Cleaning Tips for People With Allergies

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Due to the growing rate of people having dust mite allergies per year, it has become a serious job for homeowners to find better tips and ways to remove allergens effectively inside of their homes.

In this article, we will tackle the common causes of allergies in households and we will be sharing some tips on how to clean your house effectively if you have allergies.

Dust mites

Dust mite particles are the top common cause of allergic reactions in households. They are the reason why we have dust mite allergy and pollen allergies.

Dust mites live almost anywhere but they are most likely to stay in your beddings, pillows, rugs, carpets, upholstered furniture, and even in your air conditioning unit.

To kill dust mites, you should wash your sheets and blankets in hot water.



Pet dander

Dander are tiny, skin flakes that your indoor pets shed from time to time. It is also one of the major reasons why people have pet allergies inside their homes. Because they are very small particles, they can stay long in the air even with low air flow.



Mould

Exposure to mould can sometimes trigger mould allergy symptoms. And it may even get worse when exposed to areas where there is moisture and relative humidity. Usually when a person breathes mould spores indoors, he/she may cough, have itchy eyes, runny nose, and shortness of breath.



Pests

Pests inside the house, particularly cockroaches, trigger allergy symptoms and even asthma symptoms. They can be exacerbated by cockroach saliva, dung, and shedding skin. When these allergens are kicked up in the air, they behave like dust mites and make symptoms worse for allergic people.

Dust mite allergy is a common allergic reaction that most people experience when they are exposed to dust mites. People who have dust mite allergies often experience:

• sneezing
• runny nose
• nasal congestion
• breathing with a wheezing sound
• itchy and watery eyes
• itchy throat and nose
• hay fever or pollen allergy
• coughing
• post nasal drip
• frequent rubbing of the nose
• swelling and pain in the face (cheeks, forehead, nasal passages)

If you also have asthma symptoms aside from dust mite allergy, you may also experience:

• difficulty breathing chest tightness
• shortness of breath

People with this type of allergy resort to instant allergy relief treatment like nasal corticosteroids, oral decongestants, and allergy shots to help them control symptoms. But just as these nasal sprays and medications are helpful, they may not always be effective especially if the environment hosts several other allergens.

Here are some of the best natural cleaners for instant allergy relief treatment.

If you are regularly cleaning your home, you might notice that some cleaning products do not actually help with your allergic rhinitis. In fact, they make your allergy symptoms worse because of the chemicals present in their ingredients.

If possible, choose products with the least chemical contents. Read through the labels and avoid those that may contain the following:

• Ammonia
• D-limonene
• Formaldehyde
• Sodium hypochlorite
• Sodium lauryl sulfate

Although these chemicals are effective in removing stains and filth, they may impose a serious risk to our health. When exposed for long hours, or worse, if these chemicals come in contact to the skin, you may experience irritation and even burns.

To avoid these situations, look for natural/ unscented cleaning products or do your own homemade cleaners using ingredients that you can find in your home such as vinegar, lemon, and baking soda.

Natural products are not only safe to us humans but also to our environment. You won't have to worry about having allergic reactions because they are completely safe to our immune system.



How to Keep the Home Clean for Anyone with Allergies

Remove clutter

Most dust mites live in objects and areas that easily trap dust. To avoid this, remove clutter from your house such as unused boxes, unfolded clothes, and piled books.

Dust buildup in your home is often a result of airflow. When you are not cleaning (moving) your things, you are decreasing air flow inside the house. Therefore, allowing dust to settle and pile up.



Remove your carpets

Carpets are an ultimate collector of dust. If you want to completely eliminate dust mites, you might also consider removing your carpets out of your home. No matter how much you vacuum your carpet, it will still trap dust mites. So might as well ditch it and switch to tiled floors.



Put on a mask when you clean

Dust particles are always present in the air and they actively move when you are cleaning your house. By wearing a dust mask, you are preventing yourself from inhaling dust mite allergens that could trigger an allergic reaction.



Wash rugs and cover mattresses

If you want to get rid of house dust mites, you should always wash sheets, rugs, pillow cases, and other encasings that easily traps dust mite in hot water.

Whenever possible, cover mattresses when not in use to keep dust mites away. Hypoallergenic mattresses are good at preventing mould growth and can also minimize dust mite allergens from moving around your bed.



Use a damp microfibre cloth

When wiping off dust from your furniture, appliances, and counters, use a damp microfibre cloth to keep the dust from moving around your home. Dust mites basically stick to damp cloth instead of floating back in the air.



Clean your bathroom regularly

Clean your bathroom regularly to prevent moulds from growing around your toilet, floors, and corners that are hard to reach. Mould growth can greatly trigger allergy symptoms so it is best to keep your bathroom dry at all times.

How often should you clean the house if you have allergies?

Whether you have a dust mite allergy or not, and you are living with pets lurking around your area, you should clean your house at least once a week to get rid of dust mite allergens.

Regularly wipe and clean your furniture and floors to prevent buildup of dust in your things. Make sure to use chemical-free and odourless cleaners to alleviate allergy symptoms caused by fragrance sensitivity.