7 Awesome Ways to Make Your Home Allergy-Proof

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Allergy-Proof plant in home

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According to a paper published in World Allergy Organization Journal, the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases are increasing worldwide, with children and young adults being the most sensitive to them. Unfortunately, the place where we consider ourselves to be the safest is often packed with allergy triggers lurking behind every corner. Dust mites, pet dander and mold are only some of the irritants that make your eyes teary and your nose itchy. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. There are ways to root out the allergens from your home and make it your safe heaven once again.

Take Care of the Fabrics

Look around – how many fabrics are there in your décor? Most of the common allergies in home are triggered by dust mites, and guess where their favorite place is? That’s right – on those fabrics. Dust mites love it when you have heavy drapes you can’t wash very often, sofa covers and upholstered furniture.

Allergy-Proof clean coffee tableImage 2 source: pexels.com (free to use and share, no attribution needed)

You know how to get back at them? Get rid of heavy fabrics, opt for light washable ones. Replace the upholstered furniture with easy-to-wash materials, like plastic and vinyl. Remember that mites love your bed more than you do, so make sure you wash the bedding once a week and to encase pillows and mattresses in dust-mite-proof covers.

Banish the Wall-to-Wall Carpeting

Wall-to-wall carpet is a reservoir of all sorts of allergens and toxic chemicals. That is especially true if the members of your household tend to walk inside with their shoes on, or if they walk around the entire house in the same slippers. You could try to keep the carpet clean by vacuuming daily and shampooing once a week, but the safest way is to get rid of the carpet altogether and upgrade to a laminate or hardwood floor.

Upgrade to a Better Vacuum Cleaner

Allergy-Proof dog with head on couch

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Speaking of vacuuming, if you still have the same old vacuum cleaner you bought when you’ve moved into the house, it’s about time to change it. You see, regular vacuum cleaners may pick up the obvious dirt, but they release fine dust and allergens back into the air. Replace that no-good vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filters that are able to capture more allergens.

Use an Air Purifier

Allergy-Proof laptop and tea on desk

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Allergens don’t choose in which room they’ll attack, but you can choose which room requires the most protection. That is usually kids’ room, bedroom or the family room where all the family members spend a lot of their time. The room you choose can be treated with an efficient air purifier for allergies. These devices are able to eliminate a large percent of irritants (pollen, pet dander, smoke, odors and mold) and make the indoor air safer.

Improve the Ventilation System

Humidity inside the house causes mold. If that problem is not addressed, or if it is poorly addressed, it can, eventually, spread all around the house. The worst thing you can do is to install exhaust fans that release the air right into your attic. You should install them in such a way to direct the humidity and particles out of the house entirely.

Say Goodbye to Mold

Allergy-Proof bathtub center of bathroom

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Most of the mold lives inside your bathroom. Regular and thorough cleaning will solve this problem partially. Ventilation will help. Keeping the surfaces dry and without standing water will contribute to the solution. (meta-calculator.com) Finally, recaulking sinks and tubs, as well as replacing cracked tile, will prevent the persistent mold to grow behind walls.

Don’t Allow Your Pet into the House

Allergy-Proof dog being petted

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Not only the pets produce a large number of allergens, they also pick up a ton of others (e.g. pollen) in their fur while they’re playing outside. It doesn’t matter how much you love your pet, if you, or any of your family members, are sensitive to allergens you should save that love for the backyard.

Of course, following such rigorous rules can be exhausting. It would be a wise idea to visit an allergist and check what you’re allergic to. That way you’ll know where to focus your preventative measures.

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