Top 7 Cleaning Tips for Families with Allergies

By Nisha Baheti|3 - 4 mins read| October 28, 2024

While living with allergies yourself feels overwhelming, it gets worse when you have a family with allergies to look after. From kids dragging in dirt to dust mites in the corners—it's indeed a lot. And the endless sneezes too can’t be missed. But the good news is—you don't necessarily need to lock your entire house down. With some cleaning tips, you can easily make your home safe from allergens.

Most helpful cleaning tips to make your home safe for allergy sufferers

Read this article to explore some of the most helpful cleaning tips to make your home safe for allergy sufferers. 

Switch to Hard Floors

Carpets are nothing less than magnets for dust, pet dander, and pollen. For families with allergies, carpets are indeed a disaster recipe. Instead, switch to hard flooring options such as wood, tile, or laminate, which are much easier to clean and don’t trap allergens. However, in case you can’t refuse the cozy rugs, it's best to pick the low-pile ones while ensuring regular vacuuming. This is because regular cleaning of carpets can reduce allergen buildup by 80%, making your air much cleaner to breathe.

Use Hypoallergenic Bedding

Beds can have dust mites, which are one of the most common forms of allergies. In such a situation, hypoallergenic pillow covers and mattress protectors can be a game changer. You can even wash bedding in hot water once a week to kill dust mites and other allergens. This little change can significantly help reduce exposure to allergens for better sleep and fewer allergy attacks.

Look For A High-Quality HEPA Vacuum

Not all vacuum cleaners are equal, especially if you have allergies. A vacuum with a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter can trap even the tiniest particles, removing almost 99.97% of allergens like dust and pollen from floors and furniture. This single step alone can reduce household allergens by up to 50%, according to experts.

Declutter Up The Space

The fact is, the more clutter, the more places for allergens to build up. Certainly, the kids have a habit of leaving theory books and toys everywhere; however, reducing clutter can help limit dust buildup. You can look for storage solutions such as bins and shelves to ensure the surface remains clear.

Check Humidity

Did you know that according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, mold can trigger asthma and allergic reactions? Allergens, especially mold and dust mites, especially multiply in humid conditions. Therefore, it is important to ensure the humidity levels in your home are between 30 and 50 percent to reduce their presence. If you live in a humid area, installing a dehumidifier and ventilating bathrooms and kitchens can be an excellent choice when it comes to avoiding mold growth.

Go For Natural Cleaning Products

Cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals irritate sensitive noses and trigger allergies. Therefore, we recommend switching to natural cleaning products, free of synthetic fragrances and dyes, to ensure you’re not adding any new irritants into the environment. Did you know that ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice can actually do the magic?

Wash Stuffed Toys Regularly 

While stuffed toys might appear cute, they are loaded with dust mites, which can be dangerous if you have young kids who love to snuggle their favorite toys. And this can actually trigger allergies in kids. Therefore, it is recommended to regularly wash the stuffed toys in hot water. The fun fact: according to a study, freezing stuffed animals for 24 hours can also kill dust mites.

Takeaway

From taking simple steps to reducing exposure to allergens to adopting hypoallergenic bedding and HEPA vacuums, creating an allergen-free home is not a distant dream anymore. With a few clever tips, you can significantly reduce allergy triggers, leading to fewer sniffles, sneezes, and watery eyes. After all, a clean home is a happy home.


TheParentZ provides Parenting Tips & Advice to parents.

Written by Nisha Baheti

Last Updated: Mon Oct 28 2024

This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the above blog/article text are the personal views of the author, and not necessarily reflect the views of The ParentZ. Any omission or errors are the author's and we do not assume any liability or responsibility for them.

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