It’s a jungle out there, but it’s pretty wild inside too. Indoor allergies are just as nasty as the outdoor kind and even harder to evade. Plus, experts estimate that someone born in the 1990s spends almost 90 percent of her life indoors. That’s a lot of QT with dust mites, mould and pet dander, all of which can cause the same delightful symptoms as the most powerful pollen – and, like plant allergies, indoor ones can crop up at any age. Once you know exactly where in-home allergens live, you can evict them.
Bathroom
Mould can grow around leaks from the toilet and tub.The Fix: Use a solution of one cup bleach to 3.5 litres water, then caulk around the bases to seal cracks.
Kitchen
Gas stoves can emit formaldehyde fumes that can cause headaches, wheezing and rashes.The Fix: An exhaust fan that vents to the outside. Don’t have one? Cook during the evening (when pollen counts drop) and open a window.
Bedroom
Pet dander and dust mites love cosying up to pillows and mattresses. In fact, the latter can harbour up to 10 million mites, according to a US study, while another study found that after two years, dust mites make up 10 percent of the weight of your pillow (shudder!).The Fix: Use hypoallergenic mattress and pillow “encasements” and wash sheets weekly in hot water (over 54°C).
Lounge
Wall-to-wall carpeting traps dirt, dead skin and pet dander.The Fix: Leaving shoes at the door curbs the amount of outdoor allergens you track in by up to 80 percent. Run an air purifier, which can absorb nearly 100 percent of home allergens, and switch to washable area rugs (bonus points if you also vacuum twice a weak with a machine that has suction and filtration technology designed to eliminate allergens).
Garage
Mould develops from leaks around windows, walls and ceilings.The Fix: Clean visible mould (small, musty-smelling spots of any colour) with your bleach and H2O solution, then plug with caulk or spray foam. Use a dehumidifier to keep humidity at a mould-inhospitable 40 to 60 percent.
Study
Clutter can collect dust.The Fix: Purge stuff you don’t need and store what you can in cabinets or sealable bags or bins. Once a week, wipe down picture frames, vases and knickknacks with microfibre cloths, which trap dust instead of launching it into the air.
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