Living Room and Dining Room Decoration

Allergy Proof Your Home

Allergy symptoms such as runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, coughing, and red and irritated eyes signal the start of allergy season once more. Indoors and outdoors, allergies can occur at any time of year. If you have seasonal allergies, you might think that this is just a normal part of the changing seasons. If you have chronic allergies, you might feel miserable all year long. But is my home allergic to me? Yes, allergies can be brought on by your home. However, there are techniques to get rid of and lessen allergens in your house! The greatest strategies to lessen allergens in your home have been collated by us, including how to allergy-proof your bedroom, bathroom, and more!

Identifying your allergies

It's crucial to first understand your allergies in order to determine whether you could be allergic to your house. With more than 50 million Americans impacted each year, allergies are the sixth most common chronic disease in the United States. You most likely have allergies to dust mites, mold, grass, trees, pet dander, or a combination of these. However, you should first evaluate which allergies you need to eliminate in order to truly help reduce allergens in your home.

Bright Decor offers 68 allergens, including environmental allergens, for testing at home. Your test results will indicate whether you have any elevated IgE levels to any foods, as well as to common indoor and outdoor allergens like mold, dust mites, and animal dander.

A board-certified allergist can collaborate with you to develop a program that helps to relieve symptoms in addition to adopting these suggestions to lower allergens in your home. This can involve taking antihistamines and other drugs, staying away from triggers, and receiving immunotherapy.

lowering environmental allergens in home

Allergen issues can arise in even the cleanest homes. Even if you maintain your home neat and orderly, dust mites might still be found there. Every fabric object in your home almost certainly contains dust mites, including upholstered furniture. Dust mites eat pet and human dander for food.

• Replace window treatments made of fabric with easily cleaned blinds.
• On all pillows and mattresses, use dust-proof coverings.
• Once a week, wash all bedding in hot, soapy water.
• Take down the carpeting, and frequently wet dust the hard flooring

Outdoor allergens enter the home

Even if your home is well sealed, allergens from the outside can still enter with each window or door opening and each time you bring something in from the outside. If you are allergic to grasses or trees outside, it is simple to bring these allergens indoors on your clothing and shoes. Even if you aren't allergic to your pet, they can still bring allergens into the house on their fur. Allergens can be picked up from your shoes and clothing and brought inside.

Here are some fundamental recommendations to lessen allergens entering your home:

• When entering, take your shoes off.
• After outdoor activities, put on clean clothes before sitting down on couches or other furniture.
• Install doormats on all doors, both inside and outside.
• After being outside, clean your nose with water to remove any allergies.
• daily pollen levels, planning your outdoor activities to avoid high pollen days

Take a few actions to limit allergens in your house if you experience seasonal hay fever or allergic asthma symptoms. Here are some ideas broken out by room:

Bedroom

1. Bed and linens. Dust-mite-resistant covers should be used for pillows, mattresses, and box springs. At least once a week, wash blankets, pillowcases, and sheets in water that is at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54 C). Cover, wash, or remove comforters. Use synthetic materials in place of bedding made of wool or feathers.
2. Flooring. Use washable area rugs and hardwood or linoleum instead of carpeting. If that isn't an option, choose low-pile carpets rather than high-pile carpeting, and vacuum once per week using a vacuum with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. Regularly shampoo the carpet.
3. Blinds and Curtains. Use basic cotton or synthetic drapes that can be washed. Remove horizontal blinds and replace them with washable roller shades.
4. Windows. During pollen season, keep windows closed and rely on air conditioning. Clean the window sills and frames of any mold or dampness. If you reside in a chilly climate, invest in double-paned windows.
5. Furnishings. Pick leather, wood, metal, or plastic chairs, dressers, and nightstands that are simple to clean. DON'T USE UPPER FURNITURE.
6. Clutter. Get rid of clutter like books, magazines, knick knacks, and ornaments for the table. Put stuffed animals, games, and toys for kids in plastic storage containers.
7. Pets. Keep animals out of the bedroom if you can't find a new home for your dog, cat, or other furry companion. Pets' dander may contain less allergen if they are bathed at least once a week.
8. air filtration. Select an air filter with a HEPA or small-particle filter. Try repositioning your air filter so that while you sleep, it blows fresh air in your direction.

