Creating an Allergy-Friendly Household Is it Childhood Allergies or a Cold? Surefire Way to Test For Food Allergies What Not to Give an Allergic Person for Christmas Sign Up for Our Living with Allergies NewsletterThanks for signing up!Sign up for more FREE Everyday Health newsletters.SubmitWe respect your privacy.Staying inside during allergy season won't necessarily limit your exposure to allergens — allergies to substances such as mold, dust, and pet hair can be troublesome year round in your home. In fact, over half of all homes contain at least six detectable allergens, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.If you or someone in your home is among the millions of people with indoor allergies, you may have heard about air duct cleaning as a way to reduce your exposure to indoor allergens.What Is Air Duct Cleaning, and Is It Effective?Air duct cleaning is removal of dirt from the surfaces of the air ducts inside your home in an effort to reduce the levels of allergy-producing particles in the air.

But there is controversy over whether cleaning your air ducts will actually reduce your allergy symptoms.vacuum cleaner best suction powerFor someone with an allergy, duct cleaning "tends not to be helpful," says Julie McNairn, MD, an allergist/immunologist in Cincinnati. clean up hp laptop fanBut, she adds, "It is surprising how much garbage you can find in your ducts."best way to clean canvas awningAccording to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there is not enough evidence about the effects of air duct cleaning to recommend it, so each person must consider the potential benefits and drawbacks before making a decision.What's Involved in Cleaning Air Ducts?The EPA suggests that you should consider air duct cleaning if:The surfaces of your ducts or other components of your heating and cooling system have a substantial amount of visible mold on them.

An air duct cleaning service may be able to show you this mold, if it is present.You have rodents, insects, or other vermin infesting your ducts.The ducts are clogged with dust and debris.Dust or debris is being released into your home through your system's air supply registers.Currently, there is no evidence that duct cleaning can prevent health problems, and studies have not shown that dust levels inside of homes is increased by dirty air ducts. But the EPA does say that duct cleaning is not harmful.If you or someone in your household are experiencing symptoms of an allergy, and you think it may be related to dirty air ducts, discuss the issue with your doctor. The company that services your heating and cooling system may also be able to advise you about duct cleaning for your particular heating or cooling system. Remember that professional duct cleaning services may have good information, but they want to sell you the service, so keep that in mind while considering their advice. If you suffer from allergies or the effects of pet dander, you've probably heard the importance of vacuuming your carpets regularly.

But normal vacuums don't always catch the pet dander and allergens lurking in your home. That's where Stanley Steemer comes in. Stanley Steemer is the first professional cleaning service to earn the TM Certification by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America in three categories: Carpet Cleaning, Tile & Grout Cleaning, and Hardwood Cleaning. Our TM Carpet Cleaning service removes an average of 94% of common household allergens from carpet. If you or anyone in your family are allergic to pet dander, pollen or even household dust, a Certified TM carpet cleaning from Stanley Steemer can help. By removing the allergens that cause allergic reactions, and asthma attacks, your home becomes cleaner and healthier. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recommends your carpets be cleaned 3 to 4 times a year by a Certified professional carpet cleaning service. Our Certified Hardwood Cleaning service removes an average of 96% of common household allergens from hardwood. A Certified TM hardwood cleaning does more than just reduce the indoor allergens in your home, it actually removes them from your home.

Removing household allergens and asthma triggers leaves your home cleaner and healthier. From dog and cat dander to dust and pollen, our cleaning process and equipment reduce and remove them. Our Certified Tile & Grout Cleaning service removes an average of 96.5% of common household allergens from tile and grout. Believe it or not, allergens get trapped in tile and in grout. A Certified TM tile & grout cleaning from Stanley Steemer removes allergens in a way you never could. Don't let dirty floors make you allergic to your home. Our Certified tile & grout cleaning services reduce and remove allergens for a cleaner and healthier home. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1953 and the leading patient organization for people with asthma, allergies and related conditions. AAFA provides practical information, community based services and support through a national network of chapters and support groups. AAFA runs the TM Certification Program in the U.S., develops health education, organizes state and national advocacy efforts and funds research to find better treatments and cures.

Remove occasional spills and spots with our Certified TM Stanley Steemer Spot Remover. Used properly, it can reduce or eliminate everyday spills and spots such as food, grease, juice to name a few. This do-it-yourself remedy gets rid of the spots without introducing allergens or irritants, for a cleaner and healthier home. Even works on clothing! Stanley Steemer Certified TM Spot Remover is available online. More than 40 million Americans suffer from allergy problems, and 25 million have asthma. If your cleaning routine doesn't specifically focus on reducing allergens, you may be only moving dust around, sending allergens and irritating cleaning chemicals into the air which can affect allergy and asthma symptoms. To maximize your cleaning efforts to reduce allergens, consider these simple tips from AAFA’s TM Certification Program. Dust to control mites. By dusting surfaces and washing bedding often, you can control the amount of dust mites in your home.Although cleaning can sometimes trigger allergic reactions, with dust in the air, vacuuming once or twice a week will reduce the surface dust mites.