by Amy Ulekowski

Created on: July 18, 2008

Avoiding and reducing allergens in your home can be achieved in many ways. Dust and dust mites are a huge allergen in homes. Many people are allergic to dust and/or dust mites. There are many ways to reduce the dust and dust mites in your house. Start off with vacuuming your house several times a week (use a vacuum with an air filter) and dusting with a rag and cleaner. Vacuuming and dusting are probably one of the number one ways to reduce the dust and dust mites. Do not use a feather duster; this will only disperse the dust back into the air. Ceiling fan collects lots of dust, so make sure to dust them often with a wet cloth. If your allergies against dust mites are severe you might want to look into purchasing a special powder that is sprinkled onto your carpet (then vacuum the powder). Dust mites love areas that they can "make a home". Here are some suggestions on reducing the number of places that these little critters can call home. Adding plastic covers to your mattress and pillows reduces dust mites from making a home in your sleeping area. When shopping for the plastic mattress and pillow covers look for a soft plastic that does not crackle, a crackling mattress and pillow cover will only end up disturbing your sleep. Make sure to run comforters, quilts, blankets, and sheets (any type of bedding) either through the washing machine or at least run them through the dryer often to remove dust and dust mites. Also, if possible remove the carpet and rugs in your home, especially in areas where you are the most, such as bedrooms and living areas. Lay down tile, wood floors, or laminate (any type of hard surface) in those areas. If you have cloth sofas or chairs consider replacing them with leather sofas and chairs. If you are not able to replace your cloth furniture, then try using a product that is an allergen reducer. For example, Febreze has an Allergen Reducer spray that you can use on your furniture. You can also shampoo your carpeted areas with an allergen reducer cleaner. Having an air filter in your house can make a huge difference in your air quality. An air filter will remove dust, pollens, and most allergens. Place stand alone air filters in rooms that are used most (Bedrooms and Living Areas). Make sure to replace your air conditioners air filter often. When replacing the filter look for filters that reduce allergens. By following some or all of these tips will help improve your allergies, especially against dust and dust mites.

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