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Environmental Control for Indoor Allergens

Patients Educational Materials Environmental Control

Environmental Control for Indoor Allergens

House dust contains a variety of allergens such as insect parts, animal dander, and dust mites. Furthermore, mold may also be present in homes. It is important to eliminate as much allergen as possible from the home in order to derive maximum benefit from your treatment.

House Dust Mite is probably the most important allergen in most homes. Controlling house dust mite exposure will decrease symptoms in allergic patients and may decrease the risk of developing dust mite allergy in patients not yet sensitized. Dust mites are tiny microscopic creatures that thrive in warm, moist climates. Upholstery (particularly the bed) is the ideal habitat for dust mites because they need the protection of the padding and a food supply (shed human skin) to survive. They cannot thrive on non-porous surfaces or in cool dry climates.

There are simple things you can do to minimize dust mite exposure:

  • You should concentrate on the bedroom (particularly the bed) because this is where you spend most of your time. In fact, when you are sleeping, you are breathing with your mouth and nose inches from a whole army of dust mites. The bedroom should be clutter free.
  • Dusting should be done frequently with a damp cloth.
  • The humidity in the bedroom should be kept below 50%. In Central Oklahoma this generally requires only air condition, but may require a de-humidifier. Humidifiers encourage dust mite and mold growth and should be avoided.
  • The mattress, box spring and pillow should be encased in dust mite proof encasements. All items on the bed should be washed in hot water (140 degrees) every one to two weeks. Stuffed animals should be removed from the bed.
  • Upholstered furniture and wall to wall carpet contain dust mites and should be avoided if possible, but these are not nearly as important as the bed.
  • Air filters, expensive vacuum cleaners, and duct cleaning help only minimally. When vacuuming, a HEPA filter or double bag should be used to minimize dust mites being stirred up and released into the air.

Cockroaches are now recognized as important indoor allergens. Other insects such as lady bugs, spiders, and crickets have recently been implicated. Keep the home clean and dry and fix any leaks or drips. It may be necessary to have an exterminator treat the home periodically.

Animal dander, generally from cats and dogs (but sometimes from gerbils, hamster, guinea pigs, mice, etc.) is a very important source of allergen in dust. Contrary to popular belief, animal hair is not the problem. Rather, it is a protein in the urine, saliva and dander of animal that provokes allergy. There are no “nonallergenic” furred pets. Some individual animals produce more allergen than others but there are no “safe” breeds.

  • The best thing you can do if you are allergic is to eliminate the pet.
  • Keeping the animal outside is only a partial solution because people who handle the animals outside will bring the allergen in on their clothes.
  • If you cannot eliminate the pet, try to keep the pet in non-upholstered areas and never let the pet in the bedroom. A HEPA filter in the bedroom may provide some protection.
  • Bathing the animals weekly may decrease the amount of allergen they produce.
  • After the animal has been removed, it can take as long as a year for allergen levels in the home to drop significantly, so a good thorough cleaning of the home is necessary after eliminating the animal.

Recently some information has come to light which suggests that if you are not already allergic it may actually be helpful to have cats or dogs in the home. However, if you are already pet allergic having the pets around will only worsen your allergic symptoms.

Indoor Mold can also cause significant allergic respiratory symptoms. Homes with high humidity and/or leaks have a high likelihood of having significant indoor molds. Once these issues have been fixed, it is generally easy to eliminate molds, but if you continue to have problems with water leaks or high humidity, you will have a hard time cleaning up your mold. Use a cleaning solution containing 5% bleach and a small amount of detergent to clean up moldy areas. Performing house dust control measures will help as well.

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How Can I Control Indoor Allergens and Improve Indoor Air Quality?

From the Asthma and Allergy Foundation https://aafa.org

Allergy and asthma control begins at home. Many people with allergies stay indoors when pollen and mold is high. But dust mites, pet dander and even cockroaches can cause problems indoors.1

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends three ways you can improve indoor air quality:2

  • Control your contact with indoor airborne allergens
  • Ventilate your indoor areas well
  • Use air cleaners to clean indoor air

Eight out of 10 people in the United States are exposed to dust mites. Six out of 10 are exposed to cat or dog dander. Cockroaches cause allergic reactions in people who live in the inner cities or southern parts of the United States. 3

Better air quality in your home, office, school and car can reduce allergy and asthma triggers.

