Tips: How To Allergy-Proof Your Home

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Tips: How To Allergy-Proof Your Home

03/01/2018

Guest Post by: REACTINE™

Whatever your lifestyle and schedule, your time at home is supposed to be relaxing. Yet taking it easy might not be quite so simple if you have allergies. Getting home may be the end of your day, but it may not be the end of your suffering.

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So how do you make sure the place you eat, sleep and relax is an agitation-free zone?

Take a look at this simple guide to the areas of your living space where you may be storing up trouble for yourself.

Naturally, there are many different kinds of allergy so not all of these tips will work for all allergies. Some will be more practicable than others depending on your own set up.

But it should at least get you thinking about which parts of your home maybe causing you problems.

Flooring

Where you can, avoid using carpets, look at using hardwood or linoleum floors. Since replacing the flooring in your home may not be an option the next best thing is to make sure carpets are low pile, as opposed to high pile.  If you do have carpets rather than flooring, make sure you vacuum thoroughly at least once a week with a good quality vacuum cleaner, ideally twice.

Furniture

Use easy to clean furniture and dust it regularly. This means avoiding upholstered furniture and opting instead for things made from leather, wood, metal, or plastic.

If you have synthetic cushions, wash them regularly, and use allergen impermeable covers.

Windows

Though letting in some fresh air might seem like a great idea, keep the windows closed at all times during seasons when you suffer from allergies.

Since blinds tend to gather dust, try using curtains made from washable materials such as cotton or synthetic fabrics, and wash them regularly.

Beds

Make sure your pillows and mattress have dust mite proof covers. Wash your sheets and pillow cases at least once a week in hot water (higher than 54°c).

Wherever possible keep any pets you have out of the bedroom. If a furry friend has had a nap on your bed, wash your bedding immediately.

Storage

Be it decorations or just things you’ve left around the house, these items collect dust. Ornaments, books, magazines, children’s toys and any other miscellaneous items should be stored away. This will help you keep surfaces clean and dust free.

When stowing these items away keep them in storage bins or bags made of plastic.

Surfaces

Prevent surfaces from collecting material that could trigger your allergies.  In the bathroom this means sponging the shower after use, and cleaning tiles with disinfectant.

In the kitchen keep all worktops clean by wiping with detergent or disinfectant cleaner. Likewise in your fridge wipe away excess moisture from surfaces to stop the build-up of mould.

Ventilation

Make sure you turn on any fans in either the kitchen or bathroom. Where possible these fans should direct air outside of your home.

In basements or any other part of your home at risk of mould consider using a dehumidifier, and keep doors to such areas open to help with ventilation.

If you have a wood burning fire, avoid using it where possible. The smoke and gases from these fireplaces can have an impact on respiratory allergies, so don’t use your fire, or consider replacing it.

Another thing you can do is use an air purifier to clean the air inside your house. Air purifiers work to suck the airborne allergens out of the air and trap them inside a filter.

Cleaning

Finally, if you’re going to keep allergy triggers in your home to a minimum, the place is going to need cleaning frequently.

Ideally if you suffer from allergies you shouldn’t be doing the cleaning at all. However since you may not live with people who are ready, willing and able to pick up the slack, if you do have to clean consider the following things:

  • Use a dust mask and plastic gloves when cleaning
  • Use a damp rag rather than a feather duster so that dust is captured
  • When vacuuming use a cleaner that has a HEPA filter. These cleaners are able to trap small particles and dust mites rather than putting them back into the air.
  • When you’re done cleaning, wash your clothes immediately and take a shower.

[Are there any more tips and tricks you find help keep your allergies outside your home? Leave them in the comments below.]

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/allergy/HQ01514

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/healthtool-allergy-proof-your-home

http://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/allergies/indoor-allergies/how-to-allergy-proof-your-home.htm

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