5 Sources of Allergens Found in the Bedroom
When you have allergies, it sure can be a sure source of pain, misery, and overall ill-will towards the world. While people expect allergies related to things outside the home, they are often surprised by the number of things inside the home that can trigger allergy attacks and cause persistent upper respiratory problems, like these common allergens you may have in your bedroom.
1) Bedding
Allergies run deep when it comes to bedding. Some mattresses are magnets dust mites, dead skin cells, mold, and more. Washing your bedding weekly helps, as does choosing mattresses that are unattractive to dust mites, such as natural latex mattresses.
2) Carpeting
Carpets trap mold, pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and more. All of these things can trigger allergy attacks among large segments of the population. Consider opting for hard surface flooring. Otherwise, vacuum frequently and have regular carpet cleaning services to draw out these allergens.
3) Window Treatments
Believe it or not, heavy drapes and blinds are notorious for trapping dirt, dust, and other detritus – all of which are known to trigger allergies in adults and children alike. Opt for light breezy window treatments instead and clean window sills routinely to remove dust and other debris.
4) Pets
It’s the whole kit and caboodle when it comes to pets and allergies. Pet dander is a common allergen for people of all ages. Unfortunately, many pet owners want to have their pets sleeping in their rooms with them – even if not in the same bed. Pet bedding, like the pets themselves, is full of pet dander which is a definite source of sinus pain and allergies for many. It’s time to banish Fido, or Felix, and his bedding, to another room.
5) Shoes
The shoes themselves are rarely the problem. It’s the things they track into your bedroom that are. Pollen, mildew, mold, and countless other odds and ends come into your home, and your bedroom, on the soles of your shoes. Invest in a heavy duty mat for your door and practice wiping feet well before entering the home. Then, consider leaving shoes stacked neatly by the door and moving throughout your home sans shoes – or having shoes designated for in house use alone.
Finally, investing in a whole house fan is a great way to improve the ventilation in your home – along with expelling the hot air that gathers in your attic during the heat of the day. It operates with open windows and helps to draw out all the impurities that are otherwise trapped in your home and release them into the air outside leaving fresh, clean air, that is absent of many trapped allergens, behind.