Hayfever season is well and truly here! And if you’re one of the millions of sufferers, it can be a thoroughly miserable time. But have you ever considered that taking antihistamines isn’t the only way to help relieve your symptoms?
Allergens in our Homes
Whilst pollen and other allergens are airborne, we don’t often think about the fact that they enter our homes and get trapped in our carpets and soft furnishings. And as keeping all your doors and windows sealed isn’t really an option, one way to reduce symptoms is to clean your carpets regularly.
Keeping your carpets and soft furnishings clean doesn’t only help with seasonal allergies, it’s also important if you’re prone to other allergens such as pet hair or dust. Having your carpets professionally cleaned on a regular basis can really help pet allergy sufferers.
How to Reduce Pet Allergies
Pet dander is a common allergen present in homes that causes issues for many people.
Ways to minimise the amount of pet allergens in your home include:
- Reduce the number of soft furnishings (e.g. opt for leather sofas rather than fabric sofas)
- Keep a pet-free zone in your home, such as your bedroom
- Choose short-pile carpets rather than longer piles
- Bathe your pet regularly (or if your cat isn’t keen, wipe them down with a damp cloth). This also removes pollen from their coat
- Groom your dog or cat regularly to remove loose hairs
- Vacuum every day
- Have your carpets and upholstery cleaned regularly
How to Reduce Mould Allergies
Mould is another common allergen present in a lot of homes. Mould is caused when dirt containing mould spores gets on to your carpet. Moisture in the dirt and air then encourages the mould to grow.
Professional steam cleaning is an effective way to remove mould from your carpets and furnishings. DIY steam cleaning is not recommended, as the machines cannot extract water as effectively as professional carpet cleaning machines. This can result in carpets being left wet and actually encouraging mould to grow.
Other ways to reduce mould allergies in your home are:
- Choose synthetic carpets which are less hospitable for mould spores
- Vacuum your carpet regularly to remove dirt
- If your carpet suffers water damage, call a carpet cleaning professional immediately
How to Reduce Dust Allergies
Dust is another of the most common allergens in the home, with dust mites commonly triggering asthma and allergy symptoms. Steam carpet cleaning is the only way to effectively remove dust mites as the steam kills them. Getting your carpets professionally cleaned is a sure-fire way to resolve your dust mite problem.
You can also reduce the presence of dust mites in your home by:
- Regularly vacuuming carpets and soft furnishings
- Use a vacuum cleaner with a special allergen filter
- Dust surfaces regularly
- Wash bedding, including mattress and pillow covers, weekly
Whatever your allergy, getting your carpets professionally cleaned regularly is a proven way to remove allergens and reduce symptoms.