Allergies Are in the Air! - Page 2

Consequently, experts recommend against carpeting, and furniture with fabric upholstery—or at least recommends vacuuming them often, if asthma or allergies affect members of your household.

If that is the case, even your vacuum can be improved by use of HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters, which will also help prevent your heating/air conditioning system from exacerbating conditions in the home. If you're inclined to upgrade even more—or if your vacuum dies—Tanja points to the Dyson V6 Absolute model (at $599.99) for its greater power and filtration capacity.

As Oosterhouse indicates, experts recommend using low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint to limit the release of harmful chemicals like formaldehyde into your interior air. The CA-Modern story notes that Benjamin Moore has a zero-VOC line called Natura for just these purposes.

Other decorating nuances that can contribute asthma triggers include unwieldy dusting items like dried flowers, straw baskets, and many knickknacks, or even things you might not think of dusting at all, such as magazines. You also might want to eschew candles and scented air fresheners.

"The added scents can set off all sorts of reactions," says Blake Connoy, managing director of Helpling, an online resource for home cleaners. "Opt for unscented products, and clean your home with natural ingredients, such as vinegar, lemons, and baking soda."

Both cleaning and trigger reduction are more complicated challenges when you have pets. Animal-born allergens include hair, dander, skin flakes, saliva, and urine. Once again, thorough and regular cleaning is your best defense, but also consider banning your pets from upholstered furniture and limiting them to certain rooms, particularly when there's company.

For details on these tips and many more, be sure to check out Tanja's 'Oh, to be allergy free,' in the spring '16 CA-Modern. Here's a PDF of that story in layout.