Mold, animal dander, dust mite excrement and other substances can cause unpleasant allergic reactions. If you suffer from indoor allergies, limiting your exposure to allergens may reduce symptoms like a runny nose and difficulty breathing. Products designed to effectively reduce allergens in the home may also help in reducing allergy symptoms. Talk to your health professional about the best and latest products to decrease the allergens in your home.
Mattress Cover
The tiny dust mite presents the most common trigger of allergies and asthma symptoms in the home, according to information provided by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Dust mites thrive in bedding and soft furniture like a sofa. Consider using products to encase your mattress, box springs and pillows as an essential preventive measure to reduce allergens. To cover your upholstered furniture, use special allergen-proof fabric covers and airtight, zippered plastic covers.
Portable Room Air Cleaner
Ionizing portable air cleaners are popular but controversial, according to an analysis of the pros and cons of air filters and air cleaners conducted by the Department of Pediatrics in the Section of Allergy and Immunology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. Capable of being moved from room to room, these air filtering devices focus on "source control strategies" of indoor air quality and include products such as ionizer air cleaners or purifiers, HEPA room air cleaners and room air cleaners featuring disposable or washable filters. The disadvantage of these devices, as reported in the February 2010 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Immunology" is an established increased risk for asthma symptoms.
HEPA Vacuum
Reduce the allergens embedded in your home carpets with a HEPA vacuum. A HEPA vacuum offers a substantially more effective option to dry steam cleaning for reducing allergens in carpets according to a study conducted by the Exposure Science Division at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute in Piscataway, New Jersey. A HEPA vacuum features a high efficiency particulate air filter with the ability to remove smaller particles than a regular vacuum filter. The results of the study, reported in the January 2009 issue of the "Journal of Environmental Monitoring", found in comparison to a HEPA vacuum, dry steam cleaning only modestly adds to cleaning effectiveness.
Hypo-Allergenic Fiberfill Pillows
Remove pillows made of natural materials to combat dust mite allergies. Sleep with hypo-allergenic fiberfill pillows made with synthetic materials to reduce allergy symptoms, according to information provided by the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida. It recommends washing pillows or putting them through a cycle in the clothes dryer every couple of weeks or so and replacing them at least every two years.
