If you suffer with allergies, then you know it can be an endless battle. Some seasons might be worse for you, while others you might breeze right through, without much incident. Or, you might be one of the unfortunate ones who suffer all year round with sneezing, runny nose, hives, or ‘all of the above’.
Chances are you probably do battle allergies all year, especially if dust is a trigger for you. It just might seem worse during certain time periods because you might be battling two or three different allergens at once. However, dust is around all year and it’s one of the most common allergy irritants.
So, instead of loading up on tissue and antihistamines, you might want to consider going organic in the home, especially the bedroom where you spend a good portion of each day, breathing in…and deeply, all allergens in the room.
I am going to share with you some tips on how to transform your bedroom into an organic, allergy-friendly haven, to obtain a higher quality slumber…which also helps battle the symptoms often associated with allergies.
1. Flip the Mattress
You probably already do flip your mattress to achieve optimal longevity. However, I’m talking about flipping it right out of your bedroom, and replacing it with a high quality organic one. These are made without the chemicals that are used in the processing stage of traditional mattresses. Yes, chemicals…that can trigger allergies. If you are on a tight budget, look online for mattress discounters to find a better deal. It’s worth it to be well rested, allergy season, or not.
2. Suit up the Pillows and Mattress with Protection
Double up your protection against chemicals and fibrous materials often used in bedding by using an airtight casing for them. This will also help dust mites from setting up camp within your pillow and mattress. Again, I suggest searching the Internet for these items as well, not just for best price, but also for consumer reviews.
3. Comforting Comforters and More
Quite often comforters and pillows are made of down, feathers, or kapok…all hazardous for allergy and asthma sufferers. Instead, look for pillows and comforters made with Dacron or polyester. I happen to use a water pillow, and love it.
While this is an important step, I still utilize the encasings I mentioned above. If you can’t afford both, one step is better than nothing… until you can afford both.
You also want to keep the bedding clean. Sheets (also found in organic form), blankets, pillowcases, and mattress pads should be laundered on a regular basis. Here is a recommended schedule:
- Sheets and Pillow Cases – every week
- Blankets and Mattress Pad – every other week
- Pillows – once a month
Taking these steps is extremely important, especially when you consider that our faces are snuggled up with them each night for hours.
4. Say No to Perfumes and Air Fresheners
I am going to be short and to the point on this. Avoid aromatic candles, air fresheners, and potpourri in the bedroom. If you want a clean and fresh scent in the room, clean on a regular basis and use fresh ingredients for scent.
You can place a fresh vanilla bean in a jar on the dresser, or a bowl of freshly cut lemons. Just make sure to change these out regularly.
5. Clean Regularly with Natural Cleaners
Keep the clutter down, and dust out. Excessive clutter can be a 5-star retreat for dust mites. They love it, yet don’t pay you anything for the accommodations, other than a headache, itchy eyes, or runny nose. These are guests that must be evicted!
However, cleaning with harsh chemicals can be just as detrimental to someone with allergies and asthma. So, there are two things you can do. Go to the store and purchase natural or organic cleaners that will do the job, but might cost a bit more.
The second thing you can do is to look on the Internet for natural cleaning product recipes. There are many sites available, with a large variety of inexpensive tricks such as salt and water as a scrubbing paste, white vinegar as a glass cleaner, or olive oil and lemon as a furniture polish.
6. Just Say No to Carpet
Just like bedding, carpet can be a safe haven for dust mites and pet dander. I realize that it feels good on the toes when you first roll out of bed on a cold morning, but breathing is not optional. Getting rid of the carpet will significantly diminish dust mites and pet dander…as long as you clean on a regular basis.
It’s best to have a hard surface, such as wood, stone, or tile. If you want to ‘go green’, try using bamboo, a popular choice for green homes. You can always lay a throw rug right by the bed until you can get the slippers on. Make sure it is a washable rug though, and that you do.
7. Plug it In
Most of us enjoy a fresh breeze coming through our windows, especially in the spring and fall, right? However, that breeze can also bring in pollen and other outdoor allergens. So, you might want to consider using an air purifier to catch most of those irritants.
A fan and air conditioner are also good to keep the air moving, and keep allergens to a minimum. This is especially true in humid climates. Anything above 40% humidity makes dust mites happy. Make them miserable by controlling the humidity with humidifiers and air conditioners.
There is no guarantee to rid your room completely of allergens. However, the above tips will help eliminate most of them.
