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Upholstery and Allergies

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For most people, allergies are a minor annoyance. However, if you are one of those people who are allergic to dust, mold, pet dander, pollen, or the new artificially produced products used to make clothing and furniture, such as rayon or acrylic, those allergies may not seem so minor. If your furniture is a breeding ground for dust mites or if you have pets in your home, your home may be what’s making you feel so terrible.

There are many things you can do to ease and even eliminate your symptoms. Carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture capture allergens and hold on to them, causing you to feel allergic every time you are in the same room. Beds, dust ruffles, curtains, and drapes also hold on to allergens, causing symptoms that range from uncomfortable to dangerous.

The easiest way to avoid the allergen trap is to have no fabric at all in your home. Sounds incredibly sterile and uncomfortable, doesn’t it? If that option sounds distasteful to you, there are other options. Wood floors can be just as warm and inviting as carpeted floors and leather furniture can be just as soft and comfortable as fabric upholstered furniture. If you have severe allergies, changing your floors and upholstery fabric may be necessary.

However, if you like most people, regular dusting and cleaning will take care of most allergens in a way that makes you and your family more comfortable. Some tips that will help keep dust and other allergens to a minimum are:

• Never dry dust, but rather use a dusting product that is commercially available or a damp cloth for furniture and a damp dust mop for floors.

• Change your vacuum cleaner bag or empty your vacuum cleaner’s filter and canister after every cleaning. Saving the dust and accompanying dust mites inside the vacuum cleaner is just as harmful as having it on your furniture.

• Don’t neglect vacuuming drapes, blinds, and upholstered furniture when vacuuming your floors. Each of these surfaces can trap allergens.

• Regularly have your fireplace flue and all ductwork cleaned by a professional.

• Replace air filters as often as is necessary to keep your home as dust free as possible. Every other month is usually sufficient.

• Wash and dry bedding on all beds weekly, even in your guest room.

• Rugs should be cleaned by a professional at least twice a year, but more often if you have pets in the home.

By keeping your home clean and dust free, you will diminish or eliminate most allergens. Upholstered fabrics do not have to be banned from your home. A good quality vacuum cleaner and fresh bags and filters after each vacuuming will usually do the trick.

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