Allergy-Proof Your Home Room by Room With These Pointers

Maintaining good indoor air quality is important for everyone, but it’s particularly crucial if you have asthma, allergies or other respiratory problems. Allergy-proof your home room by room with these pointers.

Bedroom and Living Room

• Textiles: Encase mattresses and pillows in hypoallergenic covers. Wash bedding and curtains often in hot water, and use synthetic textiles.
• Floor: Install hardwood and place a washable area rug on top. If you must have wall-to-wall carpeting, use a low-pile option and vacuum weekly.
• Furniture: Consider replacing upholstered chairs and sofas with easy-to-clean furnishings made of wood, metal, leather or plastic. Avoid displaying knick-knacks that collect dust and are difficult to clean.
• Air filtration: Keep the windows closed to keep allergens out during pollen season and run a portable air cleaner fitted with a HEPA filter, especially when you sleep.
• Pets: If you have a pet, it is best to keep it out of the sleeping area at all times. Or, plan on changing and washing the sheets more frequently.

Kitchen

• Ventilation: Install a vented exhaust fan that removes fumes and moisture from the space.
• Sink and refrigerator: Keep these areas clean to prevent mold growth.
• Counters and cabinetry: Clean these surfaces with warm water and mild detergent. Check under-sink cabinets frequently for leaks in the plumbing. Store all food in airtight containers.
• Food waste: Sweep up crumbs and empty the kitchen garbage nightly. A clean kitchen is less likely to harbor rodents and other pests.

Bathroom

• Ventilation: Run the exhaust fan when showering or bathing to reduce moisture.
• Floors and walls: Use hard surfaces, including tile or linoleum flooring and mold-resistant enamel paint on the walls.
• Tub and shower: Towel-dry the enclosure after each use. Replace moldy shower curtains and bath mats.
• Sink and toilet: Clean these often and scrub away mold. Repair leaks as soon as possible. The best way to implement these techniques to allergy-proof your home is to establish a weekly cleaning routine.

For more useful tips on how to allergy-proof your home, contact Sobieski Services, Inc. Our goal is to help educate our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC & plumbing systems).

Image Credit: marcusnelson