HINTS FOR THE HOME |
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(NAPSI)-From pulling out blankets, replacing smoke detector batteries, varying the decor and flipping mattresses, many people literally start "flipping" their home routines when the seasons change. Among all of the flipping, the bedroom is often the place to start--changing out linens and preparing for the next season, and the host of allergens that each new season brings. Beds are usually thought of as a sanctuary--a safe haven for rest and rejuvenation. But if most people--particularly allergy sufferers--really knew what was lurking beneath the sheets, they might think of their bed as more of a litter box than a sanctuary. Lying beneath the cleanest, most luxurious linens and inside the fluffiest pillows lurk microscopic allergy triggers, including dust mite droppings, pollen, fungal and mold spores and cat and dog dander. Trying to sleep among the estimated 10 million allergen particles found in an unprotected mattress can surely disrupt a person's peaceful slumber. "While indoor allergies are year-round, it's obvious that the effect
of those allergens is increased significantly when seasonal allergies arrive
and worsen symptoms altogether," says Dr. Clifford Bassett, allergy
expert and assistant clinical professor of medicine at Whether you suffer from allergies or not, the allergens inside the typical pillow and mattress are not what most people would want to breathe. But for allergy and asthma sufferers, the problem is even more severe. With these simple yet effective changes, you can keep allergens in check in the bedroom: • Encase your mattress, box spring and pillows in highly effective allergen barrier covers, such as Aller-Ease protective bedding products. • Wash bed linens weekly in 130-degree Fahrenheit water. • Consider traveling with your pillow protector to help minimize symptoms in hotels or while on the road. • Remove dust-collecting clutter from the bedroom and other areas of your home. • Place nonwashable plush toys in a resealable plastic bag and put them in the freezer for three to five hours every week to kill dust mites. • Furnace filters should be changed frequently during allergy seasons. • Use a low-cost home hygrometer to help keep humidity below 50 percent, as dust mites thrive in higher-humidity environments. • Use easy-to-clean hardwood, tile or linoleum flooring instead of carpeting. • If you have carpeting, use a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter to reduce airborne dust. • Shampoo hair nightly and change clothes before entering the bedroom to avoid transferring outdoor pollens into your bedroom. |
Lying beneath the cleanest, most luxurious linens lurk microscopic allergy triggers. Word Count: 472 |
