteria, allergens or mold-causing pollutants;
• Purchase of potted plants - they act as a natural filter in closed rooms;
• Regular cleaning of the apartment;
• Frequent vacuuming of rooms – preferably a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter, which can capture even the smallest particles of dust and other allergens without causing them to fly into the air;
• Laundry – especially those exposed to mites, e.g. curtains or bedding;
• Selection of low emission products e.g. formaldehyde;
• Item reductionthat are no longer needed;
• Maintaining air humidity at the right level.

Air purifier: a way to clean the air in the apartment 

Among the above-mentioned ways to get rid of allergens and harmful substances, i.e. formaldehyde in apartments, one of the most effective can be an air purifier, whose main task is - as the name suggests - removing pollutants from the air in closed rooms.

Important factors that may influence the choice of the device are, among others efficiency of air purifiers. It depends on their type and quality, so we encourage you to pay attention to parameters such as filtering efficiency, noise level or operating costs.

Air purifier: what is worth paying attention to?

Before buying an air purifier, it is worth carefully verify our needs, so as to choose a model that will work in our environment and will be able to remove, for example, formaldehyde from the air (because not every device has this function), and additionally - also humidify the air.

The purifier can handle these two aspects perfectly Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool™ Formaldehyde PH04, which received a Positive Opinion of the Institute of Mother and Child. An important function of the device is the presence of an additional semiconductor sensor that allows for precise detection of formaldehyde. What's more, the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool™ Formaldehyde PH04 air purifier has a catalytic filter - it breaks down this substance into two safer molecules - carbon dioxide and water.

In addition to the purification function, this Dyson air purifier model has been equipped with an efficient water management system - thanks to which we can also take care of air humidification. The 5-liter tank allows for continuous humidification of the room, up to 36 hours (without the need to refill the water in the device).

Benefits of air purifiers for allergy sufferers

The less allergen in the environment of the allergic person, the less symptoms will be hindering his functioning. Any way that affects reducing the amount of allergens is of great help to this patient.

Air purifier and investment in health

We already know what types of inhalant allergens we can encounter. We realize that the problem of their occurrence is not seasonal, but continuous. We also learned what formaldehyde is and how harmful it can be. We learned the basic ways of dealing with allergens and substances hazardous to health, e.g. formaldehyde in the air. Therefore, it is easy to conclude that the topic of air quality in our apartments or houses cannot be underestimated.

Why should you buy an air purifier?

Purchase of an air purifier (e.g. with the function of formaldehyde detection or air humidification as it has e.g. Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool™ Formaldehyde PH04) in this case, it is an investment that can bring many benefits to our health and well-being.

It is worth choosing the best model for yourself or your family and clean the air in the rooms where we stay - regularly. It will help minimize the occurrence of allergies among household members, and above all - improve the air quality in our environment. Thanks to this, we will be able to enjoy clean and healthy air in our homes and apartments. Not only after the spring cleaning is done – but all year round.