Making sure your bedroom contains a minimum of allergens is one of the most important things you can do to insure a good night’s sleep each night. Here are 5 things you can do to minimize the irritants that can get between you and a good night’s rest.
Wash Linen Weekly—The dust mite is one of the most potent allergens known. They are attracted to environments that are dark, warm, and moist which makes your bed particularly attractive. Couple this with the fact that they feed on dead skin and it’s easy to understand why these conditions allow them to multiply exponentially.
One of the best ways to keep their population under control is to wash linen weekly in water that is 140 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter. They are unable to survive these temperatures. It’s also a good idea to leave the sheets uncovered so that they receive sunlight. Mites are killed when exposed to sunlight. This is wonderful excuse for leaving the bed unmade sometimes.
Encase Bedding—Invest in zippered allergy covers for pillows and mattresses. This makes it nearly impossible for mites to penetrate bedding and increase their population. This can make a huge difference in the stuffiness and congestion that is often experienced at night because of the mite population.
They can be found at many department and super stores as well as specialty linen and bath shops. They are moderate in price, and are well worth the initial investment in terms of the benefits received.
Keep The Dander Down—For most of us who are pet lovers, relaxing most often includes having our beloved pets with us. So will have to judge the degree to which you can manage this. If you think pet dander is an issue and your pooch sleeps on the bed (or on your head), you might first try moving it to a pet bed on the floor. If that works, great!
If that doesn’t work, you may need to resort to having your pet sleep in another room, making the bedroom off limits. And as awful as this may seem at first, it’s better than having to find another home for it. Reducing the dander by removing the pet from the room has made a huge difference for some. Good luck with this. It’s often a tough call.
Minimize Woven Fabrics—Wall-to-wall carpet, upholstered furniture, and draperies can make the bedroom very inviting. Unfortunately, these fabrics are also very inviting for mites and for particulate allergy triggers to hide. These makes dust, mites, pollen, mold and mildew spores available to go airborne with movement from both people and air currents.
Since woven fabrics are more difficult and often more expensive to clean then materials that can be wiped clean, it’s a good idea to consider this when furnishing the bedroom. Since you probably can’t wave a magic wand and redo everything at once, as furnishings need replacing consider making allergy friendly substitutes.
Wood floors, vertical blinds, leather furniture that can be wiped clean are all great choices for minimizing the number of allergens that can hide. Limiting the number of knick knacks and piles in the room can help. Stacks of mail, magazines, books, and clothes can all be havens where allergens can collect. Getting rid of them will go a long way towards clearing the air.
Filter The Air—Using a high efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) air purifier to continually eliminate allergens as small as.3 microns in size is a crucial part of any allergy management plan and can make the bedroom literally a breath of fresh air.