An allergy-free home: tips to combat the main culprits of domestic allergies

According to the Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC), 33% of Spaniards have some allergy and of these approximately half (about 8 million people) are at pollens of the plants. The Mites They are the next lucky ones on the allergy list. That is why it is so important to protect and care for your home properly so that it becomes a true anti-allergy fortress.

The ventilation and the cleaning They are your best weapons to combat those mainly responsible for domestic allergies. Follow these steps and you will have a healthy home that will take care of you.

Care to free your house from allergies

Open or close windows?

It depends on the time of year, the time of day and the type of allergy we want to avoid. The norm is to ventilate the house during 15 minutes daily. Doing so regulates humidity, oxygenates and renews stale indoor air. Therefore, it is advisable to ventilate daily, both in winter (avoids condensation) and in summer (helps cool).

The ideal is to create cross ventilation. But be careful if you have a pollen allergy: on days when pollen concentration levels are high (you can find out more at www.polenes.com) do it after 10 in the morning. From 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., pollen levels are usually highest, so don’t open the windows.

The Furniture

Animals: not all are the same

In general, the fur animals short are less allergenic and dogs less than cats. Short-haired breeds include Sphynx and Devonrex cats and Terrier or Schnauzer dogs. The exception is Siberian and Balinese cats.

Mites: combat the origin of allergies

1. Prevent

The ambient temperature should be less than 25°C and the humidity less than 55%. One has to prevent dust from accumulating on fabrics: sofas, curtains, rugs, beds… And don’t forget to thoroughly clean the most difficult areas where dust and dirt accumulate.

2. Act

To combat mites, vacuum cleaners with high-efficiency HEPA filter bags (high-efficiency particle traps) that purify the air while vacuuming are advisable.

3. Delete

To eradicate mites, the laundry must reach 60°C. The alternative to eliminate them is to rinse several times at 30 °C or freeze the clothes.

Hygiene without excesses and contact with nature

Hygiene theory argues that children who have contact with bacteria, in small doses, are more immune. Too much hygiene may be one of the reasons why more and more people have allergies. The immune system needs to be in contact with bacteria and allergens to develop well. In fact, children who grow up in contact with plants, soil and animals suffer fewer allergies as adults.

use the bell

Whenever you cook. You can even start it a few minutes before and leave it for a few more minutes after cooking: in addition to sucking in fumes and odors, it will also absorb dust particles and other allergens that are suspended in the air. So don’t be lazy to use it! If you have a silent model (less than 60 dB) you won’t even notice it.

The Furniture

Impeccable Cleanliness

The closets

Don’t forget to clean above and behind the cabinets because mold can grow, especially if the wall faces north. And, even if they are closed, they also accumulate dust.

To avoid allergies at home, the ideal is to dust the furniture approximately every two days with a damp cloth or microfiber cloth (this way you will trap the dust and not spread it through the air). Don’t forget the back parts, they tend to accumulate more dust there and look at the legs, especially, of the furniture that is more cornered. The fewer objects you have on top, the better.

Books are best stored on shelves with glass doors..

Floors and carpets

As for the floors, do not place many rugs, they accumulate dust, and vacuum every two days. If you have carpets at home, vacuum them daily and, if you can, remove them to have better access to the entire floor. If you can’t move them, vacuum in the opposite direction from the hair to remove dust and pet hair (see how to clean carpets). Also vacuum the sofa and seats. And if they have covers, shake them outdoors, never inside the house.

The Furniture

The air conditioning

Clean the filters of each device at least once a month. And its ducts, once a year. If possible, use HEPA filters – which capture small particles. And avoid fans that move dust particles.

In the kitchen

The sink, the countertop, the shelves, the drawers… Mites reproduce more when the humidity is more than 50% and the temperature above 24 °C. And use a disinfectant that kills mold.

Clean the refrigerator thoroughly once a month. And that means removing all its contents and disinfecting shelves, drawers and containers. Water or any other stagnant liquid can breed bacteria and also mold, which is one of the main allergens in the home.

The key is in the bedroom

To have a rest free of allergens, bedding must be 100% cotton –if possible with GOTS or Oeko-Tex Standard 1000 ecological certifications–, since it causes less skin irritation. Anti-mite, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal mattress and pillow covers (from brands such as Leti and PureNature) are very useful. Regular washing, at least 50°C, is essential to combat mites and other allergens. Also shake them daily to remove remains of skin cells, hair, etc. that mites like so much

Duvets and blankets should be washed two or three times a year at high temperatures.

Likewise, it is better to avoid padded headboards, rugs, curtains, and choose fSpecific covers to cover the mattress and pillow. These covers prevent mites from penetrating the fabric: they are washed every two weeks and replaced after shaking the mattress. Additionally, for those allergic to mites, you must choose specific covers for the mattress and pillow.

The Furniture

Order in the bedroom

To prevent allergies, order in the bedroom is also very important. Have the bare minimum. The more objects, the more dust and, therefore, the more allergies. Remove rugs, books, posters, stuffed animals, upholstered furniture… even curtains!, especially if your allergy doesn’t let you rest well. If you have pets, keep them away from the bedroom during allergy season. Even if they don’t produce it themselves, they will transport pollen and other particles that can.

Pay attention to the mattress

Vacuum it thoroughly on both sides, at least 2 minutes on each side. Ideally, you should do them a couple or three times a month (depending on your level of allergy). And shake the pillows and cushion fillings at the same frequency. You will rest much better.

Prevent allergies in the bathroom

If you have a window, ventilate it every day after showering. It will also help you dry the screen and the toilets (the shower tray, the sink…). And install an exhaust fan connected to the light switch (so it turns on every time you turn it on). Just like the kitchen hood, it will clean the air of impurities. The key is to avoid excessive humidity, as it can cause mold. Never leave wet towels or bathrobes in the bathroom, hang them outside and wash them twice a week in hot water (50°C).

The most common causes of allergies in the house

In each case it is possible to avoid or reduce the concentration of the allergen agent:

Plants: the main problem is the pollen that enters from outside. Orchids, pansies, azaleas, hydrangeas, calla lilies and jasmines do not cause allergies. Mites: they feed on human skin scales and are the cause of “dust allergy” (actually, to the feces of these microscopic spiders). Trees : in the garden it is advisable to avoid male trees and bushes. Magnolias, plum trees, orange trees, lemon trees, rose bushes and geraniums are hypoallergenic. Mold: proliferates in bathrooms, kitchens and around windows or cold walls. Avoiding humidity through ventilation is essential to prevent it.

You have already seen that the keys to ending allergies at home are to ventilate, vacuum and clean dust well daily and take special care in the bedroom, washing bedding at high temperatures, and making sure not to have too many objects.

If you want to be up to date with everything we publish on www., subscribe to our newsletter.