Allergies - So you think it's the dog?

As published in The Pet Directory QLD, NT & WA Edition

You might be surprised to learn, that while some people are highly sensitive to things like pollen or animal hair, large amounts of dust are actually unhealthy for most of us.

Dust mites - unavoidable guests in every household.
Dust mites love warm, moist environments and live on skin residue from humans and animals. They thrive in beds, carpets and sofas - the only way to get rid of them is high temperature washing or dry cleaning.

Tips to managing allergies by avoiding dust in your home.
Wherever pets, textiles and people mix, there are dust mites, as well as other unhealthy dust particles.

It is virtually impossible to avoid house dust mites, unless you happen to live in a dry atmosphere without plants, pets, carpets, curtains, textile sofas or bed linen!
There are however, some simple ways that you can combat these irritants with a combination of preventative cleaning and the right vacuum cleaner.

Tips to minimise dust include:

• Air your rooms frequently
• Dust surfaces with a damp cloth rather than a feather duster
• Wash bed linen frequently in hot water - or use an approved mite-proof bed linen cover
• Change clothes daily and wash promptly in hot water
• Keep windows closed during peak pollen times
• Minimise mould by ensuring that you do not overwater house plants
• Choose a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter
• Regularly vacuum mattresses, as well as under and around the bed to reduce dust mites
• Curtains and blinds can trap pollen, so vacuum them regularly
• Keep ornaments and nik-naks to a minimum to reduce the amount of surfaces that attract dust. Cushions, throws, stuffed toys and dried flowers trap dust and need to be cleaned regularly
• Bookshelves are real dust traps. If possible consider bookshelves with doors
• Ensure frequent high temperature cleaning of your pet’s bedding. Animals will shed more fur during the summer months, so consider a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter and a pet brush or turbo head
• Tests carried out by the University of Cambridge and other well know specialists and medical institutions, prove that the Nilfisk HEPA filtration system is the best they have found in a household vacuum cleaner for dust allergy sufferers.