If you or someone else in your home suffers from allergies, then you’ll want to get the home as allergen free as possible. Whether you are allergic to dust, pets, mold, pollen or all of the aforementioned, it can be difficult to know where to start. These 18 approaches to combat allergens and make a cleaner, healthier home will make you started.
Ana Williamson Architect
1. Stick to a routine cleaning schedule. Maintaining dust and pet dander at bay is a continual process, and it is particularly important to stay on top of cleaning if allergies are an issue. Be sure to wash surfaces with a damp rag rather than dry dusting, which often just brushes dust back into the atmosphere.
Ideally, members of the household without allergies could take on the dustiest tasks, but in case you’ve got bad allergies and must wash, wear a dust mask — or employ a cleaning service if you’re able to.
Neiman Taber Architects
2. Begin a no-shoes plan and beef up doormats. Maintain dust, pollen and much more from penetrating your home in the first place by encouraging visitors to slide off their shoes at the door. Provide ample outdoor and interior doormats to trap shoe muck along with a basketful of slippers for your guests.
John Maniscalco Architecture
3. Upgrade your vacuum cleaner. Get one with a HEPA filter to trap allergens — those filters work wonders. Also make certain to pick a vacuum cleaner with a bag which could be altered easily (that is, without spewing dust anywhere).
Woodmeister Master Builders
4. Swap out drapes. Thick drapes with lots of folds and pleats are experts in trapping dust and other contaminants. Instead choose blinds you may wipe down or machine-washable drapes.
Charlie & Co.. Design, Ltd
5. Remove carpeting. Traditional wall-to-wall carpets is notoriously difficult to get and keep clean. Whenever possible, go with hardwood (wood, tile, linoleum) instead.
guides to flooring materials
Vanillawood
6. Steam clean; do not shampoo carpets and area rugs. If you really want carpeting, vacuum it regularly with a vacuum which has a HEPA filter (see above) and warm wash with a steam cleaner. Most rented carpet shampooers don’t get hot enough to get rid of allergens, so consider making the investment at a real steam cleaner to keep in your home.
Neiman Taber Architects
7. Shop all food in airtight containers. Don’t lure bugs and rodents — each time you open a package, set the contents within an airtight container in the cupboard or refrigerator.
8. Green your cleanup. Harsh chemical cleansers can irritate people who have allergies. Fortunately, it is quite simple to find safe and effective all-natural cleaners, so you may cut back on the synthetic stuff.
ras-a, inc..
9. Cover mattress and pillows. Zip on dust covers to secure your sleeping area. In case you have children, be sure to have covers for their mattresses and pillows, too.
10. Keep under the bed free of mess. Clutter brings dust bunnies and makes it more difficult to reach the entire space to vacuum. Keep this area clean and clear, and be sure to reach below with a hose attachment to vacuum frequently.
Mabbott Seidel Architecture
11. Streamline kids’ spaces. Children’s rooms accumulate stuff like nowhere else in the home. But if allergies are a issue, having lots of toys — notably soft toys — anywhere will just make matters worse. Try rotating out toys to keep things clean (and tidy), and store extras in an abysmal cupboard. Washing stuffed animals when possible can help keep dust.
Smith & Vansant Architects PC
12. Wash linens in hot water. Bedding, towels and kitchen linens should be laundered in hot water — recall that when you are purchasing and choose fabrics that could resist the warmth.
Element Construction
13. Store clean, dry items . Placing away clothes or linens which are still slightly damp can create the perfect environment for mildew and mold to grow, whereas filthy blankets and clothes bring fabric-eating moths. Keep your closets fresh and insect free from washing and drying items before storing them for the season.
Andre Rothblatt Architecture
14. Clean and ventilate the bathroom frequently. Frequent cleaning and plenty of clean air should keep mildew and mold at bay. But if you do see mold, be sure to use a cleaner which says it kills mold — not all of them do.
15. Replace filters in fans and heating and cooling systems. This is crucial for maintaining the air in your home clean. Each time mark the next change date.
Economy Interiors
16. Keep pets out of bedrooms, at a minimum. No matter how sweet and cuddly your furry friend is, if he’s making you wheeze, it is time to set some boundaries. Keeping pets at a protected outdoor area would probably be ideal, but at the bare minimum enforce a no-pets coverage in bedrooms.
Brennan + Company Architects
17. Detox your property. Harsh chemicals can aggravate allergies, so do what you can to avoid bringing them into your home. Swap out chemical cleansers and air fresheners for organic variations, and atmosphere out fresh furnishings and recently dry cleaned clothing to provide toxins a opportunity to off-gas.
18. Maintain the air clean. Open the windows to let in clean air, unless you’ve got seasonal allergies, and also consider using a room air filter to clean the air. Prevent using fireplaces and definitely don’t allow smoking in the home.
Tell us Do you or does someone in your home suffer from allergies? Share your tips for maintaining an home in the Comments.
More: Allergy-proof your home room by room