Living Room

1. Flooring. Use washable area rugs and hardwood or linoleum instead of carpeting. If that isn't an option, choose low-pile carpets rather than high-pile carpeting, and vacuum once per week using a vacuum with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. Weekly floor mat and area rug cleaning is recommended, as well as yearly carpet shampooing.
2. Furniture. Think about replacing upholstered sofas and chairs with wood, metal, or plastic furniture.
3. Blinds and Curtains. Use basic cotton or synthetic drapes that can be washed. Remove horizontal blinds and replace them with washable roller shades.
4. Windows. During pollen season, keep windows closed and rely on air conditioning. Clean the window sills and frames of any mold or dampness. If you reside in a chilly climate, invest in double-paned windows.
5. Plants. To help contain mold, relocate any potted plants or cover the dirt with aquarium gravel.
6. Pets. Consider keeping your dog or cat outside if the weather is suitable if you can't find them a new home.
7. Fireplaces. Avoid using fireplaces or stoves that burn wood because the smoke and gases they produce might make respiratory allergies worse. The majority of gas fireplaces won't have this issue.

Kitchen

1. Stove. Install and utilize a vented exhaust fan to get rid of odors from cooking and lessen dampness. Most stove-top hoods don't vent outside; they just filter cooking odors.
2. Sink. Everyday dishwashing. To get rid of food leftovers and mold, scrub the sink and faucets.
3. Refrigerator. Eliminate excess moisture to prevent the growth of mold. Discard food that is moldy or expired. Replace or clean the moldy rubber door seals, and regularly empty and clean the drip pan.
4. Countertops and Cabinets. Clean countertops and cabinets with soap and water. For plumbing leaks, check the cabinets behind the sink. Keep food in airtight containers, especially pet food.
5. Food loss. Put trash in a can with an insect-resistant top, and empty it every day. The likelihood that you'll have rodents or cockroaches will be decreased if the kitchen is kept clean of food scraps.

Bathroom

1. Ventilation. To lessen moisture while taking showers or baths, install and operate an exhaust fan.
2. Floors. Use tile, vinyl, wood, or linoleum instead of carpeting. Use rugs you can wash.
3. Walls. Remove the wallpaper and put in tile, or use mold-resistant enamel paint to paint the walls.
4. Bathtub and Shower. After use, towel-dry the enclosure and bathtub. Use bleach to remove mold from the shower, bathtub, and faucets. Moldy bathmats and shower curtains should be cleaned or replaced.
5. Sink and Toilet. Clean the mold off of the plumbing. patch up leaks.

Basement

1. Flooring. Moldy or water-damaged carpet should be removed. Use linoleum, vinyl, or concrete flooring if at all possible.
2. Furniture. Think about replacing upholstered sofas and chairs with wood, metal, or plastic furniture.
3. Windows, The Foundation, and The Stairways. Look for and fix any leaks or water damage sources.
4. Air Quality. To lessen moisture, use a dehumidifier and clean it once each week.
5. Storage. Put clothes and collectibles in plastic storage containers.
6. Laundry Dryer. Dry off any wetness outside.

WHOLE HOUSE

1. Humidity and Temperature. Mold and dust mites thrive in hot, humid environments. Keep the temperature between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit (20 and 22 degrees Celsius), and limit the relative humidity to no more than 50%. At least once a month, clean or replace the small-particle filters in the central heating and cooling systems and the room air conditioners.
2. Pests. Control mice and cockroaches with cheap traps from the hardware store. If that doesn't work, employ a qualified exterminator. Thoroughly vacuum carpeting and wipe hard surfaces to get rid of bug and mouse dander that can cause allergies. Seal any openings that could serve as re-entry points to avoid a re-infestation.
3. Mold. During warm weather, use dehumidifiers and air conditioning, and shut the doors and windows. Take out tainted carpeting and other non-washable materials. When removing mold, use a protective mask and a solution of 5 percent chlorine bleach to clean washable materials. Inspect the ceilings and roof for water leaks.
4. Basic Cleaning Every Week. Vacuum carpets, damp mop wood or linoleum floors. Use a vacuum with a HEPA or small-particle filter to capture airborne particles. Other surfaces, such as the tops of doors, windowsills, and window frames, can be cleaned with a moist cloth. Wear a dust mask if you have allergies, or ask someone else to do this work if they don't.
5. Smoking. Don't let smoking inside your home, anyplace.

Question and Answer section 

• True or False

Dust will be spread through the airless by moist dusting with a damp cloth or an oiled mop.

Answer: True

Dust will be spread through the airless by moist dusting with a damp cloth or an oiled mop. Dusting with damp cloths can help remove airborne allergens.

• True or False ?

Air vents should be close to beds to ensure proper airflow.

Answer: False

Hot air ducts are not favored over space heaters. Use filters or moist cheesecloth over inlets in homes with forced air heating to stop dust from circulating, and replace them every two weeks. Ask your doctor about using allergy filters at home. Beds should not be placed next to air vents.

• True or False ?

Pollination occurs most frequently in the late afternoon and early evening on grasses, weeds, and trees.

Answer: False

Trees, weeds, and grasses frequently produce pollen in the early morning. To prevent exposure to pollen, install window or central air conditioners. Keep windows closed, especially when it's windy and there are lots of pollens about. Close the windows while you sleep.

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