Cover your pillows and mattresses with special zippered covers that keep dust mites away from you.
Every week, wash your sheets, pillowcases, and blankets in hot water with detergent, or dry them in an electric dryer on the hot setting. If possible, dont use a comforter. Instead, use a blanket that can be washed.
Use washable, vinyl, or roll-type window covers.
Remove clutter, stuffed animals and other soft toys, and fabric-covered furniture. If you can't take the stuffed animals out of the bedroom, wash them every week.
If possible, remove carpets. Instead, use area rugs that can be cleaned or washed.
Second: Rest of house
Try to reduce the amount of fabric-covered furniture you have, especially old sofas.
If possible, replace carpets with (non-carpet) flooring. This includes carpets on concrete slabs or over poorly ventilated crawl spaces.
Every week, vacuum the house with a vacuum that has a "HEPA filter. " �
Use washable, vinyl, or roll-type window covers.
Make sure that the humidity in the home is less than 50 percent. Do not use a humidifier.
Third: Changing houses*
People with allergies and asthma do not usually need to move, except if they live in a basement or in a home that is very damp and wet.
If you are allergic to dust mites or mold, you might have fewer symptoms if you move to:
An apartment on or above the second floor
A home with wooden floors and bedrooms on the second floor
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If possible, remove animals from your home
Keep any animals outside, in the garage, or in a kennel. Keeping them out of certain rooms in the house will not remove animal allergens from your home.
After you remove the animal, clean your home thoroughly.
If you cannot remove the animals from your home, try these steps
Use an air filter with a "HEPA filter," but keep in mind that air filters help only a little. Most of the animal allergens in your home are not floating in the air. Air filters remove only allergens that are floating in the air.
Reduce the number of things in your home where allergens can build up. Examples include carpets, fabric-covered furniture, and drapes. Replace these with bare floors, furniture that is not covered with fabric, and window blinds.
Every week, vacuum with a vacuum cleaner than has a "HEPA filter. " �
If you are allergic to your dog, bathing your dog two times a week might help reduce your symptoms. If you are allergic to your cat, bathing your cat will probably not reduce your symptoms.
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