What Size Are Allergens?

Allergens are substances that cause allergic reactions and trigger asthma symptoms in some people. The air spreads allergens around. They settle onto furniture and floors. They vary in size and are measured in microns (also called micrometers).4

Is It Possible to Control Indoor Allergens?

You can control indoor allergens with cleaning and reducing allergens in your home. The main sources of indoor allergens are:

  • Pets
  • Wall-to-wall carpet
  • Soft furniture
  • Stuffed toys
  • Bedding
  • Damp areas
  • Indoor plants
  • Mattresses that aren’t in allergy covers
  • Pillows and bedding you can’t wash in hot water

There may be more allergens on surfaces than in the air. Surface allergens enter the air easily when you disturb them by dusting or sitting.

Will Air Cleaning Devices Help?

Air cleaning devices might help. But the best way to improve your air quality is to get rid of the sources of allergens and irritants from your home. Take measures to avoid and reduce your contact with allergens. Also increase the flow of outdoor air into your home and reduce humidity as much as possible.

Reducing humidity decreases dust mites and mold growth. Air conditioners help reduce humidity too. They can also prevent outdoor allergens. Keep your windows and doors closed. Turn your air conditioner on recirculate. These steps can help reduce outdoor allergens like pollen and mold.

Air cleaners with CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® filters can filter almost 98% of allergen particles in the air. Look for CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® devices.

What Steps Can I Take to Control Indoor Allergens?

Control dust mites. Keep surfaces in your home clean and uncluttered. Bare floors and walls are best, especially in the bedroom where you spend one-third of your time. Avoid wall-to-wall carpet, if possible. If you must have carpet, use low-pile carpets or throw rugs you can wash. Also avoid heavy drapes and overstuffed fabric furniture. Replace drapes and blinds with roll-down shades or washable curtains.5

Use zippered allergen-resistant or plastic covers on your pillows, mattresses and box springs. These covers are very effective in controlling your contact with dust mites. Encasing mattresses works better than air cleaners to reduce allergy symptoms. Wash your bedding, uncovered pillows and stuffed toys in water 130 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter each week. Dry them in a hot dryer cycle to kill dust mites.

Vacuum once or twice a week. Vacuuming helps keep allergens low. But poor quality vacuums could put dust into the air. Look for CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® vacuums. These vacuums have been tested and found to prevent allergens from going back into the air.

If you have allergies, wear a mask while doing housework. Use a cloth that is damp or treated with polish for dusting. Leave the house for several hours after cleaning it.

Prevent pet dander. Most doctors suggest that people who have allergies to animal dander not have pets with feathers or fur. There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic pet. People with pet allergies are allergic to animal dander which are shed skin cells that all animals have. Some animal dander has fewer allergenic proteins. This may lead to fewer or no symptoms.

Keep pets out of your bedroom. Close the doors to bedrooms when you are not home to keep pets out. Cover vents with dense material like cheesecloth. Animal allergens are sticky. Wash and change your animal’s favorite furniture and toys often.

Replace wall-to-wall carpet with bare floors or a low-pile carpet. Bathing and brushing your pets often may reduce symptoms. But avoid grooming your pets if you have animal allergies. If you must groom them, wear a mask.

Long-haired pets can also bring pollen inside in high pollen seasons like spring and fall.

If you suspect you have a pet allergy, see a board-certified allergist for allergy testing.

Prevent pollen from getting inside by keeping windows and doors closed. Use air conditioning in warm weather to control dust mites and reduce humidity. Change filters often.

Avoid mold spores. Reduce moisture around the bathroom, kitchen and other areas where there is a lot of water. Here are some ways you can reduce mold:

  • Don’t run your showers for a long time before bathing.
  • Use dehumidifiers to reduce both mold and dust mites.
  • Use humidity monitors.
  • Limit yourself to a few house plants.
  • Fix all leaks and other causes of damp areas.
  • If you see mold on a surface, clean it immediately. Wear a mask and clean the surface each week to keep it from returning.

Control cockroaches. Do not leave food or garbage uncovered. Use poison baits, boric acid and traps instead of chemicals. Chemicals may irritate your sinuses and asthma.

The post How Can I Control Indoor Allergens and Improve Indoor Air Quality? appeared first on Oklahoma Allergy and Asthma Clinic.

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