How to Reduce Allergens in Your Home.

Your home should be a refuge and a place to relax, but what if you’re allergic to what’s inside? Allergies in the home are common, and they present themselves in numerous ways that probably sound similar to the outdoor allergy symptoms you’re used to: sneezing, chronic rhinitis, coughing, burning eyes, itchy skin and asthma.

Pet dander, dust, pollen and mold are the main culprits for indoor allergens in the home. Many people are even allergic to the microscopic dust mites that feed on the dust and dander. The task of making your home allergy-proof might seem difficult, considering how tiny the particles and organisms are that cause the problem, but there are plenty of ways to help you reclaim your space and free your home of allergies.

Targeting indoor allergens in different rooms

The main methods of deep cleaning your home to prevent allergies include targeting areas that you might not think about when you’re doing routine cleaning. These spaces need attention at least some of the time to keep dust, mold spores and dander from collecting. Additionally, changing some of your habits and household setups can also help. This can include:

Kitchen

Simple changes in the kitchen can help reduce house dust and other allergens, especially mold. Make sure you do the dishes every day. Clean your sink and drain regularly, too, to prevent mold spores from forming. Clean your cupboards, pantries and cabinets regularly as well. Large kitchen appliances like your refrigerator, dishwasher, oven and stove should be kept clean and free of food buildup or moisture, and old foods should be discarded so they don’t have the chance to grow mold.

Living room and common areas

Make sure you vacuum, dust, sweep, and mop in corners, behind and beneath furniture and on top of the furniture itself to rid your main living spaces of common home allergens. If you’re able to remove carpeting and rugs, this can also help keep house dust from collecting, as hardwood flooring is easier to clean. This will help rid your home of an allergy carpet might trigger. Also remember to clean blinds, windows, windowsills and curtains or drapes. If you can install flat pull-down blinds instead of venetian blinds, it can be easier to clean in addition to removing surface area for extra dust to collect. Additionally, indoor plants can develop mold in the soil, so keeping the soil covered with a gravel can help contain it. And don’t forget to clean your plants’ leaves regularly, as they can collect dust, too!

Bathroom

It’s important to focus on keeping moisture, and therefore mold, out of the bathroom. The humidity levels are often higher, so using good ventilation and cleaning drains, faucets, shower surfaces and toilet bowls regularly are important steps in the process of removing allergens from your home. Clean behind the toilet, too, and don’t let towels sit wet for too long. It’s also a good idea to keep bathmats and shower slip mats clean and dry by hanging or draping them over a rack when they’re not in use.

Bedroom

Your sleep area most likely contains more common home allergens than most of us are comfortable admitting. Dust mites love living in pillows, and over time, their droppings will build up and even cause your pillow to feel heavier. Regularly throw bedding, pillows and blankets in a washing machine using water that’s at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit, and vacuum your mattress. As mentioned before, keep blinds, curtains and drapes clear of dust, and if you do have a rug or carpeting, make sure it’s deep-cleaned regularly with a steam cleaner. Clean under the bed, in closets and do laundry regularly. Also make sure your closets are free from moths or other burrowing insects that might seek refuge in stored clothing—and leave their droppings, which can also trigger allergies.

Best tools to help reduce allergies in your home

Some additions to your home will also help you reduce indoor allergies. A high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) air purifier is a crucial tool for filtering and cutting down on the dust, mold and dander that circulates and settles around your home. Make sure to change the filter as often as your model requires, and set it up in a central location. Better yet, invest in one for every level of your home, and possibly even for multiple rooms, depending on how much dust your home typically collects.

For homes that do have carpeting and rugs, a vacuum cleaner that is designed to handle pet fur is a great option for pet owners. Pet fur can clog some conventional vacuums, but the head or nozzle on a vacuum that’s geared toward pet fur keeps it from tangling and clogging. They also work with a higher power suction. Look for HEPA-rated filters and options for cleaning high and low carpet piling.

Purchasing a dehumidifier is another way to keep your environment under control and prevent allergens from forming. Dust mites thrive in conditions with at least 50% humidity or more, so climate control is important in keeping them at bay. If your home has central AC, use it during warmer months, and keep a dehumidifier running in areas like the basement or adjacent to a bathroom so humidity levels stay below the levels dust mites can live in. And a smart thermostat can help keep the climate in your home regulated no matter where you are.

Allergens in the home build up every day as you live, work and play. Finding ways to contain them and eradicate them before they have the chance to take over your life—and your respiratory system—is a challenge, but with knowledge and a few key tools in your home, you’ll rid your home of allergens in no time.