Tips from Dr. Renold
The air your family breathes is one of the most important ways to keep your home healthy. Dust mites, mold and pet dander cause poor indoor air quality that can lead to congestion, headache, fatigue and sometimes worse for allergy and asthma sufferers. What can you do to eliminate these pesky particles? We asked Dr. Frederic Renold for his expert opinion on how to keep your home free of allergens. What we got were some great tips for anyone who’s concerned about the air in their home! Please note that Dr. Renold is giving his medical opinion on the general topic of air quality. For medical advice specific to your condition, consult your doctor or allergist directly.
Everyone’s allergies are unique, but many of us have the same questions about how to handle them! Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about allergies and allergens in the home, with answers from allergist Dr. Frederic Renold.
How can I get fresh, clean air and improve the quality of air inside my home?
How can I “allergy-proof” my home?
Is it possible to reduce dependence on allergy medications by keeping my home clean?
What’s the best way to rid my home of mold?
How does cleaning help allergy sufferers in my home?
What room in the home is most troublesome for allergies?
What can I do to reduce the allergens in the bedroom?
Is a certain time of year worse than others for indoor allergies?
What are the most common causes of indoor allergies?
Are some floor surfaces better for allergy sufferers than others?
Does carpet really trap allergens? How can I keep carpet as clean as possible?
What should I look for in a vacuum if I want to remove as many allergy-inducers as possible from my home?
Are there medical benefits for using HEPA filtration?
Should I use HEPA filters in my home?
How can I get fresh, clean air and improve the quality of air inside my home?
There are some easy ways to improve the quality of air in your home, including:
• Cleaning – Cleaning floors, furniture, walls and cabinets regularly can significantly reduce the amount of allergens in the home that otherwise end up in the air.
• Filtering – Filtering – Using a filter on products in your home like vacuums and central heating and cooling systems, can capture many of the allergens in the air and keeps them from circulating through your home.
• Bringing in Outdoor Air – Allowing filtered outdoor air to circulate through your home through your central heating and cooling system is highly recommended to reduce indoor pollutants and freshen the air in your home.
• Controling Humidity – Keeping the humidity level as low as your family is comfortable can reduce allergens like mold spores and dust mites.
By doing these things, you can improve the air quality in your home – and reduce the harmful effects of allergens on your health.
How can I “allergy-proof” my home?
Unfortunately there’s no such thing as an “allergy-proof” home, because it’s almost impossible to create a sterile environment outside of a hospital operating room. But you can keep allergens at a minimum with thorough, regular cleaning and proper air filtration.
(See “Household Cleaning Tips” for more information on how to clean the surfaces in your home.)
Is it possible to reduce dependence on allergy medications by keeping my home clean?
You can absolutely reduce your dependence on allergy medications. There are three steps to treating allergies:
• The first is knowledge. Work with your doctor to learn what indoor or outdoor allergens are causing your symptoms.
• Next, find where these allergens are hiding in your home. If dust is your biggest enemy, find all the places it’s hiding – for example, in your carpet, on bookshelves or above the kitchen cabinets.
• Once you’ve found the allergens, reduce them by cleaning the surfaces and filtering indoor air in your home.
(More information on how to do this can be found in the “Household Cleaning Tips” section.)
What’s the best way to rid my home of mold?
You can’t completely rid your home of mold. Mold spores are so common that they are almost always present in the air – inside or outside – and can’t be completely eliminated. Yuck! The good news is you can significantly reduce the mold spores in the air by keeping the air in your home dry, ventilated and at the right humidity level. You should aim for 30 to 34 percent humidity in your indoor air. You can measure humidity levels in your home with a device called a hygrometer, which is usually available at your local hardware store.
How does cleaning help allergy sufferers in my home?
Cleaning reduces the dust mites, mold and pet dander in your home, but why does dirt in your home affect the air? There is more dirt and allergens on the surfaces of your home than in the air, but these particles eventually get stirred up into the air! And, the fewer allergens in the air, the fewer allergy symptoms you’ll experience.
What room in the home is most troublesome for allergies?
There is not one room that is more allergy-prone than others. Instead, the most important room is the one you are in most often, even while sleeping. For most adults and school-age children, that room is the bedroom, so that’s a good place to focus your efforts. Other trouble spots in the home include humid basements, closets and cabinets with cleaning supplies and rooms where pets are present.
What can I do to reduce the allergens in the bedroom?
In addition to regular, thorough cleaning, you can reduce allergens in the bedroom with dust-mite-proof casings for mattresses and pillows. Mattresses and pillows trap dust, mold and pet dander. These casings keep microscopic dust mites and other allergens from the sleeper.
Is a certain time of year worse than others for indoor allergies?
Winter is the worst time of year for indoor allergies. During cold winter months we’re so focused on insulating our homes that we typically forget about the importance of allowing indoor air to circulate with outdoor air. Ventilation throughout the year is important to force allergens and indoor pollutants out of the home.
What are the most common causes of indoor allergies?
The most common causes of indoor allergies today are dust mites, animal dander and mold. While these are the most common, it’s important to see your doctor to determine what causes your indoor allergy symptoms and discuss how best to treat them.
Are some floor surfaces better for allergy sufferers than others?
Hard floor surfaces like hardwood, laminate and tile are better for allergy sufferers because they don’t trap allergens such as dust and mold. Carpeting, on the other hand, collects allergens and is not recommended if you have family members with severe allergies.
Does carpet really trap allergens? How can I keep carpet as clean as possible?
Carpet traps allergens, and it’s impossible to remove all of the allergens embedded in the yarns and padding of the carpet. Regular cleaning with a powerful vacuum with HEPA filtration will keep carpets as clean as possible. Avoid wet carpet cleaners, because they can cause mold to grow in the carpet, which will ultimately make allergies worse.(For more specifics on cleaning, see the “Household Cleaning Tips” section.)
What should I look for in a vacuum if I want to remove as many allergy-inducers as possible from my home?
You should look for “HEPA” filtration (High Efficiency Particulate Air) on the box. The key to capturing allergens through vacuuming is with HEPA filtration. Many vacuums have HEPA filters and sealed HEPA filtration systems. Vacuums that can clean other surfaces in the home in addition to floors, like curtains, ceiling fans and baseboards, can be helpful in reducing allergens.(See “Choosing the Right Vacuum” for more information on how to pick the best vacuum for your home and your needs.)
Are there medical benefits for using HEPA filtration?
Yes, HEPA filtration eliminates dirt and allergens like dust mites from your home. By reducing these allergens you can reduce allergy symptoms. In fact, many HEPA filters can capture as many as 99.97 percent of dust, allergens and other small particles. HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air and is a very high efficiency air filter that can be purchased for various filtration systems in your home, such as the filter on your vacuum, in your central heating and cooling system, or in your window air conditioners. But, remember just having a HEPA filter isn’t enough – you need to remember to change the filter regularly!
Should I use HEPA filters in my home?
Everyone can benefit from using HEPA filters in their home. If someone in your family suffers from indoor allergies, using HEPA filters in your vacuums and central heating and cooling systems will help reduce allergy symptoms. HEPA filters are especially great for homes in areas prone to extreme dust or homes with pets.