Tips to Allergy-Proof Your Home 

Dust mites, mould and pet dander are the most common allergens in our homes. A person allergic to dust, mould and dander could have symptoms such as itchy or tearing eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion and wheezing. It can be quite miserable to suffer these symptoms.

But breathe easy because there are ways to reduce the allergens in your home without resorting to complex or expensive methods right away. It may take just regular and proper cleaning as well as smart choice of furniture and furnishing to keep your allergies at bay.

Start with your bedroom
Your bedroom is where you spend one-third of your time each day so it is important to keep it as allergen-free as possible. Vacuum your bedroom at least twice a week. Damp-dust all surfaces with a dampened cloth to minimise dust flying around the room.

Change and wash the bedding once a week with hot water to kill dust mites and other allergens. Choose the right bedding to reduce dust mites and mould:

• Avoid fancy or woolly bedding.
• Stick to washable cotton or synthetic blankets and bedspreads.
• Avoid feather or foam pillows as they trap moisture and promote growth of dust mite and mould.
• Consider using hypoallergenic dust covers for the pillows, mattresses and box springs to protect against dust mites and mould antigens.

Other bedroom tips:

• Keep room as clutter-free as possible. It makes cleaning easy.
• Keep wool clothes in zipper plastic bags and store them in closed wardrobes.
• In general, keep your clothes in drawers or the wardrobe. Don’t leave them out or lying around as they can collect dust.
• If you have pets at home, do not allow them in the bedroom.

 Allergy-proofing the rest of the house

• Avoid upholstered furniture as it tends to trap dust mites and is harder to clean. If you must have upholstered furniture, make sure they can be removed for weekly washing.
• Avoid carpets and rugs at home. Replace it with hard flooring such as wood, tile and vinyl.
• Unfussy furniture with clean lines is the best as it accumulates less dust.
• Avoid open shelves such as bookcases as they collect dust. Stick to closed cabinets and cupboards.
• If you have pets at home, bathe them often and keep them in a room with as little dust-trapping surfaces as possible.
• Avoid indoor plants, as the soil is fertile ground for mould.
• Avoid Venetian blinds. Washable cotton curtains are a better bet.
• Limit stuffed toys for children with allergies. Select stuffed toys that can be machine-washed. Keep them in plastic bags when not in use.
• Use a dehumidifier to prevent mould growth. Clean the dehumidifier often.
• Clean the air-conditioning filter often, as this can be a breeding ground for dust mites and mould.

So keep the sneezing and wheezing at bay with these simple but effective allergy-proofing tips. It is also probably a good idea to get someone who does not suffer from allergies to do the cleaning and washing.