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How to Reduce Allergens in Your Home

Sneezing. Coughing. Running nose. Itching red eyes. Sound familiar? Up to 50-million Americans each year experience these symptoms due to allergies. While the symptoms are very real, some of the quick-fix remedies are not - including moving to Arizona or shaving the family dog.

 

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According to many allergists, the real cure for sniffing, sneezing and wheezing may be as simple as regular house cleaning. Common household allergens such as dust, dust mites, mold, pet dander, and cockroaches can trigger allergies, explains pediatric allergist Dr. Mary Lasley. "Simple changes in your routine house cleaning can reduce allergies and help your family live more comfortably," she adds.

 

Allergy Q&A

Q: What is an allergen?

 

An allergen is any substance that can trigger an allergic response. Besides indoor substances, outdoor pollens and foods are common allergens. When an allergic person encounters an allergen, the immune system becomes activated. This triggers a complex chain of events, which produce the symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as swelling of tissues, sneezing, wheezing, coughing, and other reactions. It is unclear why some substances trigger allergies and others do not.

 

Q: Who gets allergies?

 

It is not yet fully understood why certain people get allergies while others do not. However, we do know that allergies can develop at any age, and heredity plays a key role in who will develop allergies. If one parent has allergies, the child will develop allergies 48 percent of the time, and if both parents have allergies, the child's risk grows to 70 percent.

 

Q: How can I find out more about allergies?

 

If you suspect you may be suffering from allergies, contact an allergist/immunologist. Your allergist can perform tests to determine the source of your allergies and then establish the best course of treatment. Often, the first step is to minimize your exposure to your particular allergen(s). You and your allergist can work together so that you can make appropriate changes in your environment.

 

Source: Dr. Mary Lasley - Pediatric Allergist

Read on for more practical tips to reduce indoor allergens. 

 

Steps to Reduce Exposure 

 

1. Control Ventilation and Filter the Air

 

Opening windows to let indoor allergens out of the home can bring outdoor allergens such as pollen and mold spores into the house. Instead, use heat and air conditioning to clean, circulate and dehumidify the air in the home. Also, using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to remove airborne allergens, such as pet dander, can lessen the amount of circulating allergens. Dust mite and cockroach allergen are generally heavy particles that do not stay suspended in the air and settle quickly, so air filters or air purifiers do not work well for these allergens.

 

2. Reduce Moisture

 

Dust mites and molds thrive only in high humidity areas. Maintain the home's relative humidity level below 55 percent by using heat and/or air-conditioning equipment consistently and using a dehumidifier where necessary - doing so will discourage dust mite and mold growth. Repair all roof and plumbing leaks to prevent mold.

 

3. Regular Cleaning

 

Cleaning is the best way to reduce allergens. Done regularly, cleaning stops allergens from accumulating, which helps minimize allergy and/or asthma symptoms. Pay special attention to the bedroom since most exposure to dust mites is while sleeping - 60 percent of dust mite allergen is found in mattresses and bedding. In order to control these allergens, wash bed linens in hot water (at least 130 F) weekly and vacuum mattresses regularly. Comforters, blankets and curtains should be washed frequently. Encase pillows, mattresses and box springs in "allergen-control" covers, and freeze or wash stuffed animals weekly in hot water (at least 130 F).

 

Clean and disinfect wet, warm areas - such as kitchens and bathrooms - weekly to stop mold growth.

 

Smooth floors should be vacuumed, dusted and wet mopped weekly. When sweeping, take care not to circulate dust from the floor into the air.

 

Vacuum carpet and rugs at least once a week - twice a week in bedrooms and high-traffic areas. Use a well-functioning vacuum cleaner that has adjustable brushes, and bears the Carpet and Rug Institute's Seal of Approval (SOA). These are vacuum cleaners that have been tested for and meet strict standards for removing soil and containing the dust within the bag and the vacuum cleaner. Vacuum cleaners may produce dramatically different cleaning results and impact on the indoor environment. The SOA program endorses only vacuum cleaners that perform each of the following three tasks well: soil removal, dust containment (without putting the dust back into the air) and carpet appearance retention.

 

Vacuum upholstered furniture regularly, and clean hard furniture with a damp cloth. A damp cloth should be used on window treatments, windowsills and window frames, ceiling fans, light fixtures, and storage units as well. Dust also can be reduced by storing books and knick-knacks in closed cabinets - doing so leaves fewer places for dust to settle and makes cleaning easier.

 

Your allergist/immunologist can provide you with more information on allergies. For further information on carpet go to the Carpet and Rug Institute's Web site, www.carpet-rug.com.

How to Reduce Allergens in Your Home:  Created on December 30th, 2010.  Last Modified on January 21st, 2014

 

About The Carpet and Rug Institute

The Carpet and Rug InstituteThe Carpet and Rug Institute, headquartered in Dalton, Georgia, is the national trade association for the carpet and rug industry. Its members are manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers, representing over 90% of all carpet produced in the United States. CRI is the source for science-based information and insight into how carpet and rugs can create a better environment — for living, working, learning and healing. For more information, visit the CRI Blog.