5 Ways To Allergy-Proof Your Home

If you, your partner or children have allergies, it's a good idea to make your home as allergy-proof as possible. While you have  limited control of allergens in the outside world, with a little effort your home can be a clean, healthy haven. These five tips will help you rid your home of common allergens:

No Shoes Allowed

People unwittingly track all sorts of things into their homes on the bottom of their shoes: dirt, pollen, dust, etc. In order to avoid bringing allergens into your home, institute a no shoes allowed policy.

Keep a shoe rack or other shoe storage by the door, and encourage everyone to get into the habit of removing their shoes as soon as they come home. It may feel strange at first, but it will soon become second nature. As an added benefit, without shoes being worn indoors it will be easier to keep your floors clean.

Bump Up Your Cleaning Routine

For an allergy-free home, cleanliness is key. Come up with a manageable but thorough weekly cleaning schedule, and feel free to include your family. By assigning weekly cleaning tasks to everyone, the work gets spread out and won't seem overwhelming. At a minimum, floors should be swept and mopped, bathrooms and kitchens should be scrubbed down, and furniture should be dusted each week.

Including your kids in your cleaning routine also teaches them responsibility, and might be a good basis for a weekly allowance or other reward. If you and your family are too busy to keep on top of the cleaning, consider hiring a cleaning company, especially one that uses non-toxic cleaning products. It's an additional household expense, but may be worth it if it saves you time, and helps prevent allergy symptoms.

Invest in an Air Purifier

According to Health.com, air purifiers can help eliminate dust, pollen and more from the air. Air purifiers come in a variety of sizes and price points, from small portable filters that only work in a small area, to system-wide household air filters. HEPA filters are especially efficient at removing allergens from the air, though they can be a bit more pricy and their filters need to be changed on a regular basis. If your children are the ones with allergies, an individual air purifier in each of their bedrooms may be an affordable option.

Nix Heavy Drapes and Carpets

Now might be the time to redecorate. Heavy drapes are hard to keep clean and can easily harbor dust and other allergens in their folds. The same goes for carpet, which is simply not as easy to keep clean as hardwood floors or tile.

If you're shopping for a new home or considering redecorating or remodeling, try to incorporate allergy-proofing into your plans. Wood blinds or light, flowy curtains, and wood or tile floors are your best bets for an allergy-free home.

Ensure a Mold-Free Bathroom

The best way to deal with mold in the bathroom is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Making sure that your bathroom is well-ventilated, including a fan in good working order and ideally an open window to let in fresh air, is key.

Buying a simple bathroom squeegee and getting in the habit of using it after every shower helps prevent mold from growing in the shower. Another culprit behind mold is leaky pipes and toilets, so be sure to call a plumber right away if you notice any problems. Look for bathroom cleaning products with mold-killing powers, just to be on the safe side.

By following these tips, you can help keep your house free of allergens and irritants, and your family healthy and happy. Get more information on allergy treatment services from a local provider or treatment company.