Whether you have allergies that drive you up the wall, a partner or child with them, or you’re bringing a new baby home for the first time, it’s crucial to find ways to make your home as comfortable as possible. No one wants to deal with watering eyes, sniffly noses, scratchy throats, and constant sneezing, among other things.
Even if no household members are particularly susceptible to invisible irritants, it’s still a good idea to do what you can to reduce the nasties and make your home as clean and healthy as possible. Follow the below steps to start allergy-proofing your property today.
Narrow Down What You’re Allergic To
Before you do anything else, try to narrow down what you or your household member is allergic to, so you know what to concentrate on removing from your property. Visit an allergist who can help you work out the big things to avoid, such as pet hair, mold, pollen, dust mites, and the like. The more information you can arm yourself with, the more effective your preventative measures can be.
Buy a New Mattress and Bedding
We spend around a third of our lives asleep in bed. As such, if you want to reduce allergens, you need a bed set up that doesn’t exacerbate any health problems. If your current mattress is an old one you’ve had for years and never cleaned or aired much, it pays to invest in a brand new product.
For people with asthma or other allergies, it helps to equip yourself with a GOTS certified organic mattress. These products are made sustainably and contain significantly fewer chemicals than other standard mattresses, and will be better for your health as a result.
Make wise choices about your pillow and bedding, too. Swap out your old pillow for a new one every couple of years since these pieces can be harbors for dust mites. Also, sleep in sheets made from natural, organic, breathable materials perfect for sensitive skin and other sensitivities.
Reduce Carpet and Old Rugs
Allergens can accumulate quickly in flooring such as carpets and old rugs, especially those with thicker piles. As you walk across these areas, you actually re-release all of the allergens gathered in the flooring into the air.
Minimize disruptions to your health, then, by taking out carpet and replacing it with smooth-surfaced, easy-to-clean products such as tiles, vinyl, polished concrete, or wooden boards. Also, dispose of rugs that haven’t been cleaned much or invest in a deep cleaning service to rid the accessories of dust, dirt, mites, hair, and other allergens.
In a similar vein, be careful about the window coverings you choose for your home. Heavy drapes and curtains, especially those sitting near open windows all the time, are most likely to become dust traps. Opt for products such as blinds or shades instead, as they’re thinner and less likely to capture debris, plus are easier to clean regularly.
Keep Outside Irritants Away
An effective way to keep allergens at bay is to avoid tracking them into your home in the first place. For example, keep irritants outside by using two doormats at every entry point into your property, with one outside the door and one inside it. That way, you’ll be less likely to track things in on the bottom of your shoes.
Plus, have all household members and any guests that arrive at your house remove their shoes before entering. This is another helpful way to stop spreading allergens around.
Keep Pets Out of the Bedroom
Another tip related to your bedroom is to keep pets out of it as much as possible. While you won’t want cats, dogs, or other animals inside your home all the time if you’re allergic to pet hair, you particularly don’t want their fur in your bedroom where you sleep.
Their coats can shed and float into flooring, furniture, under beds, in closets, between your sheets, and just about everywhere else. Even if you’re not allergic to their hair, if you have other respiratory or skin issues, it’s best to avoid having pets sleep in the same space as you.
Some other steps you can take to reduce allergens in your home include minimizing clutter, so there’s less chance of dust build-up, and selecting easy-to-care-for furnishings you can wipe down. Get into a regular cleaning routine, using natural products that won’t cause a bad reaction. Pay particular attention to getting rid of mold and mildew, which can cause numerous health problems.
Every strategy you implement to keep your home free of nasties should have a considerable positive effect on your long-term health status.
