What Asthmatics Need To Know About Drapes, Furniture And Household Cleaning

If you have textile window treatments, obey the same cleaning tips as for carpets, and treat your drapery with an anti-mildew and -mite agent. Consider using Allergex Dust Immobilizer, which, according to the manufacturer, prevents dust from being released into the air by trapping it in textiles. An alternative to textile window treatments are wood or plastic blinds and shades, which, in addition to being asthma-friendly, are stylish and practical.

 

Furniture fabrics can also trap allergens that aggravate asthma. Although it may be difficult to rid your home entirely of textiles—wood, metal, leather, and vinyl furniture are more asthma-friendly. How far you go in redecorating your home will depend on your symptoms, decorating tastes, and budget.

 

Cleaning and polishing wood and metal surfaces is another potential asthma hazard. Many household cleaners, polishers, and waxes contain organic chemicals that can trigger an asthma attack. The health risks of cleaning products continue even during storage, when dangerous fumes are released. According to the EPA, organic pollutant levels are two to five times higher inside the home than outside and people using these products expose themselves to high pollutant levels. In fact, elevated chemical concentrations linger in the air long after cleaning is completed. Many of these chemicals, like benzene, have been found to cause cancer in humans.

 

With cleaning products, again source control is your best strategy, so you should store these products in an outdoor shed, airtight container, or your garage until needed. Conduct a complete search-and-destroy mission in your home and dispose of any outdated or unwanted cleaners and polishers.

 

You can avoid chemical cleaners completely by using a simple damp cloth or an "electrostatic" dust collector (like the Dust Grabber) for dusting. There are even special dusting sprays like Allersearch AllerDust, designed to help the cloth attract dust and allergens. If you must use a chemical cleaner, carefully read the warnings and recommendations and thoroughly ventilate your house during and after use. When practical, clean household items outdoors—easy for a toaster oven, a bit more challenging for an armoire.