Breathe Easy: Tips to Keep Your Bedroom Free of Dust and Allergens

Spring is in the air, and that means it's time for some spring cleaning! One of the most important areas of your home to focus on is your bedroom. The National Institute for Health estimates that we spend approximately 1/3 of our lives in our bedrooms, making it an incredibly important place to keep fresh and clean.

The nation’s largest indoor allergen study found that of 70,000 homes, 99% of them had at least one of eight common allergens present and 70% had three or more. Those of us with asthma and allergies are at a higher risk for infections and asthma attacks when these allergens are present. Consistent cleaning of mattresses, furniture, and flooring can vastly help reduce the presence of these nagging allergens.

Here are some suggestions to help eliminate allergens, including dust and dust mites, in your bedroom.

1. Get a mattress protector. Make sure your mattress cover is easily washable, so you can clean it seasonally.
2. Vacuum your bedroom frequently. Pay close attention to thoroughly vacuuming the top and sides of your mattress, the box spring, bedframe, upholstered furniture, and carpeting. Some mattresses even open so you can get your vacuum wand inside to clean even the deepest crevices.
3. Wash your bed linens often. Between the sweat, dead skin, and allergen accumulation, it’s important to strip and wash your sheets, duvets, and comforters frequently. Be sure to select bed linens that are easily machine washable for convenience.
4. Finally, don’t forget to look up! Lighting fixtures and ceiling fans can be a source of dust accumulation. They can spread that dust around the room, undermining all of your cleaning efforts.

With some very simple tools like a vacuum with HEPA filter, and a standard washing machine, you can get moving on a path to breathing easy.