Pure Maintenance Austin TeamQuick answer: Dust mites, pet dander, tracked-in pollen and everyday chemical fumes (VOCs) are the big four. Most of what helps is simple: indoor humidity at 40 to 50 percent, a well-fitted pleated filter changed on time, a HEPA vacuum, and fewer sprays and scented products.
Why are indoor allergens a year-round problem here?
Central Texas has a reputation. Between cedar in winter, oak in spring, and grasses and ragweed later in the year, our pollen counts can run very high. Many people close the windows and assume the problem stays outside.
But homes collect their own mix of allergens and irritants, and they build up whether pollen counts are high or low.
Where do dust mites live, and what keeps them down?
Dust mites are tiny creatures that live in bedding, mattresses, rugs and upholstered furniture. They feed on flakes of skin and love warm, humid air, which describes much of the year in Austin. Their droppings are a common indoor allergen.
What helps:
- Keep indoor humidity between about 40 and 50 percent. Dust mites struggle in drier air.
- Wash sheets and pillowcases weekly in hot water.
- Use zippered, allergen-blocking covers on mattresses and pillows.
- Cut down on clutter, stuffed toys and heavy fabric where dust settles.
How do I cut down on pet dander?
Central Texas loves its dogs and cats. Pet dander (tiny flakes of skin, plus proteins from saliva and dried urine) is light and sticky. It floats in the air, clings to walls and fabric, and gets pulled into the HVAC system.
What helps:
- Brush and bathe pets regularly, ideally outside.
- Keep pets off beds, or at least out of one bedroom.
- Vacuum often with a HEPA vacuum, including upholstered furniture.
- Change your HVAC filter on schedule, and more often in shedding season.
For smells that come with pets, see our guide to pet odors and indoor air.
How does cedar and oak pollen get inside?
Mountain cedar season (roughly December through February) and oak season in early spring send huge amounts of pollen into the air. It rides in on shoes, clothes, hair and pets and through open doors, then settles into carpet and furniture.
What helps:
- Keep windows closed on high-pollen days.
- Take shoes off at the door and use a good doormat.
- Change clothes and rinse off after long stretches outdoors.
- Wipe pets' paws and coats when they come in.
- Keep a good filter in your HVAC system to catch the pollen that gets in.
Our cedar and oak pollen guide has more entryway and filter tips.
Which household products add VOCs?
VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are gases given off by many everyday products: air fresheners, scented candles, cleaners, paint, new furniture, glues and gas stoves. In a closed-up house during a long Texas summer, they can build up and leave the air feeling heavy or smelling like chemicals.
What helps:
- Use your range hood every time you cook, ideally one that vents outside.
- Choose unscented or low-VOC cleaners and paints when you can.
- Go easy on sprays, plug-in fresheners and candles.
- Store paints, solvents and pool chemicals in the garage, not inside.
- Open windows for a bit on mild, low-pollen days to air things out.
What filter should I use?
Your HVAC system pushes all the air in your home through one filter, many times a day.
- Choose MERV 8 to 13. MERV 8 catches most dust and pollen. MERV 11 to 13 catches finer particles, including more pet dander and smoke. Check with an HVAC pro before going to the high end, since a filter too dense for your system can reduce airflow.
- Make sure it fits. Gaps around the filter let dirty air slip past.
- Change it on time. Every one to three months is common, more often with pets or during cedar season.
- Consider a portable HEPA filter for bedrooms.
Our sister company, Gold Eagle Services, can help you choose the right filter for your system and look at upgrades like better filter cabinets or air cleaners.
Why does humidity matter so much?
Humidity touches almost every allergen on this list. Damp air helps dust mites and microbes thrive and holds onto odors. Aim for 40 to 50 percent, and use a small hygrometer to see where you stand. If your home runs higher, our Central Texas humidity guide walks through the fixes, from fan settings to dehumidifiers.
Which cleaning habits help most?
- Vacuum at least weekly with a HEPA vacuum.
- Dust with a damp or microfiber cloth instead of a feather duster, which just moves dust around.
- Wash throw blankets and pet beds often.
- Clean bathroom and kitchen exhaust fan covers a few times a year.
What about the places cleaning can't reach?
Even with great habits, dust, dander and microbes settle where a vacuum can't go: inside ductwork, in the backs of closets, behind furniture and across every surface in the house. Over time this bio-load keeps adding up.
Pure Maintenance Austin's whole-home dry fog treatment is designed to help. A fine dry fog reaches every room, closet, crack and crevice and your HVAC ductwork without getting things wet, followed by a surface protectant. It temporarily reduces airborne particulates as the fog settles, and it helps neutralize odors on treated hard, non-porous surfaces. The dry fog treatment is done in one day and works best alongside the habits above.
What to do next
- Put a hygrometer in your main living area and aim for 40 to 50 percent.
- Check your filter's size, rating and date today.
- Start the weekly bedding and vacuum routine in the main bedroom.
This guide covers home care, not medical advice. If indoor allergens bother someone in your family, talk with your doctor.
Start with a free phone consultation
We serve all of Central Texas, out to College Station (about 2.5 hours), including Round Rock, Georgetown, San Marcos, Bastrop and Marble Falls. A Comfort Advisor will call you, learn what's going on in your home and send a written quote based on square footage.
Call 512-904-4646 to book your free phone consultation.