If you find yourself sneezing and wheezing in your own home, you may have allergies to dust mites, mold, and other commonly used products that are hanging around your house. If you have pets, kids tracking in and out, or just keep your windows open, dust happens. What can an allergic person do?

Decorating Tips

When it comes to allergies, the minimalist approach is best. Carpet holds on to dust mites, mold spores, pet dander, and residues that blow through the house. If you can avoid carpet, that would be best. If not, choose low pile carpet. Carpet makers use formaldehyde as part of the manufacturing process. Some carpets can give off fumes of formaldehyde for years. There are special carpets that you can buy that give off fewer fumes. Keep counter tops and surfaces free of clutter. Use shades instead of blinds, because blinds and heavy curtains really hold on to dust.

Clean, Clean, Clean

It is important to keep your house clean and to do it on a regular schedule. If you are the allergic person, it would be best to have someone else do the cleaning. If you can’t do that, then here are some tips:

• Use a dust mask while you do your chores, as cleaning will stir up the existing dust.

• Use plastic gloves

• Wear old clothes that you can clean immediately after you are done.

For cleaning:

• Use a damp cloth for dusting
• You might want to invest in a High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance (HEPA) vacuum cleaner. These vacuums trap the dust and allergens and don’t release them back into the air.
• If you have carpets, you need to vacuum them almost daily.
• Keep your air filters in the house clean.
• Some heating and air conditioning systems allow for HEPA filter installation
• If that is not possible there are free standing HEPA filters that can be purchased.
• Wash your linens in hot water.
• Wash the mattress pads and blankets every 2 to 4 weeks.

Beware of the bathroom

The bathroom can look clean and shiny, but may hold a host of molds, dusts and chemicals that can cause problems. These are places you should look:

• Beware of mold growing under wallpaper.
• Keep the fan going while showering to keep the moisture level down.
• If you have shower curtains, wash them every month.
• Check out the toothbrush holder. There is often gross mold at the bottom.
• Wash bath towels regularly in hot water.
• Beware of allergens in your cleaning products

You may not realize that common products we use such as shampoo, bubble baths, some deodorants, and skin cleaners can contain formaldehyde. If you are a sensitive person, look at the ingredients. They will either say there is formaldehyde of they will have preservatives that release it and these are called quaternium 15, imidazolidine urea, and diazolidinyl urea.

These are just a few tips and ideas to avoid household allergens. If you are a person with severe household allergies, you might want to talk to your doctor about other ways that you can keep yourself allergy free!