Sneezing may be a symptom of a common cold, but it is also a common symptom of allergies. One of the most common causes of household allergies is from dust mites, a persistent nuisance that can really cause headaches if they aren’t kept under control. The bad news is that there’s no way to completely eliminate them without living in a bubble, but the good news is that reducing them and keeping your allergies to a more reasonable level isn’t extremely hard to do, either. Here are five tips to help keep your home allergy-free:

  • Keep Your Home Clean and Tidy

A messy and disorganised home can be an inviting place for all sorts of problems such as bacteria and dust mites, especially since parts of the home are being neglected so that these allergens can fester and grow. Keeping a clean and tidy home is also a great first step towards keeping a healthier home.

  • Change Bedding Regularly

Where do most of us spend a quarter to a third of our day? You guessed it – the bed. Bedding, mattresses, pillows, and upholstered furniture in the bedroom are all thriving areas for dust mites. Well, there’s no getting around the fact that they’ll spread wherever we lay our heads (all of those dead skin flakes attract them), but that doesn’t mean we can’t control these allergenic mites to minimal levels.

Throw your bedding in the washing machine in hot water to ensure that dust mites are dead and gone. Repeat at least once a week to keep allergens in check.

  • Clean Up After Our Four-Legged Companions

Cats and dogs are themselves a major source of allergies for many of us, but it’s really what they leave behind that can trigger aggravating allergies. Pet dander and the dying saliva left behind from cats and dogs can last for weeks, but they also (depending on the breed) a great deal to clean up after.

Pet owners should brush their pets frequently to keep their coats of fur lush and healthy, but you’ll also want to ensure that you’re using a high-powered vacuum cleaner appropriate for sucking up all of that dander on a regular basis, too.

  • Keep Humidity in Check

Melbourne’s humidity is about 52 per cent on average over the year, with spikes from May to September. Humidity itself isn’t a typical cause for allergies, but the resultant mould and bacteria that thrive in humid environments definitely are a cause for concern. Anything over 50 per cent humidity can greatly accelerate dust mite and bacterial growth, so use a dehumidifier or close windows as appropriate in the winter to keep these problems at bay.

  • Deep Clean Carpets Routinely

Many of us have warm, comfortable carpets at home which can be a real hassle to keep clean. On the surface level, regular vacuuming works wonders at removing crumbs, hair, and other allergens, but it isn’t a permanent solution for those really aggravating problems deeper down in the carpet. That’s why routine carpet cleaning with steam cleaners and specialised shampoos are needed to get down into the roots of the carpet and kill bacteria, mould, and allergens that accumulate over time.

Electrovac

Your professional water damage carpet restoration service in Melbourne, Electrovac provides remediation, damage control, and replacement for carpets with quality and safety in mind. Give us a ring today if your carpet has suffered damage from flooding or otherwise needs replacement.