How to Get Rid of Allergens in Your Home

Wednesday, October 13, 2010 by: Maddie Ellison
Tags: allergens, home, health news

(NewsTarget) Fall is officially here and for many that means time to grab the allergy medicine. Allergens are all around us but when they're in our home they are especially bad. Thankfully there are several things you can do to get rid of them without having to take medicines with many harmful side effects.

One of the first things you need to do to get rid of allergens in your home is to de-clutter. When there are things piled up here and there allergens will also pile up. Recycle old newspapers, keep your trash emptied and clean up. You'll be surprised how much dust is hiding underneath all the clutter that is on your counters and tables, not to mention all the dust that collects on the clutter.

When you're finished de-cluttering it's time to tackle the carpet. Dust mites and pet dander love to live in your carpet. You should vacuum at least once a week. Ideally your vacuum cleaner should have a HEPA filter in it to trap any tiny particle. If you have major allergies you may want to get rid of the carpet all together. Allergy sufferers do much better with hard floors. Purchase floors that are made of natural products that don't contain harmful chemical glues. These glues can irritate allergies and cause other health problems.

Next tackle your bedroom. Once your bedroom is de-cluttered, dusted and vacuumed wash your sheets and blankets. Wash them in warm/hot water to kill all the dust mites. Also vacuum your mattress to suck up the ones that are living there.

Houseplants can cause allergy problems by harboring mold on their leaves. Inspect your houseplants for mold. If you see any moldy leaves remove them immediately. To reduce mold on your house plants don't allow any water to sit in the pot's tray.

It's so nice to have your windows open in the fall but if you're allergic to ragweed pollen or other outdoor allergens make sure to keep your doors and windows closed during peak pollen hours of the day, which is 10am to 3pm. Also make sure to change your air conditioning filters monthly.

Even though these tips won't completely stop you from having allergy problems in the fall it will make living in your home more comfortable. You'll be rubbing your eyes and sneezing a lot less if you keep your house clean, keep your home closed up during peak allergy hours and inspect your houseplants for mold.

References
http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/household/...
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/allergy/HQ0...
http://gomestic.com/homemaking/rid-your-home...

About the author

Maddie is a health and fitness enthusiast who likes to research and write about all health and green living topics. She writes about herbal remedies for Sassafras Station, a health and fitness website, and edits the blog at http://www.sassafrasstation.com/blog/ .