There are all kinds of places for allergens to hide in your home, but the right housecleaning methods can help you locate and remove these irritants. Try these these six tips for minimizing the allergens in your home:
- Cover and clean your bedding. You can purchase allergy bedding to cover your mattress and pillows. Wash your bedding in hot water once a week and vacuum mattresses once a month. Pillows can collect a lot of dust mites, so they should be replaced every two years.
- Deep clean your carpets. Allergens easily become trapped in carpeting, but thorough cleaning can help to remove them. Try to avoid soaps and detergents, as they can take a long time to dry and become hospitable to molds.
- Dust with a microfiber cloth. Microfiber traps more dust than a regular rag, and can reach deeper into cracks. You can also avoid cleaning with irritating chemicals by simply using a damp microfiber cloth.
- Trap allergens in entryways. Take off your shoes in the entrance, and leave a mat outside the door to intercept the allergens from your shoes before they can enter the house. Mats or area rugs right inside the door will do the same thing, and can be cleaned more easily than wall to wall carpeting.
- Vacuum your floors frequently. Vacuum twice a week. A HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter will trap dust and help to avoid spreading it through the air again. Don't sweep, as this can also redistribute allergens.
- Wipe down your shower. Try to avoid mold growth by wiping condensation from the walls with a towel or microfiber cloth after you shower. Leave the shower curtain open and the door ajar to maximize air flow.
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