Spring is a bad time for allergy sufferers, especially when allergens have invaded their homes
Rachel Naud
Sun
Art Robinson, president of Sick Building Solutions in Toronto, is seen here with a spore trap, which collects air samples that will later be tested for allergens. Robinson’s company helps clients find allergens in hiding spots around their homes and shows them how to get rid of them. Photograph by: Tim Fraser, Canwest News Service
Spring cleaning has taken on new meaning in Suzanne Beaubien’s house.
Forget about sweeping out the attic — Beaubien is too busy literally cleaning the spring out of her house.
The B.C. native, now living in New York City, is an allergy sufferer and the pollen and mould seeping into her house from outside is turning what’s supposed to be her sanctuary into a living hell.
“I shut the windows one week ago and haven’t opened them since,” says Beaubien. “I’ve been trying to allergy-proof my home but it’s been hard. The other day there was a fine layer of pollen on my kitchen window sill. I scrubbed everything down to get the pollen out of my house and went crazy with a bucket of water and cleaner on everything plus vacuumed everything and mopped the floors.”
Beaubien has also opted for showering before bed to rinse off any pollen that may be on her skin to reduce nighttime wheezing along with the redness and puffiness of her eyes in the morning.
“I’ve been miserable,” she says. “It’s hard to enjoy your day when your nose is stuffed up and you wake up with swollen eyes. It’s hard to face people when you feel you look really terrible and feel just as bad.”
Springtime can be one of the worst seasons for allergy sufferers but it’s not just a problem for them outdoors.
According to Art Robinson, president of Sick Building Solutions, a Toronto-based company that specializes in treating sick building syndrome, approximately 80 per cent of Canadian households has some kind of indoor air quality issue.
Common household allergens such as dust mites, dander, pollen and mould have a considerable impact on allergy sufferers, causing them to experience puffy, watery and itchy eyes, a dripping nose and respiratory problems such as sneezing and wheezing.
The only real defence allergy sufferers have against indoor allergens is to find the culprits’ top hiding spots.
Here are the household hot spots for allergens and what you can do to get rid of them before they affect you.
– Rugs are one of the biggest allergen-hoarders in the home. “Rugs can harbour mould spores very easily because what happens is people walk outside on the grass and then track the mould in on their feet,” says Robinson.
In addition to mould, dust mites and dander also linger in rugs. To de-allergen a throw rug, wash it and then get it out of the house. “Shake it and hang it outside to dry and get rid of all the stuff that’s in there,” says Robinson. When you bring it back in, toss it in the dryer before you put it back on the floor. The heat from the dryer will kill any lingering allergens such as pollen. Steam cleaning rugs has the same effect. “The steam temperatures are so high it will kill any living allergens,” says Robinson.
– Bedrooms are often considered a private haven. But beware: even if you’re single, you’re more than likely not sleeping alone. Know those dust bunnies hiding under the bed? Those act as mattresses for dust mites. And those dander-eating irritants are also invading your mattress and bedding. “The first thing you should do is buy a mattress cover that won’t allow dust mites or any mite to get through it,” says Robinson. In addition, frequently washing bedding in irritant-free detergent will keep it fresh and dander-free.
– Plants give life to any household but they also house mould. Overwatering plants can lead to mould growing on the soil. Make sure not to water most houseplants more than once a week or so.
– Cardboard boxes stored in a closet can become a wonderful place for mould to grow. “People just don’t think about it because you get warm, moist air in the living space condensing on that cool wall and the cardboard is a wonderful heat source and mould starts to grow,” says Robinson.
– Although vacuuming may seem like a no-brainer when it comes to the battle of the mites, it’s important to make sure the vacuum cleaner has a filter on it “so the vacuum doesn’t just pick up dust and blow it around in the air,” says Robinson.
– Basements can house up to five different kinds of mould, and if there’s ever a leak in the house, it always ends up in the basement, giving anything moisture-friendly a place to grow. Keeping a dehumidifier in the basement is a good way to prevent mould growth. “We always recommend keeping your humidity at 35 to 45 per cent on a consistent basis,” says Robinson.
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