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Eight ways to reduce allergens in the bedroom

Provided by: RELAXNEWS
Written by: Relaxnews
Nov. 12, 2012

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If you suffer from allergies, health experts recommend giving your bedroom a good once-over.

A report released Monday from British charity Allergy UK has found that among those with an indoor allergy, 77 percent experience symptoms in the bedroom, while 41 percent report that their symptoms are actually made worse by that room.

The main culprit? Dust mites, with 92 percent of allergy sufferers responding to them. How many dust mites are in the average bed? A whopping two million.

The cold winter months also lead to staying indoors and using your household heating system, which can allow air and particles, such as pet dander, dust, and mold, to recirculate through the home, providing continual exposure to allergens. Symptoms include sneezing, coughing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and/or a sore throat.

Allergy UK has offered a few tips to help minimize allergies in the bedroom:

1. As house dust mites can't stand light, throw your covers and duvets back every morning.

2. Be sure your bedroom is well-ventilated by keeping a window open slightly.

3. Opt for anti-allergy mattress and bedding.

4. Use roller blinds rather than curtain, or wash your curtains in hot water every month.

5. Carpets are also a prime location for dust mites, so consider removing them and replacing with wood or another hard surface.

6. Filter out dust and other allergens by installing a high-efficiency furnace filter with a MERV rating of 11 or 12, and be sure to change it every three months.

7. Keep all children's toys in a toy chest or cupboard and wash soft toys in hot water, or put in the freezer overnight to destroy the allergen and then washed at a the recommended temperature.

8. Wash bedding in hot water every 14 days.

Source: http://www.allergyuk.org

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