- House dust mite minimisation
- Wash sheets, pillow cases and other bedding weekly in hot water (>60̊C). This will kill dust mites and wash away the allergen they produce.
- Dry cleaning is not as effective as it will kill house dust mites but won’t remove the allergen they produce.
- Cover mattress, pillow and quilt with dust mite resistant covers.
- Remove sheepskins or woolen underlays from the bed and bedroom.
- Remove all soft toys from the bed and bedroom.
- Replace them with wooden or plastic toys which can be washed.
- If keeping soft toys, wash them in eucalyptus oil weekly or place in the freezer overnight).
- Freezing soft toys overnight kills mites but does not remove the allergen.
- If possible, consider replacing carpets with hard floors such as wood, tiles,
- Damp dust or use electrostatic cloths to clean hard surfaces (including hard floors) weekly.
- Vacuum carpets weekly, note that vacuuming increases the amount of house dust mite allergen in the air for up to 20 minutes.
- Reduce humidity – Where possible, have a dry and well ventilated house
- Windows – Venetian blinds or flat blinds are easier to clean than heavy curtains. Other options include washable curtains or external shutters.
- Consider house dust mite avoidance measures when building a new home.
- Consider leather or vinyl lounges instead of cloth.
- Pet dander minimisation
- Exposure to pets (such as cats, dogs, guinea pigs, horses, rabbits, mice, rats) at home or work can trigger allergic reactions in some people.
- Cats and dogs are a major source of allergens in the home environment.
- The allergens come from the sweat glands in all cats and salivary glands in all dogs.
- Although the amount of allergen released can vary between breeds, there are no hypoallergenic animals or breeds.
- As allergens are stuck to the hair and skin of pets, the allergens become airborne when the pet sheds their hair.
- The allergens can remain airborne for some time. Cat allergen is especially difficult to remove from homes. It can remain in the house for months after the cat has been removed.
- Cat allergen can also be found in places where cats have never lived. For example, it can be carried around on clothing to schools and offices.
- The most effective method of allergen avoidance for people who are allergic to pets is removal of the pets from the home.
- For example, if there is no doubt that cat or other animal allergen is a major cause of symptoms then the best advice is for the animal to be removed from the home. It can be an emotional decision, but removing the pet should be considered.
- If pets cause only minor problems, keeping pets out of bedrooms and living areas may be a compromise.
- Even then, it may take months after pet removal before allergen levels are reduced. The effectiveness of some measures such as washing animals frequently and using HEPA air filters remains uncertain.
- Dogs, guinea pigs, mice and rabbits are not as allergenic as cats and are more easily kept outside, but can still cause annoying and occasionally serious problems. Horse allergy is very serious and even animal hair on clothes may be sufficient to trigger asthma. Great care must be taken to shower and change clothes before returning to a home of a person allergic to horses. Birds may occasionally cause allergic symptoms. This is a different problem to pigeon fancier’s lung which is a serious condition and requires complete avoidance.
- Mould minimisation
- Mould in the home can show as mould, mildew or a musty smell. It is commonly found in bathrooms, refrigerators and in places with little air circulation such as walk-in and built-in wardrobes, and in bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms.
- If you are allergic to mould, you may consider:
- Removing visible mould by cleaning with bleach or other mould reduction cleaners.
- Ensuring adequate natural ventilation, including the use of extractor fans.
- Sealing leaks in bathrooms and roofs.
- Clearing overflowing gutters and blocked under floor vents.
- Removing indoor pot plants (which promote mould growth).
- Drying or removing wet carpets.
- Avoiding working with garden compost, mulch or mowing lawns.
- Pollen minimisation
- In Australia and New Zealand the height of the grass pollen season usually occurs between late September and December, and the major amount of pollen in the air usually occurs between 6am and noon.
- Depending on the weather patterns, there may be an increase of pollen in the early hours of the morning.
- Although pollen is known to be blown long distances on windy days, most pollen is deposited within a short distance of its source.
- The highest pollen counts occur on calm, hot, sunny days in late October, November and December, although in Queensland the season is different, and January is a particularly high pollen count month.
- Pollen allergy in tropical areas mainly occurs during the dry season. However, higher pollen counts are also associated with thunderstorms.
- When pollen granules come into contact with water, starch granules are released that are small enough to be breathed into the airways, triggering allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and asthma in some people.
- Avoidance of pollen is difficult but the following advice may help:
- Remain indoors (when possible) during pollen seasons, particularly on windy days or after thunderstorms.
- Avoid activities known to cause exposure to pollen, such as mowing grass.
- Shower after outdoor activities where exposure to pollen is high.
- Use re-circulated air in the car when pollen levels are high.
- Wear sunglasses (reduces amount of pollen that gets into eyes).
- Dry bedding and clothing inside or in a tumble dryer.
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