Car Care Resolutions in the New Year: 5 for 2020
About thirty percent of U.S. adults have allergies of some sort. Are you one of them? The culprit for your allergy symptoms might actually be something you’d never expect: your car. The best-known airborne allergies tend to be the pollen that floats in the air every spring. However, environmental allergies can take more than one form. If you’re asking “Why do I have allergies?” you might need to look closer to home for the answer.
Cars and other enclosed spaces can become breeding grounds for many airborne allergens. Here’s how to know if your car is causing your allergies.
Do I Have Allergies? The Symptoms to Look For
Not sure if you have allergies or not? Your symptoms can help tell you.
Unlike food-related allergies, environmental allergies typically manifest themselves in relatively mild ways. You might experience coughing, sneezing, or itching. Your eyes may become watery, red, and sensitive.
Typically, these won’t cause skin problems, like hives or itching, and they won’t cause you any serious harm. Still, living with these allergy symptoms can be very unpleasant.
The Most Common Car Allergens
If you experience these symptoms when you drive, your car might be causing your allergies. The symptoms might also persist long after you’ve left the car, as the allergens get carried on your body and clothes.
Dust is one of the most common allergens that can collect inside a car, triggering your allergies.
Pollen can also get into your car and make your allergies worse. The air filters in your car are designed to trap these pollutants, but a dirty air filter will inject them right into your nose and mouth.
Mold is a less-common allergen that can show up in cars. If your car is very messy, or has gotten damp, your allergies could be mold-related.
How to Prevent Car-Related Allergies
The most important way to get rid of these car allergens? Clean your car.
Wipe down every surface with the appropriate cleaner (glass, leather, and so on). Take a vacuum to the floor and upholstery to get rid of dust and other loose debris. Even if your car doesn’t look dirty, it might contain hidden allergens.
Next, replace the cabin air filter in your car. Replacing filters is an important part of ordinary car maintenance. With a filter replacement schedule, you’ll soon find yourself experiencing fewer allergy symptoms.
If you discover mold during this cleaning process, your car might need heftier cleaning work to remove the allergen. You’ll need to do a deep clean with a mold remover. If the problem is really bad, you might need to get the damaged upholstery replaced.
Ready to Get Rid of Car Allergens?
Even if your car is clean, don’t rule it out when asking “Why do I have allergies?”
A clean-looking car can still hide allergens. Vacuum and clean the inside regularly, and change the filters, to ensure your car isn’t the problem.
Don’t have time to keep up with this cleaning and maintenance schedule? You don’t have to do it by yourself. We can help — check out a detailed list of our services here!
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