What do you do to keep allergens like mould & mildew, dust mites and pet dander under control in your home?

Molds, mildews, bacteria, and dust mites like the same conditions that we do--warmth and moderate to high humidity. They need little more than a constant moisture supply for survival. You may find bacteria, molds, and mildews in air conditioning equipment, humidifier reservoirs, dehumidifier drip pans, shower heads, toilets, and ice machines. Water damaged carpets, ceiling panels, walls, and paneling are prime sites for new growth if they are allowed to stay damp. What measures can be taken to control this:

Reduce relative humidity.

If you find mold or mildew in your home, try to find and eliminate sources of moisture, such as plumbing leaks.

Dry the air. Use a chemical or mechanical dehumidifier. Empty collecting (drip) pan daily.

Open closet doors to allow air to circulate. Use a 40-watt light bulb to dry and heat air in closets.

Vent bathrooms and clothes dryers to the outside.

Do not use humidifiers.

Trim back trees and shrubs around the house to reduce shade.

Remove debris from your yard, roof, and gutters.

Clean mold and mildew growth from walls with water mixed with chlorine bleach, diluted three parts water to one part bleach. Commercial products can also remove mildew and mold. Follow product instructions carefully. Very moldy items should be replaced.

Change heating and cooling system filters monthly.

Vacuum air return covers or screens regularly.

Check air conditioners for mold before each cooling season and have coils cleaned as needed.

Have heating/cooling system ductwork checked for loose insulation, leaks, or signs of condensation where the system enters the house. Insulate ducts on the outside of the ductwork.

Air cleaners and filters are other options. Electronic and hePA (high efficiency particulate absolute) cleaners and filters are best at taking mold, mildew, and dust out of the air.

This is a link to more information on Identifying and Correcting Moisture Problems in Homes.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/fcs/index.html

DUST MITES -- It is not known how well any single measure controls dust mite populations. However, it is known that effective mite control requires that relative humidity be maintained below 50 percent. In addition, since you spend about a third of each day in your bedroom, concentrate your efforts there.

Wash sheets, pillowcases, and mattress covers frequently in hot soapy water. If someone in your family is allergic to dust mites, buy special vinyl covers for the pillow and mattress.

Ordinary vacuuming does not remove or reduce mite populations. Mites are so tiny that they pass through the vacuum cleaner bag. High-efficiency filters for vacuum cleaners may be used in place of conventional filters.

Remove stuffed animals and objects that collect dust. If carpeting is used, short-pile is best.

Some new products may help reduce dust mite populations. Ask your doctor about control solutions for upholstered furniture and bedding.

PET DANDER -- Cats, dog, birds, and hamsters all have dander. A general misconception about pets and allergies is that the fur of the animal is what is causing the allergic reaction. If you are allergic to cats, chances are it has nothing to do with the hair but the skin flakes that are emitted. Many people get short-hair breeds of pets thinking that they have decreased their allergy threat but have done nothing to help the problem.

Sadly, the easiest way to control this can also be the most emotionally difficult. The best thing you can do if you're allergic to animal dander is get rid of the animal. However, before you say goodbye to your pet there are some things you can do. If you are suffering from allergies it would be a good idea to go to a doctor to undergo testing to pinpoint your allergens. Perhaps you aren't allergic to pet dander and it isn't necessary to part ways with your pet.

If you are choosing to keep your four-legged friend despite your animal dander allergy, then it is vital to keep your home immaculately clean. First, since pet dander is sticky, it is best to get rid of carpet and furniture the animal is on frequently. Bare floors and clean walls are very important. Next, using HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filtering with vacuums and air conditioning will help in catching dander instead of spreading it. Finally, the pet should be cleaned weekly and regularly groomed to keep dander levels down. Studies have shown washing a cat once a week can remove enough dander to provide a lot of relief to allergy and asthma sufferers. O_O

Get a mattress and bed spring cover that zips up and encloses the mattress. Same goes for the pillows.

Keep stuffed animals out of the bedroom.

Launder the sheets weekly. Launder the comforter or quilt often, too.

Vacuum weekly. Or more often.

Use a dehumidifier.

Use highly rated air filters (read the labels because some are just for dust, but others filter out allergens.) The higher the number the more it filters.

Change the air filters every 3 months, even if it doesn't seem dirty. You can't see the allergens, so you won't see the filter get dirty. You may also notice the heating or cooling bill go down when you change the filter regularly. I did.

Dust with a spray and cloth so that the dust doesn't fly in the air; it stays on the cloth.

Keep the doors and windows closed.

Try to keep the pets out of the room where you sleep and definitely keep them off the bed and couch.

Give your pets frequent baths (about weekly).

First of all "no pets" would remedy pet dander. If you choose to keep pets inside make sure thay are bathed accordingly and whenever they go outside wipe there feet off with a towel upon re-entering the home. Pets can bring anything into the home from there bodies.....even poison ivy/oak resin .

The number one best way is.... Keep A Clean House, NOT A TIDY HOUSE, A CLEAN HOUSE... with daily vacuuming dusting etc.Do not let dirty laundry pile up or dirty dishes in the sink.This is a mould mildew bacteria haven.

