SIOUX CITY | Keeping a clean, dry home is the best way to limit exposure to indoor allergens, which commonly cause coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, a running nose and a scratchy throat.
Your bedroom is where you're most likely to be exposed to allergens, according to Dr. Christopher Tumpkin, an allergy and asthma specialist at Sioux City Allergy & Asthma Associates, 4280 Sergeant Road.
"The bed's really the biggest issue because we sleep on pillows and mattresses where the dust mites congregate at the highest concentration," he said.
Bringing pets into your bedroom can be problematic if you're allergic to pet dander. Tumpkin said it's best to limit dogs and cats to other areas of the house. They can track in pollen, ragweed and other outdoor allergens on their paws and coats.
"Just by airflow, the allergen floats, gets on the bed and stays in the mattress over time," he said.
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People also transfer outdoor allergens onto their sheets and pillows. Placing cases and covers over pillows and mattress, Tumpkin said, is the most effective way to decrease allergy exposure.
"They're the one thing that's scientifically been proven to change actual clinical health," he said.
Routinely changing and washing sheets, especially during peak allergy season, Tumpkin said, is essential. He also recommends purchasing an air purifier and a high-efficiency filter for your furnace to capture dust and other allergens.
"If you're going to use an air purifier, you have to make sure that you're keeping the door closed while you're sleeping because an air purifier cannot clean a whole house," he said.
Hard flooring, Tumpkin said, is easier to clean and remove allergens from than carpet. If you do have carpeting in your home, he said you should have a vacuum cleaner with an allergy or water filter.
"Even bag-less is OK, as long as it's not leaking," he said.
Tumpkin said you should vacuum regularly and wear a mask while doing so if you have allergies so you don't inhale the particles you're stirring up.
"There are some products that you can now put on carpets that help to degrade dust mite and animal dander," he said. "I wouldn't say those have been clinically proven to affect health, but they do definitely decrease the amount of allergens that are found."
Molds are fungi that are sometimes discovered in bathrooms, on windowsills, shower curtains or walls. One of the most common places to find mold in a home is in the basement. Using a dehumidifier in the summer can help control humidity.
"Your goal is get the humidity down in the house. I like to get it down below 40. I consider 40 to 50 the danger zone," Tumpkin said. "Some people will say 50 percent is what mold loves. I just say I'm not even going to give it anything that it even likes."
If mold is found during the winter, Tumpkin said water damage is likely the culprit. If you find mold, he said you shouldn't panic. Clean it up. If you have a hard time controlling mold, he said you should seek out a mold remediation specialist.
"I don't want people to start putting holes in walls," he said. "I don't think that's an efficient way."
