When you have indoor allergies to dust, mold and pet dander, you come into contact with allergy irritants all year round.  This contact can be the highest in your bedroom, where you come to rest and rejuvenate, but may end up worsening allergy symptoms. The high levels of allergens found in your bedroom can affect your health, and the path to a healthier night’s sleep is through reducing your exposure to allergens and therefore preventing allergy symptoms.  While steps should be taken throughout the home to reduce allergens, start in the bedroom as you spend the most time here.   When you take these allergy relief steps, you’ll be on your way to a healthier home and a healthier night’s sleep.

Step 1:  Cover Your Pillow and Mattress in Dust Mite-Proof Allergy Encasings

Over 1 million dust mites can live in a single bed.  These dust mites love the dark, warm and humid environment found in any bedding, such as your pillows, mattress, box spring, comforter, blankets or linens.  You are allergic to dust mite allergens, which are the dust mites’ dead bodies and fecal particles.  You can protect yourself from the large source of allergens within the bed by using allergy-proof covers (or ‘allergy encasings’), which create a barrier between you and the allergens inside.  Certain allergy encasings may also protect against pet dander that has built up in the bed and are helpful if you have pet allergies.  The allergy encasings zip fully around your pillow or mattress, and the most recommended encasings, such as Allergy Control® encasings, are made from tightly woven fibers that are breathable, totally comfortable and easy to care for.  Scientific studies prove the effectiveness of including these allergy encasings on your bed, and by taking this simple step, you can make a lasting difference toward a healthier night’s sleep.

Step 2:  Wash Your Bedding Frequently

After including Allergy Control® encasings on the bed, it’s important to wash any other bedding, such as linens or blankets, frequently in hot water.  Physicians recommended washing every 1 to 2 weeks, as hot water washing removes the dust mite allergens from bedding that contribute to your allergy symptoms.  If you prefer not to wash in hot water, special allergen-removing laundry products such as Allersearch Allergen Wash or de-mite Laundry Additive can remove dust mite allergens in any temperature.

Step 3:  Clean Regularly to Reduce Allergen Levels

Regular cleaning of your bedroom and home will keep allergen levels lower.  Focus on the bedroom, following these 6 Steps for Allergy Relief and then use similar methods throughout the house.  Prioritize your efforts to those cleaning steps that are the most practical and beneficial for removing allergens.  An allergy sufferer should avoid being home when cleaning is done, or wear a face mask when others clean or when doing the cleaning.  A face mask similar to Allergy Zone face mask includes a center valve that filters allergen particles while allowing breath to flow comfortably for easy use while cleaning.

Step 4:  Remove or Treat Carpeting, the Second Largest Source of Dust Mite Allergens

Dust mites like to burrow into the fibers of the carpet, and as a result, the carpet is the second largest source of dust mite allergens after the bed.  Removing the carpet in favor of hardwood or tile floors is the best option.  If removing the carpet is not possible, clean the carpet with an allergy-related carpet treatment that is designed to kill dust mites or denature (meaning to ‘deactivate’) allergens.  Also remove heavy curtains in favor of light, washable versions or blinds, and select leather or wipe-able furniture over stuffed upholstered furniture.

Step 5: Filter Air with HEPA Air Cleaners, Air Filters and HEPA Vacuums to Remove Airborne Allergens

Allergens can circulate in the air in your home and using air filters and HEPA filtration products such as HEPA Air Cleaners and HEPA Vacuum Cleaners will trap these allergens to decrease the irritants that you may inhale.  Allergy-free® air filters in your central air/heat system will trap allergens from further circulating through the vents.  HEPA air cleaners and HEPA air purifiers will trap 99.97% of allergens down to 0.3 microns that flow through the HEPA filter.  HEPA air cleaners will trap dust, mold spores, pollens and more and are especially helpful for pet allergies as pet dander remains airborne for longer periods of time for improved filtration.

Step 6:  Dehumidify Air to Reduce Dust Mite and Mold Levels

Dust mites and molds thrive in humid environments.  Keeping humidity levels below 50% will decrease the growth of each, which will reduce the allergens in your home. Use air conditioners and dehumidifiers to keep levels ideally between 35 – 40%.    Monitor humidity levels with a gauge to make sure that you’re in the right zone, even in the winter when using a humidifier.