Tips on Fighting Allergens

Pet owners, either at home or when they visit friends, may have animal dander on their clothes. When they visit they can leave that dander behind on upholstered furniture.
Solution: vacuum couches and padded chairs with a HEPA filter, which traps tiny particles so they can’t escape the dust bag.

In the bedroom, dust collects on books and other items on shelves, including photographs and mementos.
Solution: Keep shelves of all kinds away from the bed and place trinkets behind glass doors so they can’t collect dust.

Bed pillows contain dust mites from body warmth and humidity, no matter the type of stuffing.
Solution: Purchase new pillows annually or use allergy-proof pillow covers that are washed once or twice a month in hot water.

Dust mites and mold thrive in the trapped moisture in a bath mat.
Solution: Purchase a washable mat and clean it weekly as well as hanging it up to dry after each use. If possible open a window or run a fan.

Moisture, crumbs and spills can build up in the crevices of the refrigerator door and encourage mold to grow there.
Solution: Wipe the seal with a mixture of mold-zapping bleach and water weekly; use a cotton swab to get into the grooves to clean thoroughly.

Steam from pots and pans can settle in walls, ceilings, cupboard doors, upper shelves and areas behind large appliances causing mold to build up.
Solution: Run the exhaust fan to vent cooking steam and if mold does appear, eliminate it with a solution of bleach and water.

Do you know of any other tips to help keep allergens at bay?