Four Easy Steps to an Allergy Free Room
By: Mikki Hogan
Your long awaited appointment with the allergist has arrived and with it the identification of your allergy triggers. If environmental allergies made your list creating an allergy free room is likely at the top of your treatment plan. You’ve probably sat through a detailed video and brought home a couple brochures on how to accomplish just that. Don’t let information overload keep you from enjoying an allergy free night. Instead, develop a game plan towards success.
One of the biggest challenges to creating an allergy free room is the bed. Environmental controls in the bedroom place a large emphasis on where you sleep including; mattress and pillow encasements, sturdy sheets and blankets for frequent hot washes and allergen comforters.
To simplify the task creating an allergy free room can be divided into four easy steps:
- Choose mattress covers
- Select blankets and comforters
- Prepare your room
- Maintain your allergy free room
To begin let’s take a closer look at mattress covers and choosing what’s best for you.
Allergy Armor for Your Bed
Identifying the right allergy mattress cover is a simple process of knowing what your triggers are. Allergens vary in size with dust mite particles averaging 10 microns in diameter while pet dander and mold average 3 microns diameter.
Allergy covers are designed with these sizes in mind where the fabrics are tightly woven with specific pore sizes designed to block appropriate allergens.
For example Allergy Armor Advanced has a pore size of 6 microns, making it highly effective on dust mite allergens but less effective on pet dander and mold. Allergy Armor Ultra is woven with a pore size of 2.8 microns making it highly effective on all three allergens.
Other things to consider when choosing a mattress cover are the type of fabric. Allergy Armor Cotton provides a 50/50 blend of cotton and polyester assisting in a cooler, quieter night’s sleep when compared to traditional allergy bedding like Allergy Armor Classic, both having a pore size of 3.9 microns.
To choose the best cover for you identify the pore size needed to block your allergens. Then, within that pore size decide the fabric you’re most interested in and that’s it. You have completed step 1 in creating your allergy free room.
Complete Your Bed with Allergy Blankets and Comforter
When choosing blankets for your bed it is important to ensure they are able to withstand frequent hot washes without fraying or stiffening up. At the same time you want your blankets to be soft and cozy while you sleep.
Allergy Armor Blankets are a microfiber fleece blanket and is sewn strong to stand up to all those washes. If you’re looking for a crepe weave, Organic cotton blankets provide a soft and cuddly choice with no pesticides or chemicals. For an inexpensive yet durable blanket the Vellux blankets are hypoallergenic and perfect for children of all ages.
Regardless of which blanket you choose nothing tops a bed like a cozy comforter. But with all those washes a cozy comforter can quickly wear down. Primaloft comforters offer the softness and warmth of a down comforter with an anti-microbial finish, giving you an allergy free night at a fraction of the cost you’ll pay for a down comforter.
If price is no concern the hypodown comforters are an excellent choice for a great night’s sleep and are guaranteed to be allergy free for 10 years. If you already own the perfect comforter then you may want to select a duvet comforter cover instead of replacing the comforter you love.
Once you’ve selected your blankets and comforter of choice you’ve completed step 2 of creating an allergy free room. This brings you to the next step, preparing your room.
Preparing Your Room: The Final Touches
Now that your bed is finished you can focus on the rest of the room. To begin look around the room and identify any drapes, throw rugs or stuffed animals you may have in your room. These are perfect hiding spots for dust mites, pet dander and other allergens.
The simplest solution is to remove them entirely from your room replacing drapes with blinds. However if the drapes and rugs are durable enough to withstand hot washes every couple of weeks then leaving them is doable.
All stuffed animals should be stored in a closed display case or placed in another room. If the bedroom is fully carpeted be sure to invest in a quality vacuum designed to trap allergens. Vacuum the carpet daily for the first two weeks then a minimum of three times a week there after to keep dust mites under control.
For hard surfaces invest in a quality microfiber cloth for daily wiping. This includes finding an affordable microfiber broom to sweep the floor daily as well. Wiping down surfaces every day drastically reduces allergens in the air you breath giving a long lasting reduction in your symptoms.
If you suffer from pollen allergies as well you may want to consider installing a safeguard window filter or simply keep your bedroom windows closed. As a final touch you may want to consider the use of an air purifier to keep the air in your bedroom allergen free.
Maintaining Your Allergy Free Room
The hard part is done. You’ve selected your mattress covers, blankets and comforters. You’ve removed everything from your room that cannot withstand frequent washes. If necessary you’ve found a quality vacuum and installed window filters. Your room has been thoroughly cleaned and air purifier set-up. Take a moment to pause in your room, take in a deep breath and smell that fresh air.
Now your job is to maintain it. This is simpler than you think. For rooms with carpeting I recommend a detail vacuum three times a week, daily if your animals frequent your room. For hard floors, sweep daily with a dust broom. Wipe down the hard surfaces each day with your allergy dust cloth to keep allergens low.
While the mattress and pillow covers are low maintenance you still need to wash your sheets and blankets once a week. If you have enclosed your comforter in a duvet cover or invested in one of the allergy free comforters you will not need to wash those as often.
If you still have drapes and throw rugs in your room they will need to be washed in hot water once a week as well. Pick one day a week to wash all your bedroom linens and stick to it. Soon washing will become a natural part of your routine.
The same goes for dusting and sweeping. If you can choose a set time every day to complete the task cleaning will become habit and easy to accomplish.
Clean your window filters as you notice build-up by taking them outside to vacuum and be sure to follow the manufacturer instructions for cleaning and maintaining your selected air purifier.
That’s it! You are now on your way to a healthy night’s sleep for months to come and your body will thank you for it. Here’s to allergy free nights!
About the Author:
Mikki Hogan is a long term allergy sufferer of more than 23 years, so when her children developed severe allergy symptoms she was in familiar territory. Her experiences as an allergy sufferer and parent of a child with allergies and asthma has not only given her a solid knowledge base but also a passion for eliminating allergy symptoms safely and effectively. This passion flows throughout her writing and is evident in her new book Your Complete Guide to Allergy Relief. Watch this informative video to hear her story.
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