How to Create a Near Allergy-Free Bedroom Zone

Since you spend about one-third of your day in the bedroom, it makes sense to try to reduce the allergens in that room more than any other room in the house.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bed and pillow covers
• Green cleaning products
• Clothing storage containers

1. First evaluate your bedroom. Fabric and "soft" surfaces like bedding, curtains, carpeting all harbor allergens. Try to remove as many fabric items as possible from the room. This includes canopy type drapes that are decorative, curtains, extra pillows, blankets and throws. This also includes extra clothing. Only store clothing that you actually use in the bedroom closet. Purchase storage containers for extra clothes and bedding and store these outside of the bedroom.

2. Remove carpeting from the bedroom if at all possible. While this may seem extreme and too costly at first glance, you may have some options here. Check to see what is under the carpet now. If it is hardwood, tile or vinyl, you can simply pull up the carpet and discard it. Then clean the floor with green cleaning products. Old hardwood can be sanded and sealed. Old vinyl can be painted with a no VOC paint, and tile can simply be cleaned. However, if you find plywood or concrete this can be a tougher fix. Concrete can be painted to look very modern and loft-like. Plywood really needs to be covered with something and often the cheapest solution here is tile.

3. Check the windows. Remove fabrics and applyy wooden blinds instead. Dust these regularly.

4. Add some plants. Many plants actually clean indoor air for us.

5. Buy covers for your mattress, boxsprings and pillows. These are available at the local bed and bath stores and are relatively inexpensive. They keep dustmites away from you.

6. Take fabric items outside regularly on sunny breezy days and air them out.

7. Clean the floor and hard surfaces regularly using green nonchemical cleaners.

[LilacGirl]

on 7/30/2008 Wonderful suggestions.