- Common bedroom allergens include dust mites, pet dander, and mold.
- Regular cleaning and proper ventilation promotes an allergen-free environment.
- In addition to these practices, consider using a custom nasal spray for allergy symptoms.
You might be surprised to learn that your bedroom is a common hotspot for allergens in your home. If you find yourself sneezing or dealing with a runny or stuffy nose, particularly at night or in the morning, can feel like a persistent nuisance. Not to mention, allergy symptoms affect your overall comfort.
In this article, we’ll discuss ways you can control allergens in your bedroom to help you breathe easier and sleep better.
What are Common Allergens Found in Bedrooms?
Allergens that are present in bedrooms can disrupt your daily life, especially if you're prone to allergies or respiratory issues like asthma.
These common allergens in bedrooms include [*]:
- Dust mites. These tiny creatures that thrive in places where dead skin cells accumulate, such as beddings, mattresses, and carpets.
- Pet dander. This originates from the skin cells shed by animals with fur or feathers, such as cats, dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, and birds.
- Mold. Common places where mold can grow in the bedroom include around windows, in humidifiers, on walls, or in carpets and upholstery that have been exposed to moisture.
- Pollen. During high pollen seasons, pollen can easily enter your home through open windows and doors. It can also cling to your clothing, hair, and skin when you spend time outside, and then transferred to your bedding.
How to Reduce Allergens in Bedroom
Reducing allergens in your bedroom does require regular effort, but it can significantly improve air quality and comfort. Here are some strategies:
1. Reduce dust mite exposure from your bed
Dust mites thrive in the warm, humid environment of bedding. Feeding on dead skin cells, they produce waste products that can trigger allergic reactions.
To eliminate dust mites and remove their waste, regularly wash bed linens, pillowcases, and mattress covers in hot water (at least 130°F or 54°C). You might also need to remove unnecessary items from the bedroom, especially those that attract dust, like stuffed animals, old magazines, and excess clothing [*].
2. Use allergen-proof covers
This is the most important thing to do for a dust mite allergy. Allergen-proof covers are specially designed bedding accessories that help reduce exposure to allergens, particularly dust mites.
Using them helps reduce allergens in your bedroom by creating a barrier that prevents dust mites and other allergens from penetrating pillows and mattresses. Be sure to periodically check the covers for wear and tear, and replace them if they become damaged or lose their effectiveness.
3. Wash beddings weekly
Washing beddings weekly helps reduce allergens by removing dust mites, their waste, and other allergens that accumulate on sheets, pillowcases, and blankets. Hot water kills mites and cleans away allergenic particles so that your bedding stays fresh.
Here’s a helpful tip: Have multiple sets of bedding to rotate through, which ensures you always have clean sheets and reduces the risk of allergens accumulating.
4. Vacuum regularly
Vacuuming regularly helps reduce allergens in your bedroom by removing dust, pet dander, and other particles from carpets, rugs, and furniture.
Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter ensures that these allergens are captured and not released back into the air, which helps to keep the air cleaner and reduces the overall allergen levels in the room.
5. Consider washable curtains or roller shades
Washable curtains and roller shades help reduce allergens in your bedroom by providing an easy way to manage and eliminate allergen accumulation on window treatments.
You should aim to wash curtains and clean roller shades at least once every 1-2 months, or more frequently if you live in a high-pollen area or have pets.
If purchasing new curtains, look for materials that are less likely to attract dust and allergens, such as synthetic or treated fabrics designed for easy cleaning.
6. Ensure proper ventilation
When a room is well-ventilated, air flows in and helps to disperse accumulated allergens such as dust, pollen, and mold spores that might otherwise become concentrated indoors.
This airflow also aids in reducing indoor humidity levels, which can discourage the growth of mold and dust mites.
Ways to maintain ventilation include using exhaust fans or employing an air exchange system.
7. Use air purifiers
Air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters are particularly effective in capturing fine particles such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and mold spores.
As the air circulates through the purifier, these filters trap and remove allergens, preventing them from circulating and settling on surfaces throughout the room. This process not only improves indoor air quality but also helps to create a cleaner and more breathable environment.
8. Keep pets out of your bedroom
Keeping pets out of your bedroom helps reduce allergens by minimizing the presence of pet dander, which is a common trigger for allergic reactions. When pets are excluded from the bedroom, there is less dander and related allergens accumulating in this space.
After handling your pets, wash your hands and change clothes if you’ve been in contact with them. This helps minimize the transfer of allergens to the bedroom.
9. Close windows during high pollen seasons
Many trees produce pollen, which is released into the air during their flowering season. Common trees include oak, birch, cedar, pine, and maple.
Closing windows during high pollen season helps reduce allergens in your bedroom by preventing outdoor pollen from entering the indoor environment. Pollen, which is carried by the wind, can easily infiltrate a room through open windows and settle on surfaces such as bedding, furniture, and floors.
10. Declutter your bedroom
Cluttered spaces often include numerous objects such as books, magazines, and decorative items that can provide hiding places for dust mites and mold spores.
The key is to simplify and reduce the number of items in your bedroom so that it’s easier to clean and less likely to accumulate allergens.
When decluttering, focus on areas prone to dust accumulation, such as bookshelves, nightstands, and under the bed.
Tip: If you’re getting new items for your bedroom, choose materials that resist dust accumulation, such as leather or metal furniture and synthetic or easy-to-clean fabrics.
The Bottom Line
Maintaining a bedroom free from allergens requires regular effort and mindful practices, and the benefits for your health and comfort are well worth it. With the strategies shared here, you'll create a more comfortable space that’s conducive to restful sleep.
For those who continue to experience nasal allergy symptoms despite these efforts, consider Allermi nasal spray. Allermi provides targeted relief for all nasal allergy symptoms with a dose tailored to your specific allergy severity and history.
References:
- Control Indoor Allergens to Improve Indoor Air Quality. (2024, April 19). Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America. https://aafa.org/allergies/prevent-allergies/control-indoor-allergens/
- Dust Mites. (n.d.). https://www.lung.org/clean-air/indoor-air/indoor-air-pollutants/dust-mites
