According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology – Acaai.org, asthma affects more than 17 million adults and more than 7 million children in the United States. Allergies are the 6th. Leading cause of chronic illness in the United States with a cost that exceeds $18 billion every year, and there are more than 50 million Americans that suffer from allergies every year.
Spring is a nice season for most of us, but for allergy sufferers, it is a season of tremendous discomfort and pain. The sneezing, wheezing, itchy eyes, runny nose that pollen brings to allergy sufferers is tremendous. Preparing your family for this allergy season begins with you. Keeping a home free of mold and allergens, can provide the clean air that your family needs this allergy season.
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10 Steps to Control Allergens in Your Home
Allergens such as mold, dust and pollen will always be present in your home but there are steps that you can take to get them under control. These 10 easy tips will help reduce allergens in your home as well as your exposure to them. Try three or four or implement all ten. You’ll see a difference in the health, and happiness, in your home.
- Use the bathroom fan Mold and mildew, shown here growing on the underside of a roof, can be a major source of household allergies.The bathroom can be the most humid place in the home because showers and baths produce steam. Excess moisture plus heat causes mold. If you don’t have a fan make sure that your bathroom is well ventilated by leaving the door open or cracking a window.
- Stay organized
Keep your home and closets organized. Clutter collects dust and dust contains allergens. Stacks of magazines and knick-knacks are some of the worst offenders for trapping hidden and unwanted dust.
How to Allergy-Proof Your Home
Use the right products in the right way to prevent sneezing and wheezing during pollen season and beyond.
The simplest way to keep allergy symptoms at bay? Avoid exposure to the substances that provoke your sneezing, wheezing, and itchiness. But how? We looked at the research, spoke to leading experts, and reviewed our own product tests to determine what can help and what to skip when you’re trying to allergy-proof your home. Read on to find out which of the five following strategies really work.
Anti-Allergy Bedding
Swathing mattresses, box springs, and pillows in allergen-impermeable covers can entrap dust mites and animal dander as long as you use covers that are made from woven fabrics, according to research studies. Non-woven covers are less durable and won’t protect you from dust mites long-term. Plus, their dimpled surface can allow a variety of allergens to collect there. So before you buy, check product labels for a fabric pore size (the size of openings in the weave) no greater than 6 micrometers or microns, and for words such as “woven fabric.”
Are you allergic to your home?
Homes are places of comfort, security and rejuvenation. But what happens when your home makes you sick (literally!)? When not cared for correctly, homes can become the very reason you fall ill and stress levels will skyrocket. One obvious reason for this is the hidden allergens in your home. Common symptoms of allergies include wheezing, rash, watery eyes, swollen eyelids, itchy throat, runny nose, coughing, redness of the eye and itchy eyes.
Does your home have these allergens?
Dust
Dust is the most common culprit behind most allergies. If not cleaned regularly, dust mites and cobwebs can trigger respiratory problems. The best way to tackle dust is to set up a daily cleaning routine. Perhaps, investing in a good vacuum cleaner can help. Using microfiber clothes, brooms and mops for cleaning can also help.
