Free and Easy Ways to Allergen Proof Your Home

Having allergies is annoying and can also be downright debilitating. Any relief from allergies can sometimes feel like a godsend. If you suffer from allergies you may already have an arsenal of over the counter or even prescription allergy medication to help relieve the symptoms of allergies. Taking medications to combat the symptoms of allergies is one thing, but the best thing is to reduce or completely eliminate some or most of the allergens in your home. Read on to learn free and easy ways to make your home more allergen proof.

Get Rid of Unnecessary Fabric and Upholstery

Have you looked at your curtains lately? If you haven't been washing them regularly, they are probably covered in dust bunnies. Dust is a major allergy trigger and if you have suffered from allergies for more than one day you are aware of that. Even those that don't have major allergy issues have problems with dust. If you wish to keep your curtains or drapes, be sure to purchase the easily washable kind and make washing your drapes part of your weekly routine. Any type of fabric is a haven for dust mite and other types of allergens.

If you can get by with not having upholstered furniture you can also be ahead of the allergen game. Allergens live in carpeting and can make your allergies worse as well. Removing the carpeting from your home, especially old carpeting will also help to eliminate a lot of allergens from your home. Ridding your home of these unnecessary fabrics is a great free way to allergen proof your home.

Close the Window

By simply shutting your windows you can eliminate a lot of allergens from entering your home. During pollen season you should definitely keep your windows closed. You cannot control the outdoors environment that is full of allergens such as pollen, pet dander, pollution, and exhaust fumes. You can, however, control the allergens and toxins in your home to an extent by simply keeping your windows closed. Plus, closing the windows in your home is a free way to make your home more allergen proof.

Get a Load of Laundry Ready

You may not be in the habit, but you should, of washing your bed linens at least once a week. Grandma did it and so should you for reasons beyond allergen proofing your home. Simply washing your bed linens and pillows once a week will reduce the allergens in your home and kill breeding dust mites.

Free Surface Areas of Clutter

The more items you have on a surface the less likely you are to remove them and dust the area often. Also the more items you have, the more places for dust to settle and dust mites to linger. Take a look around your home; there are probably many items around your house that are, as they say, "just collecting dust." It may be emotionally hard, but if these items are just dust and dust mite magnets, the best thing to do is store them away.

Don't Dust with a Feather Duster

You have seen the commercial of the lady dusting with a feather duster. All that poor lady is doing is moving the dust from one area to the other and releasing the dust and dust mites out into the air. Essentially she is making the issue worse for those with allergies. Dust areas with a dampened cloth. This will cause the dust to stick to the cloth and not be spread out into the air making it easier for the dust and dust mites to enter your breathing passages.

The above steps are fairly simple and will go a long way in making your life with allergies must simpler. The more you can reduce the allergens in your home, the happier you will be and the healthier you will be. Try the above simple measures and begin to breathe a little easier at night...and during the day.