How to Lower the Number of Allergens in Your Home

As much as we wish it were different, the reality is that many children (and adults) have severe allergies in this day and age. We can work on ensuring our children eat the right things and wear clothing that’s better for their bodies, but we also need to think about ways to lower the number of allergens in the home if we want to help our youngsters be more comfortable. 

You can reduce the nasties in your property by following a few key steps.

Work Out Specific Allergens Where Possible

Start by seeing if you can determine which specific allergens you, your partner, or other household members are allergic to. If you can narrow it down, you can then concentrate on taking steps to get rid of these allergens as much as possible from your home. You might like to visit an allergist for advice on the key things to avoid, but for many people, the biggest issues are mold, mildew, pollen, pet hair, or dust mites. 

Clear the Clutter

Next, do what you can to limit clutter in your property. The more “stuff” you have lying around, the easier it is for mites and other allergens to congregate and grow. If you can streamline your possessions, particularly when it comes to the smaller bits and pieces, such as throws, pillows, paperwork, books, and the like, you should find it easier to clean, which will reduce allergens, and you’ll make it harder for them to multiply, too.

Replace Old Mattresses and Bedding

Since we spend so much of our week lying in bed, it’s wise to pay close attention to this furniture if you want to reduce allergens. To avoid exacerbating health problems, you could update your current bed for a new, natural mattress that contains fewer chemicals than many other products on the market. An old mattress that hasn’t been aired or cleaned much over the years is likely to be a haven for allergens, so the sooner you swap it out for a new option, the better. 

In addition, consider upgrading your pillow and bedding. It’s wise to replace pillows every year or two since they’re such a haven for dust mites. Plus, if you have sensitive skin and get annoyed by allergens regularly, it may help to sleep on sheets made from organic, breathable materials. 

Get Rid of Dust-Holding Rugs and Carpet

Another tip is to say goodbye to dust-holding rugs and carpets. Allergens accumulate very quickly in this type of flooring, and pieces with thicker piles are particularly dangerous if you’re more susceptible to allergen annoyances. Every time you walk across rugs and carpet, you re-release all the allergens gathered in them, too, which only worsens matters. 

You may want to consider replacing carpets with easy-to-clean, flat products such as wooden boards, polished concrete, vinyl, tiles, or the like. Get rid of rugs that are too old to clean up well, or invest in a deep cleaning service to remove the unwanted mites, dirt, dust, hair, and other allergens that can cause you issues. 

Change Window Coverings

Similarly, if you have old window coverings that have been hanging and gathering dust for a long time, take them off and get them professionally cleaned. Alternatively, it may be time, especially for heavy drapes and curtains that sit near regularly open windows and trap dust as a result, to be changed for newer products. When replacing coverings, consider thinner options such as blinds or shades. These are easier to clean and capture less debris. 

Use Doormats

A simple way to keep allergens away from your home is to stop tracking so many of them in to start with. You could use two doormats at every entry point to your home, for example, so that you have one outside the door to wipe your feet on and one inside it to place your shoes on. As a result of these mats, you can dramatically reduce the level of things you track inside on your footwear. 

Some other ways you can lower the number of allergens in your home include limiting how much time pets spend indoors, so you don’t get so much pet hair inside, and replacing HVAC filters regularly. Also, clean often, use non-toxic products, and consider using a room air filter.

As you can see, there are multiple ways you can be proactive to limit the number of allergens in your home and ensure that you and your family feel better in turn.