About one-third of American adults have diagnosed allergic conditions. Some of the most common inhaled allergens include dust mites, animal dander and mold spores — all of which can be found in the home.
“I believe that everyone has the propensity to wheeze and sneeze if their house is not clean,” said Robin Wilson, owner of the design firm Robin Wilson Home.
Building on her experiences with childhood allergies, Wilson’s business creates products and design protocols that help reduce the amount of allergens in the home. Wilson calls the concept “clean home design.”
Stay informed on the latest news
Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.
Wilson recently joined WPR’s “The Larry Meiller Show” to share tips for a cleaner, allergen-aware home.
Here are three areas of the home where you can practice clean design strategies, according to Wilson.
1. Your walls, plus heating and cooling systems
Walls are the biggest surface in your home, Wilson said, so they deserve your attention. Coat them with zero-VOC paint and be sure to dust them regularly.
And don’t forget about your heating and cooling systems. You should change your HVAC system’s filter on a monthly basis, Wilson said.
“Some people have a monoflow system where water runs through pipes within the wall. I suggest that every couple of years, you change that water,” Wilson said. “During the off season, it’s just sitting there [so] potential mold growth could occur.”
2. Your bedroom
We spend a third of our lives sleeping in our bedroom, Wilson said. Yet she often runs into people who haven’t replaced their pillow for several years.
“A simple pillow test is [to] try to fold your pillow in half,” Wilson said. “If it bounces back, you’re in good shape. If it stays in place, it probably weighs more now than when you bought it.”
Wilson said it’s easy to try out the “rule of three.” Every three weeks, you should wash the zippered case that’s covering your pillow. Every three months, wash the actual pillow. And after three years, get a new pillow.
3. Your bathroom
The bathroom is the perfect place for mold to grow, especially if you have wallpaper. If you do, Wilson recommends taking it down today.
Additionally, make sure you use a backer board under any tiling, Wilson said. Choose a backer board made of moisture-resistant material.
Lint from bathroom towels attracts dust and mites, common allergy triggers. Wilson said a solution is to buy long strand cotton towels, which don’t shed as much lint as other kinds of towels.
