Good way to reduce allergens in the home?

Question

I have allergies to animals, pollen, dust...just about everything outside. How do I reduce my symptoms in the house??

Answer 1

How to reduce allergens around the home:

•Use HEPA Air Filters In Every Room Where You Spend A Lot Of Time.
oHEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air, and a HEPA filter captures 99.97% of all particles. 3 microns or larger. That's 240 times smaller than the width of a human hair.
•Keep Humidity Low.
oMoisture is a breeding ground for dust mites and mold. Keep humidity below 50% by using an air conditioner in the summer and a dehumidifier in the winter.
•Install Filters In Your Heating/Cooling Systems.
oFilters are easy to install on most systems, and they seal off an often-overlooked allergen pathway into your home.
•Replace Wall-to-Wall Carpeting With Washable Rugs.
oCarpets are a breeding ground for dust mites, mold, bateria, and other irritants that can aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms.

•Vacuum Thoroughly And Often.
oIf removing carpeting isn't an option, it's important to vacuum frequently. But beware of traditional vacuums. They actually spew more dust, pollen, mold, pet dander, and bacteria into the air than they remove.
•Replace Heavy Curtains And Draperies With Washable, Lightweight Curtains.
oMold, bacteria, dust mites, and other airborne allergens thrive in thick curtains and drapes, just as they do in deep carpets.

How to reduce dust around the home:

•Encase Your Bedding In Allergy Relief Products.
oThis first step is essential, because, right now, millions of dust mites are thriving in your mattress and pillows. Putting mite-proof encasings on all your bedding, including your box spring and comforter, creates a protective barrier so you can sleep soundly and symptom-free.

•Wash Sheets And Pillowcases Often.
oIt's important to do this once a week. If you wash your linens with AllerWash, you can wash them in any temperature. If not, be sure to use hot water.

•Store Clothing In Drawers And Closets.
oKeep them closed to minimize dust. This, in turn, will prevent mites from breeding.

•Clean And Treat Your Carpets, Rugs, And Upholstered Furniture.
oIf possible, avoid carpeting and upholstered furniture altogether. If this is not an option, treat with a solution designed to neutralize dust mite allergens.

How to protect against pet dander:

•PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST PET DANDER
oDander forms on animal's skin and fur, causing your allergy miseries. Unfortunately, the only sure-fire way to end your suffering is to remove the pet. If your not willing to part with your furry companion, here are some specific steps you can take to minimize your reaction.

•Control Where Your Pet Sleeps.
oDon't allow your pet to sleep in your bedroom. Use a pet blanket or other bedding that can be washed frequently in hot water.

•Bathe And Treat Your Pet's Coat.
oUse a pet shampoo that is specially formulated to reduce dander. Also use a dander-inhibiting solution.

•Use A HEPA Filter.

MINIMIZE MOLD
Bathrooms, basements, and kitchens are common areas for mold, but mold flourish in virtually any warm, moist, poorly lit area-such as behind wall paper, under carpets, and in air ducts.
•Install Exhaust Fans.
oExhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom help keep humidity low so mold can't thrive as easily.

•Use A Safe But Strong Cleaning Solution.
oBe sure it's one specially formulated to eliminate mold and mildew. Then apply a chemical-free mold inhibiting treatment. Doing both produces the most effective solution.

•Limit Houseplants Inside Your Home.
oMold grows on plants and in potting soil. Using an allergen sealing spray on those you keep helps prevent mold spores from becoming airborne.

•Store Old Books Properly.
oBooks, especially old ones, are a major source of mold. Store them in tightly sealed containers under very low humidity.

Answer 2

Air purifiers do work, but you have to be sure to change or clean the filter on a regular basis. Dust using a wet dust cleaner like Pledge (allergens will adhere to it) Use a high powered vacuum with a HEPA filter. Vacuum your carpets several times a week. Clean your drapes and linens every week in hot water. Use pillow covers in addition to pillow cases. Clean/dust/vacuum your sofas weekly. Use Febreeze Allergen reducer to help reduce the allergens in the air. Finally, steam clean your carpet every 3-4 months to really keep it all down.

Answer 3

The truely effective way to rid allergens is to recreate what nature does outside- inside your house.
While trying to do your best at keeping the house clean and dust free, it is a constant battle since the majority of dust is dead skin. The body is constantly creating new skin cells and releasing old skin cells. Dust mites feed on these skin cells. Did you know there are over 40000 dust mites per ounce of dust? Since these dust mites feed on skin cells they are present all over your house and especially in the bedding.

You also need to remove from the air the mold spores, pollens and pet dander. It is key to remove particulate from the air (all that stuff you see flying around in the rays of sunshine through a window) so it is not is your lungs.

Natural Air Purification is the best choice, as it will eliminate the sources of the allergy problems rather than just trapping them in a filter or making them stick to a wall. This is accomplished by recreating the effects of a thunderstorm ( charged air to drop particulate and scrub the air using activated oxygen ) and sunlight ( natures antibacterial ).

Answer 4

Here in France, when someone is diagnosed as allergic, the Social Security system sends someone to check out their house and tell them what to do. The allergy lady came to my house when my husband was diagnosed as allergic to house mites. She had a list of things to do.

The first thing was get rid of the carpet. It works.
A special mattress cover. Wash every 6 months.
Wash ALL the bed clothes once a week.
Wash the curtains once every 3 months.
Get rid of all unnecessary cloth in the bed room and wash everything you can't get rid of every 3 months.

My husband is a different person now. He gets about one allergy attack a year now instead of constant allergies. This saves the French Social Security system more than the allergy lady's salary every year just for my husband and she sees at least 2 houses a day.

Answer 5

You will have a battle. You should get rid of things that hold dust/dirt, like carpet or dust-catching drapes. You will need to vacuum with hepa-type bags and keep surfaces clean. Wash your linen in bleach. Change your pillows as mites will have invaded them after a while, and add a good mattress pad that you can wash. Mop with water and a couple of drops of soap. Wash pets (if you have them) and keep them groomed. Anything to keep the dust and dander out of your home will help. And yes, those air filters do help alot. Good luck.

Answer 6

dust everyday, clean the house everyday, avoid having pets at home since animal dander is an allergen, dont wear heavy perfumes or air fresheners, an air filter is also advisable

Answer 7

Ionizers are suppose to help prevent airbourne paritcles. They work by sending out negative ions which attach to the dust, pollen etc and make it heavier so that it can't be airbourne.
Don't put one near your bed though because they'd fall right where your face is.

Answer 8

Hepa filters on the furnace, remove carpets, do not have pets with fur, vacuum at least once a week, dust mite covers for your mattress and pillow case.

Answer 9

there is this air purifier that is guarenteed to reduce to allergies in your home or ur money back. do a search for it. this one does not have a filter like all the others. the filter is metal. my friend has one but it is to early to wake her up right now and ask. good luck

Answer 10

all these answers are a good idea, i have air filter system, had the carpet removed, would not get rid of the animals.i have had allergens all my life, I COULDN'T work in the yard,the doctor told me to move out of california, because of my allergens. but then i found Noni Juice, (TAHITI NONI)