Air Purifiers Can Help Reduce Indoor Allergens and Deliver Cleaner

For many people, the arrival of spring means they can open the windows and enjoy fresh outdoor air after a long winter. But for those suffering seasonal allergies, spring can be challenging, and opening up the windows may not be an option.

Along with warmer weather, spring brings tree, flower and grass pollen that can easily travel indoors. Add this pollen to common indoor allergens, such as pet dander, mold spores and dust and the result can be poor indoor air quality that not only seems stale but can be filled with harmful allergens.

An effective indoor air purifier can help by delivering fresher, cleaner air. Use portable air purifiers with HEPA filters in rooms where you spend the most time, such as the bedroom and the living areas (family room, living room, den or home office).

Highly effective air purifiers, such as Honeywell True HEPA air purifiers, can capture up to 99.97 percent of pollutants from the air that passes through their filters, including allergens such as dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores and smoke. Honeywell True HEPA air purifiers can also capture germs and help reduce common household odors. Portable air purifiers circulate the air in a room, usually several times per hour -- helping to reduce stuffy, stale air and release cleaner, fresher air back into the room.

The newest Honeywell True HEPA air purifiers, the Honeywell True HEPA Tower Allergen Remover (model: HPA-150) and the Honeywell True HEPA Compact Tower Allergen Remover (model: HPA-050), are attractive, space-saving and designed to integrate nicely into any decor. Each product features three cleaning levels, can circulate a room's air up to five times an hour, and has an activated carbon and zeolite pre-filter that helps reduce unpleasant household odors. An electronic filter replacement reminder illuminates when it is time to change the filter. And, for consumers concerned about being eco-friendly, the Honeywell True HEPA Tower Allergen Remover is Energy Star-rated.

The MSRP for the Honeywell True HEPA Compact Tower Allergen Remover is $89.99, and the MSRP for the Honeywell True HEPA Tower Allergen Remover is $179.99. The products are available at Target and Best Buy.

Some additional tips for reducing indoor allergens in the home:

1. Minimize outdoor allergens from entering your home. Take off your shoes when returning indoors to prevent tracking in pollen, mold spores and other outdoor airborne allergens. Consider taking a shower and changing your clothes. Keeping doors and windows closed can help prevent outdoor pollutants from blowing inside.
2. Do a thorough spring cleaning. A thorough spring cleaning can help rid your home of outdoor air pollutants and may reduce airborne allergens already present.
3. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter on rugs and hardwood floors, wash bedding and curtains regularly, scrub bathrooms and fix moisture leaks to eliminate mold and mildew. Wipe mini blinds and shades with an electrostatically-charged cloth to trap dust or use a vacuum attachment designed for dusting.