Is Your Home Full of Hidden Allergens?
One in five Americans suffers from allergies or asthma. Interior Designer Robin Williams joins The Doctors to talk about cleaning and decorating to minimize your allergen exposure.
“We need to find the simple solutions that are inexpensive and easy to implement,” Robin explains. Her first step: a natural-fiber mat in the home entryway to ensure that everyone wipes their shoes clean of pollen and other allergens before tracking them through the home. Look for bamboo, jute, or seagrass.
Watch: Is Mold Hiding in Your Home?
Leave shoes and other outerwear in the entry to further cut down on outside allergens entering the home.
The next place to look is your refrigerator ice and water dispensers – how often have you changed the filters? “That’s mold and mildew central, and you’re drinking it!” Robin announces. She recommends changing these filters with the seasons.
Finally, wash or replace your pillow! “Try to get a hypoallergenic pillow with a zippered cover,” says Robin. Wash the cover every three weeks, the pillow itself every three months, and replace it with a new pillow every three years. To keep the pillow from getting lumpy, throw a few tennis balls in the dryer along with it.
ER Physician Dr. Travis Stork recommends keeping a record of when your allergies bother you most – it can help you pinpoint what might be aggravating them.
