Your home is your castle - except when you're allergic to it! We've come up with ways to allergy-proof your house.
Removing irritants from your home is a much more effective way to stop your stuffy nose, headache, itchy eyes and all the rest. The most common culprits are usually dust mites, mould and pet hair. Clear the air in your home room by room with these handy tips.
1. Living room
The family room should be a space where you can relax and enjoy time with your family. But allergens usually find a way to sneak into your furniture and flooring. Dust mites can find their way into furniture which can trigger asthma symptoms.
You should vacuum your sofa and curtains once a week, use washable (removable) covers on your couch and wash on a hot wash often. Keep pets off the furniture and try to avoid carpeting where moisture can sometimes get trapped. One of the things people forget is to make sure your vacuum itself is clean and not just distributing dust from one area to another. For maximum hygiene, we love the PowerProtect filter bags from the Bosch range - they filter 99.9% of fine dust particles and lock them in to help with an even cleaner disposal.
2. Bedroom
Your bedroom is your haven. But many people don't realise that snuggling with your little fluffy pet can lead to all sorts of nasties lurking under your bed and beyond. Pets can, unfortunately, leave hairs behind or dander (little flakes from their coats) and can bring in pollen from the outdoors which can really be a headache (literally) to get rid of. Use special allergy-free mattress and pillows if you can. Wash your sheets on a hot wash regularly, never allow your pets onto beds (booo!) and replace your pillows every few years. Don't forget to get into all the corners of your bedroom and into the bottom of that wardrobe when you are cleaning. If you are particularly susceptible to irritants, allergy-proof your bedroom using a bagless vacuum like this one that is suitable for allergy sufferers.
3. Bathroom
Those nasties LOVE warm damp environments like the bathroom. Mould is the thing to watch out for here. Many people don't think to look under the bathroom sink as well as between the grouting between your tiles. Fix leaky pipes as they arise. Use the vent when showering to keep the air circulating to reduce moisture in the air and try to use washable floor mats. Do mop regularly too to remove any puddles of water that may form.
4. Kitchen
This is another surprisingly damp place that you have to stay on top of when it comes to allergens in your house. Areas with water, food and dark cupboards are dangerous for little critters -ants or mites. Store food in airtight containers. Always wipe down surfaces of any crumbs or spills immediately. Make sure you dry it too as moisture can lead to mould. If you have anyone in the house with asthma, you should avoid any spray cleaners with strong chemicals. Make sure you have your bins covered, especially if you keep them in the kitchen and regularly vacuum your lower presses and the corners of your kitchen units to get rid of any unwanted dust or spilt food that can collect in the corners.
It is a pain, but it is important to keep on top of surfaces and floors in your house and to vacuum often with a good vacuum to reduce house dust overall. You will thank us later!
