What steps can you take today to breathe better tomorrow? Start by focusing on your bedroom, where you probably spend the longest unbroken stretches of time each day. From limiting animal dander to blocking the dust mites that thrive in your warm, humid bed, you can work toward an allergy-proof bedroom. Here’s what to do:

• Launder bedding weekly. Wash it all in hot water (at least 130° F) or stick it in the dryer and run on high to help eliminate dust mites. Include sheets, pillowcases, mattress pads, covers, and blankets.
• Encase bedding. Protect the bed from dust mites by placing anti-allergen encasements over pillows, mattresses, box springs, and duvets. Use hypoallergenic blankets that can be washed in hot water, and get rid of dust ruffles and bed skirts, an allergen haven.
• Clean and cover heating and air-conditioning vents. Remove dust and other allergens by wiping registers with vent cloths and installing H.E.L.P.A. (High Efficiency Low Pressure Aircleaner) filters on heating and air-conditioning systems.
• Remove carpeting. If possible, replace wall-to-wall carpeting with throw rugs that can be washed often in hot water. Short of that, be sure to vacuum often, preferably with a vacuum cleaner that traps dust rather than spews it back into the air.
• Avoid upholstered furniture. Decorate your bedroom with wooden chairs and other furniture that has surfaces you can wipe clean with nontoxic, nonirritating cleaning products.
• Keep humidity levels low. Monitor your bedroom’s humidity level with a humidity gauge. Keep levels below 50%. Run a dehumidifier or air conditioner to remove excess moisture from the air. You can also leave a light on in the closet to put a damper on mold, which grows best in moist, dark places.
• Remove heavy drapes and blinds. Try window shades instead of blinds, which are little more than a set of surfaces that collect dust. Drapes should be lightweight and washable in hot water. Wipe windowsills weekly to get rid of dust, mold, and pollen.
• Run a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) air purifier. This type of air cleaner removes up to 99.97% of airborne particles such as dust, animal dander, mold spores, pollens, and other indoor pollutants. For maximum effect, keep doors and windows shut when the air purifier is on.
• Vacuum often. Use vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters or with vacuum bags that seal in the dust, to keep floors clean without spreading dust (and a host of other allergens) into the air.
• Wear a protective mask when you dust your home. By wearing a mask, you can filter out airborne allergens that may trigger allergic reactions.
• Say good-bye to “dust collectors.” Remove knickknacks and wall hangings. Replace nonwashable stuffed toys with hypoallergenic toys that are machine washable in hot water.
• Clean your bedroom once a week. Wipe surfaces with nontoxic cleaning products. Clean with cloths and tools that trap dust instead of releasing it back into the air. After cleaning, close the bedroom door and stay out for one hour.
• Keep pets out of the bedroom. Animal dander can trigger allergies. The best way to prevent the problem in the bedroom is to keep your pets out. If that’s not possible, bathe pets once a week in dander-reducing products and brush them regularly. Get the help of someone who’s not allergic to dander when grooming pets.

This entry was posted on Monday, September 3rd, 2007 at 8:15 am and is filed under Healthy Breathing. 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.