If you’re allergic to pollen, you probably try to stay indoors in the morning when pollen counts are highest. But exactly how allergen-free is your home? Thanks to poor ventilation, dust-catching window shades or bedding, and certain household chemicals and cleaners, many indoor areas can be just as allergy-provoking as a morning walk at the height of hay fever season. Here’s a list of the most common indoor allergens, and what you can do to eliminate them from your home.

Dust mites

Dust mites are nearly everywhere in the home. They thrive in warm humid places, especially pillows, mattresses, and carpets. They feed on human skin cells, which we shed constantly. If you’re allergic to the dust mites themselves, you’re also allergic to their waste products, which get stirred up when you walk on your carpet or sit on your upholstered furniture.

Since they reproduce every three weeks, dust mites are virtually impossible to eliminate. But by controlling their populations, you can greatly reduce your exposure to this common allergen. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, you can mite-proof your home by taking these steps:

• Vacuum all carpeted areas in your home at least once a week. If possible, remove wall-to-wall carpeting, which can be hard to clean thoroughly.
• Avoid upholstered furniture, which can harbor dust mites.
• Install an allergen filter for the central air system in your home.
• Encase pillows and mattresses in mite-proof bedding.
• Store shoes and out-of-season clothing in plastic covers, which can be dusted easily.

Also follow these basic housekeeping tips:

• Mites hate hot water. To reduce their numbers, wash your bedding, throw rugs, and washable curtains and shades in hot water (over 130° F) once a week, or as often as you can.
• Dust and mop weekly. Don’t forget your closets.
• Change furnace or air conditioning filters monthly.

Molds

Microscopic mold spores can cause allergic reactions when inhaled. Molds love damp, dark places such as basements, bathrooms (especially the shower), garbage cans, refrigerators, laundry rooms, and even houseplants. The best way to reduce the mold spore population in your home is to attack its habitat. Keep traditionally damp areas (bathrooms, the basement, and the kitchen) as clean and dry as possible. Clean with a 5% bleach solution (about a cup of bleach dissolved in a gallon of water) to kill mold and mildew in bathrooms and kitchens. If possible, install exhaust fans to help dry these areas.

Animal allergen

About 45% of American households count at least one pet as a member of the family. This makes animal dander (the flakes of dead skin) one of the most common indoor allergens. Dander can linger in household air, carpets, and furniture for a period of weeks and sometimes months. Your pet’s saliva and urine may also trigger animal allergies. If possible, keep pets from roaming indoors, especially in the bedroom. Bathe and brush furry pets regularly to reduce animal dander.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches and their waste can also cause allergic symptoms. The sooner you rid your home of cockroach infestation the better. The allergenic proteins from cockroaches can survive for weeks to months, even in an area where the cockroaches themselves have been eliminated. If you’ve got cockroaches hiding in your home, look into nontoxic options for exterminating them.

Chemical irritants

Many people experience allergy-like symptoms following exposure to the household chemicals found in paints, plastics, and carpeting. Avoid these chemicals if possible (non-allergenic or hypoallergenic products can help reduce your symptoms). When avoidance is impossible, use and store harsh chemicals in a well-ventilated area.

Strong odors and fumes

Strong-smelling perfumes and colognes, air fresheners, and cleaning agents can trigger allergic reactions in some people. You can keep these products at low levels through proper ventilation. When choosing household cleaning products, opt for a fragrance-free alternative whenever you can.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 8th, 2007 at 8:52 am and is filed under Environment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.