What Can I do to Prevent a Dust Allergy Reaction?

Dust is one of the most common allergens that allergy suffers have to manage on a daily basis. In an extensive study of 8000 participants in Singapore, it was revealed that 80% were allergic to dust mites. So, as you can tell dust allergies are a common complaint. The symptoms are often frustrating and inconvenient. An episode can prove quite debilitating at times. I would like to offer you some simple advice to help you obtain some much-needed relief. Here we will focus on the proactive steps that you can take to manage and minimize the effects of dust allergies.

What can I do to prevent Dust-mite allergic reactions?

Thankfully, there are quite a few things you can do to help prevent a flare. So, the first thing that you should know is that you cannot totally eliminate dust mites in your home. You can clean every inch of your home and you will still have some of these pesky dust mites along. The good news is that you can take steps to reduce their numbers. As such this reduction will no doubt have a positive impact on your allergies.

Use Zippered Dust-Proof Covers

Since the majority of dust mites are found in bedrooms, we encourage you to invest in zippered dust-proof covers for your pillows and mattresses. These covers are specially designed to keep dust mites and their waste products out. They are made of materials that are allergen-impermeable. These dust-proof covers can be bought in most bedding stores in Singapore or if you want a wider variety to choose from you can purchase online.

Zippered dust-proof covers can be made of a variety of materials. They can be made out of vinyl, plastic, or fabric usually cotton. The reason why dust-proof covers are effective is that the pores in the materials are so small that dust mites cannot make their way through.

Plastic and vinyl dust-proof covers are the most affordable. However, many people opt for fabric allergen-impermeable covers. However, when choosing a fabric dust-proof cover there are some factors that you should be aware of. You should choose cotton or synthetic fiber fabric that is woven together in a bi or tri-axial pattern. Also, pay attention to the thread count. In order to keep dust mites out, the thread count of your dust-proof cover should be more than 246 per square inch.

Wash your blankets in hot water

This is a really effective method to help get rid of dust mites. You should always wash your sheets and blankets every week in water that is 70 degrees Celsius or more. The hot water will kill dust mites in your bed linens, leaving you with an improvement of your symptoms! We can further stress on the fact that cold water is ineffective against dust mites.

Get rid of all dust-mite friendly fabrics

All fabrics that have a high porosity will be a haven for dust mites. If they can be easily washed, you can wash them in hot water as instructed above and kill the dust mites. However, where possible get rid of the following:

Carpets: If you have carpets in your house, you have created a lovely home for dust mites. Wall to wall carpeting should be avoided at all cost. Once you can afford it, we recommend wood, linoleum, or tile floors. You will certainly notice the difference.

Curtains: While curtains certainly add to your décor but they can exacerbate your dust allergy. We recommend roll-type shades or maybe have your windows tinted which will keep out some sunlight and give you privacy.

Upholstered Furniture: This type of furniture is usually hard to clean and traps an insane amount of dust particles. The problem with this type of furniture is that dust mites are provided with an environment in which they can borrow deeply and reproduce. As such surface shampoos are ineffective. We recommend furniture with washable cushion covers be used instead.

Down covers and pillows: Even though down pillows and covers are extremely comfortable, they are not a good choice if you have a dust allergy. They are a perfect breeding ground for dust mites. The best pillows for dust allergy sufferers are natural latex, cotton, or wool. If you have down pillows and covers, you should replace them as soon as possible.

Ask for help

Cleaning a dusty environment may be too much for you. So ask someone who does not have a dust allergy to clean your bedroom for you. If that’s not feasible, wear a dust/filtering mask when cleaning, especially if you are vacuuming or dusting. These tasks stir up the dust, so be sure to stay out of your bedroom for a while afterward to allow the dust to settle.

While your bedroom is the priority, you need to remove dust mites from your entire home as well. So little by little, with or without help, clean your house room by room.

Use a Certified filter vacuum cleaner

These vacuum cleaners help remove dust mites and mite waste from your home and trap them, preventing them from getting back into the air. With a certified HEPA vacuum cleaner, you have better air quality in your home. We encourage you to vacuum regularly to keep those unwanted dust mites at bay.

Use washable rugs

By now, you know that hot water kills dust mites. As such always wash your rugs or bathroom mats in hot soapy water. You can also dry clean your rug to get rid of dust mites.

Low Humidity

We recommend that the humidity of your home be less than 50%. A dehumidifier or your air-conditioner can effectively remove moisture from your home.

Filters for your air-conditioning unit

The certified filters in your air conditioner should help trap dust mites. We prefer these filters to the freestanding air cleaners since they only filter a limited area and are less effective. You should also avoid any device that treats the air with ozone, electrostatic ions, or heat.

We certainly hope these tips offered above help you manage your dust allergy more effectively and you experience relief.

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