Allergy Control - some useful tips

Studies have shown that if these measures are put into practice, it is possible to reduce or even prevent certain symptoms of dust mite, mould or animal dander allergies. You will find that many of these tips are common sense but some are not so obvious, so use the information below as a checklist and always discuss the best course of action with your doctor. The most important rooms to deal with are the bedroom and family room, were most time is spent and where dust levels are usually high.

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...General Measures

...In the Bedroom

...Avoiding moulds - outdoors

...Avoiding moulds - indoors

...Avoiding animal allergens

• Use an efficient, powerful vacuum cleaner regularly

 

• Fit a HEPA filter to the vacuum cleaner if one is not already fitted

 

• Keep carpets, soft furnishings and toys to a minimum and use an anti-house dust mite treatment on what has to stay

 

• Avoid using heavy fabric curtains and Venetian blinds

 

• Use roller blinds if possible

 

• Relative humidity should be kept as low as possible

 

• Keep clothes in a closed cupboard

 

• Use a damp cloth or a dust-attracting cloth when cleaning

 

• Use wooden or plastic furniture rather than upholstered furniture, wherever possible

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 • Wear a dust mask when making beds, cleaning or dustingreact.

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• Encase mattresses, pillows and duvets with allergy barrier covers

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• Avoid using bunk beds without allergy barrier covers

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• Avoid using feather filled pillows and duvets, especially if dust covers are not fitted

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• Use manmade fibre pillows and duvets that can be hot washed at 60°C or cold washed with an anti-dust mite solution

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• Avoid woollen blankets – use manmade fibres instead

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• Hot wash bedding (or cold wash with an anti-dust mite solution) and change it regularly

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• Keep animals out of bedrooms at all time

• Don’t spend time in buildings where hay or grain is stored

 

• Don’t go into buildings that are obviously damp and musty

 

• Avoid cutting grass, raking leaves, turning compost heaps

 

• Avoid walking near fields during grain harvesting

 

• Keep well away from piles of rotting leaves and wood

 

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...Continue with the other rooms

10. use an efficient, powerful HEPA vacuum cleaner regularly

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11. keep carpets, soft furnishings and soft toys to a minimum and use an anti house dust mite treatment on what has to stay.

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12. avoid heavy curtains and Venetian blinds. Wipeable blinds are better.

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13. keep clothes and other fabrics in cupboards, drawers or sealed bags.

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14. use a damp or dust attracting cloth when cleaning.

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15. use wooden or plastic furniture wherever possible.

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16. wear a dust mask when making the bed, cleaning or dusting or emptying a bagless vacuum cleaner.

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17. keep humidity below 50% to prevent dust mite growth completely. Any decrease in humidity will suppress dust mite activity and allergen production.

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