My daughter suffers from anaphylaxis and severe allergies. To keep her alive and healthy I do the following things.

In the bathroom I have good ventilation, a heater and I wipe the shower out every day straight after using it. Mould can be kept under control by removing wet towels and giving the bathroom a good spray once a month with an exit mould spray.

In the bedrooms you can buy covers to place over doona covers, pillows and mattresses. They are expensive but well worth it. Heat or the cold from a freezer is a cheap way of keeping things free of dust mites. Use the clothes dryer or the freezer.

I use an Electrolux vacuum cleaner. It picks up everything on kitchen floors and carpets in all rooms, I also use it to go over the mattresses on the beds. I cannot believe how much white power that comes out of the mattresses. The woollen underlay I wash regularly and leave in direct sunlight to dry. In between washes throw it into the clothes dryer on hot, kills dust mites on the spot.

If you keep the house work up to date, vacuum twice a week, use the special bedding covers and keep the bathroom dry you really don't need chemicals to kill or destroy.

I use very little cleaning products and the ones that I do use are not hostile to the human body or the environment!

I have also changed my lounge room suit from material to leather, the cushions go through the hot dryer on a regular basis.

Completely remove all carpeting. That's what we did and now the allergens, dust mites and pet dander are under control. My kids have bad allergies and so it was time to do a total makeover and installing the hardwood floors. I hope this helps. Have a Great Day & Fantastic Week! :)

The dirt issues like dust mites, pet dander are best handled with the correct filters for your furnace and a/c if you have central air AND a good vacuum cleaner that is properly maintained, run frequently and thoroughly. Placing rugs at all entries and removing shoes as soon as you come in help a lot also. 80% of the dirt in our homes comes in on people's feet. Keeping your animals groomed and bathed also help as well as feeding them a healthy diet.

Mold and mildew can only grow where there are damp conditions and no air flow. Remove those two and you won't have either. Run a dehumidifier if necessary and increase air flow with a fan. Use the exhaust fans in bathrooms, leave the shower curtain open to allow the water to dry up. Regular cleaning is also prudent. If you don't want to use chemicals, white vinegar and water help. Bleach is the only thing that will really kill the stuff. Kill it and increase the air flow and clean often with the white vinegar and water and you won't have the issue.

with pet dander..I vacuum and dust my home with a wet paper towel. In regard to dust mites..I would suggest a steam cleaner to kill them..but it is hard to kill all of them. If you have a coach or a mattress that you can replace after thoroughly cleaning you home that would be best. Mold and mildew depends on the severity of the amount. You can try to get rid of it with bleach..but this only works on mold and in small situations like your bathroom. Mildew you can buy a household cleaner that can take care of this. Good luck.

1. Good quatity A/C filter

"There are two types of high effeciency filters you can get. One is a pleated paper filter, about 6-8" thick. It gets replaced once every 4-6 months. According to literature, it actually gets better with age. The other filter is an electrostatic one. There is a small pre-filter that needs to be cleaned monthly and then cells, charged to take care of small particles. There are a couple of things about both filters. In terms of filtering out the smallest of particles (including allergens) the electrostatic wins. What they don’t tell you is that it has to be cleaned regularly (monthly) to remain effecient. Not a hard job, just something they don’t tell you. The paper filters do a good job and last long, but could cost up to $50 to replace! In the end, I went with the electrostatic. There’s less dust in my hose and cleaning it is no big deal."

2. Good Furnace filter

3. Window filters

4. Hepa filter in vacuum.

5. Room filter

6. Mop/ clean with baking soda and bleach/ peroxide.

7. Brush pet outside regularly to reduce shedding indoors.

8. Dog fur/ hair has mould. Wipe down regularly with a mix of peroxide and water.

9. Spray the rooms with a disinfecting spray (e.g. Clorox - Spring Mist is nice & fresh)

The Alen air purifier has multi-filtration technology contains HEPA filtration, an ozone safe Ionizer and a long-lasting ultraviolet light.

The HEPA filter in the Alen air purifier has been tested to remove airborne particles like dust, dust mites, pet dander, mold spores and pollen.

The Alen Paralda air purifier is green - literally. The translucent exterior poetically suspends the bamboo green interior portraying a feeling of freshness. The Paralda air purifier is also green, in design; it's RoHS compliant, Energy Star qualified and ozone safe. Lifetime Warranty

I bought a Kirby vacuum cleaner years ago and haven't looked back since. It's so powerful that it picks up everything. I even put the brush attachment on to do most of the dusting.

I don't have much mould in my house, usually only the bathroom is the problem so I always have a window open, wide in the warmer months and a few centimetres in winter. If mould does spring up then I buy a good mould and mildew cleaner and go over the shower and the walls. Seems to help.

I also have a few small containers with cat litter about to absorb any excess moisture.

Does Bleach Kill Dust Mites

To get rid of mold and mildew i found the best way is your use clorox bleach on it. The only problem is that it is toxic to breathe in which forces you to need to stay out of the room for atleast a couple hours. for dust mites and pet dander just use a standard air filter.