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Step 1
Vacuum weekly to rid your carpets of dust mites and pet dander. Make sure your vacuum has a HEPA filter to trap tiny particles, otherwise they will just get spread around. Unless you love carpeting, leaving floors bare, such as hardwood or tile, will really get rid of allergens.
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Step 2
Dust mites also love bedding, so make sure to wash all bedding in 130 degree water every week. (The high temperature kills mites). You can also buy mattress covers that go under your mattress pad that seal out dust mites and bed bugs.
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Step 3
Keep your home as clutter free as possible. Clutter attracts dust mites, bugs, mice and mold. Keep trash like recycling, magazines and grocery bags out in the garage or a shed if possible. Also keep crumbs off the floor and furniture as they can lure bugs, roaches and mice, whose droppings can aggravate allergies.
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Step 4
Use the fan in the bathroom to pull moisture out of the room, or keep a window open a crack. Letting the bathroom steam up can cause mold in the walls. Every so often, wipe down the walls with a solution of 1oz. chlorine bleach to 1qt water, which will keep mold and fungus away.
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Step 5
If your basement is prone to mold, leave a dehumidifier down there, set to 35-40% humidity, which will dry out the air.
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Step 6
Use air conditioning when it's warm outside. AC filters allergens like pollen out of the air. Keeping the temp below 70 in the house will keep mites and fungus out as they do not like cool temps.
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Step 7
Dust every week and wash rugs and blankets in hot water often.
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Step 8
Pet dander accounts for 30% of allergies in the home. Keeping pets washed or brushed can help lower their dander level. Keep pets out of the bedroom, or at the very least off the bed.
