Housecleaning Tips to Ease Allergies

5/18/2016 (Permalink)

Regular housecleaning can get rid of many allergy triggers and help relieve your symptoms.Here are some ways to keep your house clean and your allergies under control:

• Vacuum once or twice a week. Make sure your vacuum has a HEPA filter. Some allergens are so small that they pass right through a regular vacuum filter. That means that every time you vacuum, you could be sucking them off the floor and shooting them into the air, where you breathe them in.
• Cut clutter. Piles of boxes or clothing can trap dust and hide allergens like dust mites and cockroaches.
• Keep the bathroom free of mold. Scrub the tile regularly. Don't forget the shower curtain, too. You may be able to toss it in the washing machine.
• Wash sheets weekly in hot water. Make sure it's at least 130 F. That's hot enough to kill dust mites. If your child has allergies, do the same with any washable stuffed animals.
• Don't use scented cleaners or detergents. If you have allergies, the fragrances in cleaners can trigger symptoms. Look for fragrance-free products instead.
• Use a damp cloth and mop when cleaning. They'll trap allergens instead of knocking them into the air.
• Clean outside entryways. Sweep or vacuum. The cleaner your path or patio is, the less likely someone is to track dust or pollen into your house.
• Take shoes off before you go in the house. That way pollens or other triggers won’t get tracked in.
• Keep pets out of the bedroom. It's a key way to protect yourself from dander. Don't ever let pets sleep on the bed if you have pet allergies.
• Use air-conditioning. Instead of opening windows when it’s hot, use the AC. An air conditioner will filter the air, preventing dust, dirt, pollens, molds, and other triggers from getting in.