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Germ free home
Hot, humid weather is just when you should gear up for allergy control. It will only get worse when the monsoon arrives. Make your home a haven away from allergy triggers-dust mites, moulds and pollens. It's not difficult. Yes, it needs extra effort and can be taxing, but it has its rewards: you and your family breathe easy and stay healthy. Here are 10 easy ways to cope with the allergen menace.
1.Gear up for allergy control
This is a must if you want to avoid mould, dust mites and cockroaches. To keep allergen levels low, the relative humidity has to be kept below 50%, a task that can be achieved through your air-conditioner, now that they come armed with a humidity control device. You can also buy a hygrometer to track humidity levels in your home.
2. Do away with items that have got wet
Should your carpet get soggy-with people walking in and out of the house in the rain -clean and dry it immediately or do away with it (place a doormat outside all doors and get people to use them before entering the house to reduce allergens inside). Wash shower curtains frequently.
If they get moldy despite that, just chuck them.
Keep your home dry and dust free.
You also need to chuck out stuffed toys if they get wet and you don't have time to clean and dry them immediately.
3. If you must have carpets, think small
If you just can't do without them, go for small ones or easy-to-use rugs.
Weekly
* Vacuum your home
* Launder your sheets and pillowcases in hot water
* Dust wipes all flat surfaces, from tabletops to floors, with a damp cloth
* Wipe grills with a wet mop, dust the wire-mesh and wash curtains
* Clean your kitchen cupboards and cabinets
* Wash your pets after checking with your vet
Monthly
* Replace and clean your air conditioner filter when in use
* Wash stuffed animals in hot water. If they can't take the stress of washing, put them in a plastic bag in the freezer for a few days.
Take outdoor measures too
As you start to hunt down sources of allergens in your home, pay close attention to the changes you can make outside to keep problems from cropping up on the inside.
Point water away from the house. To prevent mould, you need to ensure that the rainfall that hits your house winds up away from it, not in it. To do so:
* Keep the gutters free of leaves, obstructions and standing water
* Make sure that the gutters don't leak into the eaves of your roof, where they could seep water into your walls and cause dampness. Damp walls increase the allergen load.
Guleria, too, advises against the use of carpets especially in the bedroom. Doctors say hardwood, tile, or linoleum floors are ideal for people with allergies, but if you still feel the need for a soft surface in places, settle for a few washable throw rugs. Just be sure to wash them regularly.
4. Clean and vacuum often
If you have carpets in the house, vacuum them frequently, as often as once a week and put them out in the sun to dry to remove dust mites.
5. Make your home a no-smoking zone
Smoke is a significant irritant. Secondhand smoke can trigger an asthma attack and aggravate symptoms in people with allergies. In addition, tobacco smoke has been shown to make asthma worse in pre-school children- and may even cause it.
6. Ventilate your house
This is one sure-shot way of making your home allergy-free. Sunlight kills germs and bacteria, so let fresh air into your home at least for a few hours in the day. It will reduce pollution and allergens. If humidity isn't a problem in your area, you may want to open your windows and doors to air out your house and help blow away pollution and allergens. Just make sure when you open the windows you don't violate the ever-important guideline of keeping your home's humidity below 50%. If house plants give you or a member of your family an allergy, remove them completely. Use an exhaust fan in the kitchen to make it free from soot, smoke and dust.
7. Run a low-odor household
Even if products such as scented candles and air fresheners smell good, use caution with products that give off smelly fumes-or avoid them outright. These also include aerosols, paints, perfumes and cleaners. They may irritate your airways and make your allergies and asthma worse.
8. Dust frequently
Hardwood, tile, or linoleum floors are ideal for people with allergies. Make dusting and cleaning an everyday routine. Use a damp mop to wipe floors and hard surfaces. Don't use a dry cloth or a feather duster, since you'll just fling the allergens in the dust back into the air.
9. Decorate sparingly
Cut out on too many decorative items. More curios, figurines, stuffed animals and dried flowers would only mean more dust. Use them as sparsely as possible. Decorate with minimal artifacts.
10. Keep AC filters clean
Unless you keep your AC filter-which traps airborne particles-clean, you would be increasing the allergen load. Enlist the services of a professional before the start of the summer season. Keep the coils and drain pans clean and drained according to the manufacturer's instructions so that they don't store water.