Easy, Inexpensive Ways to Control Dust Allergies

With outdoor pollution and chemical contaminants rampant these days, creating an indoor environment that is free of dust and allergens is becoming more difficult for those who suffer from asthma, lung issues, or other breathing difficulties. To prevent allergic responses, such as a runny nose, sniffling, sneezing and chronic coughing, allergy sufferers should consider some of the following actions to reduce dust mites in their homes:

BECOME A CLEANING FREAK

Few people like to spend time cleaning, but there is no better preventative for keeping the symptoms of allergies under control. Establishing a routine cleaning schedule could save you several hours in the doctor’s office or an emergency room.

• Keep the house thoroughly vacuumed and have carpets and upholstery steamed annually.

• Consider covering all upholstered seating with furniture covers, which can easily be removed for frequent laundering to remove allergens that have collected on them.

• Keep ceiling fans, lights and fans and baseboards or trim dusted and deep clean them several times a year with hot, sudsy water.

• Empty all trash cans every day.

• Wash bathmats and towels as often as possible and linens at least once a week.

• Have a professional inspection and cleaning of heating and cooling ducts each year and keep filters clean.

• Use a vacuum to thoroughly clean dust from the box springs at least bi-annually.

MAKE IMPORTANT HOME ALTERATIONS

While major changes around the house are sometimes daunting because of the high costs and energy required, they can also be worth it in the long run. Over a few years time, the savings generated from not using as much allergy medication will help to pay for the changes that will improve the air quality of the home for everyone.

• If possible, remove all carpeting from your house. If this is impractical to do at one time, begin with areas where you sleep or spend the most time and replace the rugs and carpeting in a step-by-step plan.

• Caulk any cracks around windows and cabinets and make sure door seals are intact to prevent dust from entering the home from outside sources.

• Encase mattresses and pillows in plastic and wipe down often.

• Replace the children’s soft stuffed toys with those which can be easily cleaned.

• Begin using a vacuum cleaner with a filter made especially to reduce household allergens.

Allergies can be miserable and make adults and children more susceptible to even more serious health conditions. Because of this, it is important to do everything possible to control the dust, mold, and mildew that might contribute to severe reactions. If someone in your household is one of the fifty million people who constantly battles with indoor allergies, it may be time to take drastic action by investing more time in household cleaning and making changes in some of the household furnishings.

By-line:
Caroline is a writer who is passionate about healthy living. She also loves to find ways to save time and money when cleaning her home. She runs a website that sells washable sofa covers, which can help reduce dust in the home.