Minimise allergens in your home with these tips

Mobile phones

• Make a habit of checking the pollen count online or on an app – then when it’s high, try to stay indoors

Living Room

• Close the windows on high pollen count days
• Reconsider your flower arrangements (here’s a reason bees like flowers – they are full of pollen! – so and swap out fresh flowers for greenery and indoor plants)
• Wipe surfaces and vacuum floors and sofas regularly to avoid build-up of allergens

Bathroom

• Have a scrub after spending time outdoors (this will help remove excess pollen from your skin and hair)

Laundry

• Check the pollen count before hanging out your washing or use a clothes airer or tumble dryer to dry clothing and bedding indoors (this is because hanging items outside on high pollen count days means you potentially bring that pollen back indoors)

Car

• Use re-circulated air in the car when pollen levels are high

Mobile phones

• Make a habit of checking the pollen count online or on an app – then when it’s high, try to stay indoors

Living Room

• Close the windows on high pollen count days
• Reconsider your flower arrangements (here’s a reason bees like flowers – they are full of pollen! – so and swap out fresh flowers for greenery and indoor plants)
• Wipe surfaces and vacuum floors and sofas regularly to avoid build-up of allergens

Bathroom

• Have a scrub after spending time outdoors (this will help remove excess pollen from your skin and hair)

Laundry

• Check the pollen count before hanging out your washing or use a clothes airer or tumble dryer to dry clothing and bedding indoors (this is because hanging items outside on high pollen count days means you potentially bring that pollen back indoors)

Car

• Use re-circulated air in the car when pollen levels are high

Bedroom

• Take care of your bedding in order to kill dust mites and wash away the allergens produced. You can:
  - Wash bedding in hot water (over 60oC) each week
  - Wash in cold water with a product designed to kill dust mites (this will likely contain tea tree or eucalyptus oil)
  - Wash in cold water then tumble dry on hot for a further 10 minutes
• Use dust mite resistant bed covers
• Remove soft toys from bedroom. If you cannot replace them with wood/plastic alternatives, wash them with eucalyptus oil and place overnight in the freezer to kill dust mites and remove allergens

Living room

• Consider replacing cloth sofas for leather or vinyl alternatives (they are easier to wipe clean). Vacuum sofas weekly if this is not possible
• Dust with a damp or electrostatic cloth

Floors

• If able, replace carpets with an alternative that can be easily mopped clean (think tiles, wood). This is because it’s very difficult to completely vacuum all allergens
• If you cannot replace carpets, vacuum weekly (ideally, delegate this to a non-allergy sufferer, as dust mites will be stirred up initially while vacuuming)

Windows

• Open windows where possible (ventilation helps decrease humidity, which can help decrease levels of dust mites)
• If able, consider replacing curtains for blinds (they are easier to wipe clean)

Bedroom

• Take care of your bedding in order to kill dust mites and wash away the allergens produced. You can:
  - Wash bedding in hot water (over 60oC) each week
  - Wash in cold water with a product designed to kill dust mites (this will likely contain tea tree or eucalyptus oil)
  - Wash in cold water then tumble dry on hot for a further 10 minutes
• Use dust mite resistant bed covers
• Remove soft toys from bedroom. If you cannot replace them with wood/plastic alternatives, wash them with eucalyptus oil and place overnight in the freezer to kill dust mites and remove allergens

Living room

• Consider replacing cloth sofas for leather or vinyl alternatives (they are easier to wipe clean). Vacuum sofas weekly if this is not possible
• Dust with a damp or electrostatic cloth

Floors

• If able, replace carpets with an alternative that can be easily mopped clean (think tiles, wood). This is because it’s very difficult to completely vacuum all allergens
• If you cannot replace carpets, vacuum weekly (ideally, delegate this to a non-allergy sufferer, as dust mites will be stirred up initially while vacuuming)

Windows

• Open windows where possible (ventilation helps decrease humidity, which can help decrease levels of dust mites)
• If able, consider replacing curtains for blinds (they are easier to wipe clean)

Garden

• Mould thrives in damp environments, so regularly clean out overflowing gutters
• Delegate lawn mowing or gardening tasks involving compost and mulch

Living Room

• Remove indoor plants, as they can increase mould growth

Bedroom

• Clean regularly with bleach or other adequate cleaners
• Ventilate by opening windows and using extractor fans
• Fix any leaks or blocked floor vents

Kitchen and bedroom

• Look into refrigerator, ensuite, closets and cupboards and clean regularly with bleach (if the material allows) or other mould removing product

Garden

• Mould thrives in damp environments, so regularly clean out overflowing gutters
• Delegate lawn mowing or gardening tasks involving compost and mulch

Living Room

• Remove indoor plants, as they can increase mould growth

Bedroom

• Clean regularly with bleach or other adequate cleaners
• Ventilate by opening windows and using extractor fans
• Fix any leaks or blocked floor vents

Kitchen and bedroom

• Look into refrigerator, ensuite, closets and cupboards and clean regularly with bleach (if the material allows) or other mould removing product