Bagless vacuums are the leading cause of allergies in your home. Although many of the leading bagless vacuums are HEPA rated, they relay on filters which get clogged up fast. This in turn makes the vacuum inefficient causing them to leak dust and allergens into the environment. For the bagless vacuums to remain effecive, their filters must be washed or replaced with frequency. Unfortuately, filters tend to be expensive and have a limited life span-- there are no such thing as "lifetime filters'.
For this reason, the most expedious and practical manner to reduce allergens in your home is to own a vacuum with a HEPA filter and a bag that when full can be thrown away and replaced with a new one. Moreover, vacuum bags are inexpensive and maintain you home clean.
Most suffers of allergies and asthma test positive for dust mite allergies.
Dust mite allergens can be find all around your home in places like your carpet,
upholstered furniture, clothing, bed and even in your car. In fact the best place for dust mites is a person's bed.
One of the ways you can kill dust mites is by vacuuming regularly with a HEPA vacuum cleaner.
PET DANDER
Contrary to popular believe hair or fur is not what causes an allergic reaction, the main allergen is a protein found in pet dander.
Pet dander are tiny pieces of dead skin that have flaked off the animal. Pet dander can float in the air for a long time before it sticks to a surface,
therefore Pet dander can spread around a home even in those areas where your pet is not allowed. Exposure to pet dander can cause allergy symptoms like itchy eyes, runny nose, etc.
Fortunately you can minimize your exposure to dust mites, pet dander and other allergens by vacuuming your home on a regular basis. Here are a few tips on how to vacuum your home:
Vacuum top to bottom: Start by removing the dust in your home from the highest levels and work your way down. Don't forget to vacuum drapery too.
Make sure your vacuum cleaner bag is not full
Make sure your brush roller is clean
Make sure you have the proper attachments
Once you are ready to start vacuuming make sure:
You remove any large debris on your path
Don't forget to do do corners and baseboards
Use slow movements to allow the vacuum time to absorb all of the dust
MOLD
Mold spores are carried in the air and may be present all year long. Mold is most common indoors in damp locations such as basements, bathrooms, or washrooms. Fabrics, rugs, stuffed animals,
books, or wallpaper can contain mold spores if they are kept in a damp place. Outdoors, mold lives in the soil, on compost, and on damp vegetation.
Mold spores are everywhere. You can reduce your exposure to mold by following these steps:
Keep rooms dry and use a dehumidifier if necessary.
Throw out moldy or mildewed articles such as books, toys, and shoes.
Use synthetic fabrics for clothing and household furnishings whenever possible. Disinfect bathrooms, basement walls, and furniture with diluted bleach or other disinfectant solutions.
DUST
House dust contains tiny particles of pollen, mold, fibers from clothing and fabrics, detergents, and microscopic insects (mites). Dust mites, including small fragments of dead mites,
are the primary cause of dust allergy and are found in the highest numbers in bedding, mattresses and box springs.
You can take several steps to limit exposure to dust mites.
Wrap mattresses, box springs, and pillows with mite-proof covers.
Wash bedding and pillows once a week in hot water (130° F to 140° F).
If you can, get rid of upholstered furniture. Try to use wooden, leather, or vinyl.
Keep indoor air dry. Try to keep the humidity level lower than 50%
Wipe dust with a damp cloth and vacuum once a week preferredly with a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.
Replace wall-to-wall carpet with wood or other hard flooring.
Keep stuffed toys off the beds, and wash them weekly.
Replace slatted blinds and cloth draperies with pull-down shades. They will not collect as much dust.
Keep closets clean, and keep closet doors closed.
POLLEN
Each spring, summer, and fall, tiny particles, know as pollen, are released from trees, weeds, and grasses which use air currents to travel. Although their mission is to
fertilize parts of other plants, many never reach their targets. Instead, they enter human's noses and throats, triggering a type of seasonal allergic rhinitis called pollen allergy, which many
people know as hay fever or rose fever (depending on the season in which the symptoms occur). Of all the things that can cause an allergy, pollen is one of the most widespread.
Solutions.
Air purifiers with a HEPA filter can help filter the air eliminating airborne pollen spores.
HEPA vacuum cleaners can reduce pollen spore concentrations in carpets.