The five most common indoor allergens are dust mites, mold, animal dander, cigarette smoke and cockroaches.
Since most of us spend a majority of our time in the bedroom, it's important to make your bedroom an allergy-free sanctuary. That means, whenever possible, removing bedroom carpet and keeping your hardwood floors dust free as much as possible. If that's not feasible (if you live in an apartment, for instance), then frequent dusting and vacuuming are in order. Check the Consumer Reports web site at www.consumerreports.org to find ratings for the best vacuum cleaners for allergy sufferers.
Asthmatics and severe dust mite allergy sufferers should not vacuum carpet themselves, since vacuuming can stir up dust. So, if you're one of these folks, have someone else do your vacuuming. And if you're allergic to animal dander, be sure to keep pets out of your bedroom at all times.
Dust mites feed on human and animal dander. And it isn't the dust mite that you're allergic to. It's the dust mite's by-product. What happens is that the (dust mites') excrement becomes airborne, and that's what triggers allergy symptoms.
The easiest way to control dust mite excrement is, of course, to control the dust mite population in your home. The best way to do that is to reduce the relative humidity. So close the windows and turn on your air conditioner when the weather is warm. If you don't have air conditioning or you don't want to run up your utility bill, invest in a dehumidifier, which is especially useful in the basement of your home.
