Do you or your kids suffer from watery eyes or itchy skin? There are steps you can take to make your home an allergy-free zone.
Do you or your kids suffer from watery eyes or itchy skin? There are steps you can take to make your home an allergy-free zone.
According to the Dyson Dust Report, which commissioned a microbiology lab at the National University of Singapore to collect dust samples from 27 local homes, the average gram of dust collected was found to contain high concentrations of bacteria, mould and dust mites.
These are likely the culprits that can cause allergic reactions in most, especially children. Fortunately, there are ways to minimise the misery. Try our room-by-room plan to detox your home of the major causes.
Detox Your Home
The Bedroom
1 De-clutter. Banish dust magnets including too many cushions or soft furnishings. If you must keep your stuffed toys, regularly pop them into the freezer for 24 hours to kill dustmites before washing them in the washing machine to remove allergens.
2 Remove Carpets. The carpet is a haven for dustmites, so opt for washable floor rugs, or air them in the sun to kill off dustmites if they can’t be washed easily.
3 Use Dust Mite Covers for Mattresses, Doonas and Pillows. They trap dust mite droppings inside while allowing air to circulate.
4 Create a No-go Zone for Pets. A study of cat owners shows if you ban your feline friends from the bedroom it significantly reduces your risk of developing a cat allergy.
5 Wash Pillowcases and sheets weekly in hot water (55 C).
The Kitchen
Turn on the exhaust fan above the stove top to reduce humidity in the kitchen.
Check for water leaks under the kitchen sink or around the dishwasher (if you have one).
Empty and clean drip trays under the dish strainers and the refrigerator’s vegetable compartment regularly.
The Living Room
1 Fabric Upholstery holds moisture and attracts dust mites. So when it’s time to replace your furniture, opt for easy-to-clean surfaces like leather or removable fabric covers that can be easily and regularly washed.
2 Dust Weekly using a damp or microfibre cloth to remove allergens rather than flicking them around with a dry or feather duster.
3 Avoid too many scatter cushions and make sure to wash covers regularly.
4 Ditch plug-in automatic air fresheners or insect sprays as they emit volatile organic compounds that can sometimes irritate sensitive noses.
5 Ventilate naturally since air-conditioning can increase airborne mould. On non-hazy days, open up the windows to ventilate the home.
6 Choose roller blinds or washable curtains over venetian blinds or heavy drapes which attract more dust.
The Bathroom
Your bathroom is a prime spot for mould, so ventilation is important. Turn on your exhaust fan daily and open the windows wide. Wipe down the walls to remove condensation or water after your shower.
Fix dripping taps. A faulty seal or leaking pipe behind the toilet or under the sink can cause mould growth in those areas.
Install glass shower screens which can be easily cleaned. If you have a shower curtain, it’s best to get one that can be regularly cleaned in the washing machine and dried in the sun or dryer.
"If you have outdoor plants, dust them regularly and remove any dead vegetation that may harbour mould."
Helpful Tools
Hese smart gadgets help keep your area and air around you clean to minimise allergic reactions.
Dyson Pure Cool Link
Dyson’s air purifiers tackle 99.95 per cent particles and dust mites’ faecal matter down to the size of 0.1 microns, all thanks to a state-of-theart 360 deg glass HEPA filter. The new Dyson Pure Cool Link can also monitor the air quality in your home and automatically purifies the pollutants it detects.
LG HOM-BOT Square
The LG Hom-Bot Square is one smart machine for the busiest homemakers. It cleans your home as often as you require without you lifting a finger. We think the Hom-Bot Square is an ideal appliance for sensitive ones especially since it traps harmful dust particles and helps release clean air back into your home. At $1,299.
LG CordZero
This cordless vacuum machine is a great solution for a deep clean regimen. It has the world’s first motorised dust compression technology to pack three times more dust than a typical vacuum cleaner, and has a stretchable cord for hard-to-reach areas. Its four-layer carbon HEPA 14 filter traps up to 99.999 per cent of harmful dust particles. At $1,299.
LG Top Load Warm Wash WFT1181
The top load warm washer offers hot washing function to sanitise the laundry, as well as a large 11kg capacity to fit several pieces of bed linens, quilts, curtains. Big on the inside but compact on the outside ¯ this is great for petite laundry yards or kitchens. At $1,249.
The Top 3 Culprits
Doctors and allergy specialists identify three major causes of allergy symptoms.
Dust Mites
These microscopic eight-legged creatures live off the dead skin we shed every day. you’re not allergic to the dust mite itself but rather the protein in its droppings that get into your nose, eyes or lungs.
The Dyson Dust Report found your mattresses in particular had the highest concentrations of dust mite allergens. Dust mites are everywhere, so it’s not possible to completely eradicate them. It is, however, possible to minimise your exposure enough to reduce your allergy symptoms.
Mould
Mould is a fungus that grows in areas exposed to damp conditions. Due to our humid weather, those hotspots are now in bathrooms, kitchen, and even in your bed, says the Dyson Dust Report. mould reproduces by releasing spores, which become airborne and can trigger asthma or allergy symptoms.
It’s almost impossible to keep mould spores out of your house, so the trick is to prevent mould from taking hold by removing it wherever it’s found and making sure your home is well-ventilated and dry.
Family Pets
Allergy specialists used to advise people prone to allergy to ban pets from the family home altogether. But research shows exposure to domestic animals can actually reduce the overall risk of developing an allergy, so now it’s recommended you only avoid animals if you’re already allergic to them. And it seems it’s really the proteins in the skin oils and saliva of household pets you’re reacting to, not the dog or cat hair.
