How to Get Rid of Allergens in Your Home

How to Get Rid of Allergens in Your Home

How to Get Rid of Allergens in Your Home

There's no other place in the world where you should feel more relaxed, comfy and at peace than home, sweet home. Unfortunately, there are instances when even your home isn't a healthy place to stay in. There are allergens that can infiltrate and thrive all over your house, triggering unpleasant allergy symptoms.

Getting To Know AllergensA non-parasitic antigen, an allergen, can stimulate a type-I hypersensitivity reaction in atopic people. When an allergen enters a person's body, the immune system reacts, thinking that the invading particles are damaging and harmful for the body. The immune system then produces an antibody to attack them, leading other cells to release more chemicals that cause inflammation and irritation.

Allergens come in various forms. Pet dander, pollen and dust mite excretion are common allergens that harm people. Food allergens are also common, such as those found in seafood, nuts, peanuts. Even chlorine and perfume can also contain allergens that can affect people.

With the numerous types of allergens out there, it’s very likely that some of them are thriving inside your house and causing discomfort to your health. If they trouble you too much, you must find ways to reduce allergens in your home.

General Tips

• The good news is that allergens can be thrown out as long as you know the right household strategies. It takes some effort and time, but it'll all be worth it in the end. Here are several general tactics you should remember.
• Keep your home cool and cozy. Avoid humid temperatures in your house, since humid places are breeding grounds for mold and dust mites. A relative humidity of 30% to 50% and a temperature of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit is enough.
• Make sure to replace or clean small-particle filters in cooling systems, air conditioners and central heating at least once a month.
• Mice and cockroaches bring both bacteria and allergens into homes. Use inexpensive traps and pest control methods to exterminate these pesky creatures. Hiring a professional exterminator also works well. To prevent them from coming back, seal entryways or cracks all over your home.
• Mold is a common allergen among many people, so you should prevent it from forming in your home. Use dehumidifiers and air conditioning, and close windows and doors during warm weather.
• Have a weekly cleaning routine. Clean surfaces like windowsills, frames and tops of doors with a damp cloth. Vacuum your carpets and damp-mop your wood or linoleum flooring.
• Don't smoke in the house, since cigarette smoke contains allergens that harm people.
• If you're allergic to pet dander, keep your pets outside, or at least outside the bedroom. Bathe and brush your pets properly, too.
• Carpets unfortunately gather allergens between their fibers, so replace your carpeted flooring with tiles, linoleum or hardwood.

These tips are general, but here are some tips to allergy-proof the main rooms in your house. You can also visit MonsterGuide for more information on allergens and the gadgets you can use to get rid of them.

The Bedroom

• Wash your sheets, blankets and pillowcases at least once a week. Use water with a temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Opt for linoleum or hardwood flooring instead of carpeting. If you really want to have carpet, low-pile carpeting is better than high-pile carpeting.
• Get rid of clutter, like knickknacks, books and tabletop ornaments. These only collect dust. Keep children's toys and stuffed animals inside plastic containers.
• Curtains made of synthetic fabric or plain cotton are great. Washable roller type shades are also better than horizontal blinds.

The Bathroom

• To reduce moisture when showering or taking a bath, have an exhaust fan installed.
• Wood or linoleum is better than carpeting. Make sure your rugs are washable.
• Towel-dry and enclose the bathtub after every use.
• Remove mold. Check and scrub away mold from faucets and the tub, as well as from plumbing fixtures. Clean or replace moldy bathmats or shower curtains.
• Repair leaks as soon as you discover them.
• Tiles or mold-resistant enamel paint are better than wallpaper.

The Living Room

• Wash your floor mats and area rugs properly.
• Furniture made with leather, plastic, metal or wood is better than upholstered types.
• During pollen season, close your windows and rely on air conditioning instead. Condensation and mold from sills and windowsills must also be removed.
• Avoid potted plant ornaments.

The Kitchen

• To remove cooking fumes and reduce moisture, install an exhaust fan in your kitchen.
• Wash your dishes daily.
• Remove food and mold from your sinks and faucets by scrubbing them a few times a week.
• Avoid mold growth by wiping up excessive moisture.
• Throw away out-of-date or moldy food from your refrigerator and kitchen surfaces. Place all food waste inside a lidded garbage can. Make sure you take out the trash every day.
• Clean your countertops and cabinets with water and detergent.

One last tip: clean your home regularly. Although people with allergies are discouraged from doing chores that might trigger their symptoms, cleaning is important to remove allergens. Just make sure you wear proper cleaning equipment, like a dust mask, old clothes and plastic gloves. By following the tips above, you'll end up with a comfortable and allergy-free home, sweet home. For more information regarding this article, read how to reduce allergens in your home.

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