8 Clever Tips For Constructing An Allergy-Free Home

Do you suffer from asthma or hay fever? You aren’t alone. In Australia, 1 in 9 people suffers from asthma, while 1 in 5 experience hay fever. Both conditions can be triggered or worsened by dust, pollen and fungal spores – which all unfortunately find their ways into our homes from time to time. However, there are some things owner-builders and contractors can do to minimise the accumulation of these triggers in the first place, from investing in wholesale insulation to planning for plenty of storage. We’re sharing a list of these things today.

 

#1: Avoid carpeting the floor

Carpet is a porous material, meaning that it absorbs and holds common allergens, including pollen, dust, and pet hair. When exposed to moisture, carpets can even hold onto and encourage the growth of fungal spores, causing asthma sufferers to wheeze, and creating unpleasant musty smells in the home.

Instead of carpet, choose a flooring material that is impervious. This means that it will not absorb allergens, helping to achieve an allergy-free home. Additionally, impervious flooring is much easier to clean and maintain.

These are some examples of impervious flooring:

  • Tiles
  • Vinyl
  • Marble
  • Hardwood
  • Laminate

 

#2: Choose the right kind of furniture

Although choosing furniture isn’t part of the construction process, it’s one of the features of a home that is likely to trigger a range of allergies. When choosing furniture and bedding, you should keep the following things in mind:

  • Avoid upholstery as it holds allergens (similar to carpet)
  • Aim to invest in wood, leather or plastic furniture rather than cloth
  • Use synthetic materials for bedding.

 

#3: Ensure you have plenty of storage

Building and planning for plenty of storage is a key part of constructing an allergy-free home because it ultimately reduces clutter. A constant pileup of clutter makes a great home for dust, which of course is a trigger for many common conditions like asthma, hay fever and even eczema.

 

#4: Invest in exhaust fans

Bathrooms and kitchens are two places in the home that tend to experience constant moisture because they are such high-traffic areas that are used every day. This is why it is so important to install exhaust fans in these areas. Without them, fungal spores can gather together and create a mould infestation.

 

#5: Opt for blinds instead of curtains

While it is still possible to have curtains in an allergy-free home, they require a lot of maintenance to avoid collecting allergens. Traditional fabric curtains that are not machine washable need to be vacuumed to remove dust multiple times a week. Machine washable curtains made from cotton or synthetic fibres can be vacuumed less frequently, but they need to be washed fairly regularly to remain clean.

Blinds or shades, on the other hand, are much easier to maintain and do not collect allergens as easily as curtains do. If any dust does happen to appear on them, it’s easy to give them a quick dust or wipe them down with a damp cloth.

 

#6: Avoid installing a wood-burning fireplace

Looking to install a wood-burning fireplace to achieve a rustic, romantic ambience? Unfortunately, wood-burning fireplaces are not very allergy-free friendly. The smoke and gases from wood-burning fireplaces can cause asthma sufferers to experience difficulty breathing.

However, it is still possible to achieve that picturesque cottage setting without a wood-burning fireplace. Consider installing a natural gas fireplace instead.

 

#7: Ensure the home is well-ventilated

Mould thrives in humid conditions, and its spores are known to trigger or even worsen asthma symptoms. Good ventilation is the key to preventing mould growth, especially in areas that notoriously gather moisture (such as the bathroom). For natural ventilation, you should plan to construct plenty of windows throughout the building according to the model of cross-ventilation. Exhaust fans also help to keep the home ventilated.

 

#8: Choose the right type of insulation

Did you know that insulation has the power to be hypoallergenic? In fact, at Insulation Essentials, we believe that constructing an allergy-free home begins from the inside-out. It’s all about knowing which type of insulation to install.

As trusted insulation suppliers in Melbourne, we recommend the following two types of insulation for hypoallergenic purposes:

  • Polyester
  • AIR-CELL

These insulation types are not only excellent insulators, but they are also allergy-free because they do not release any inhalable particles. They also do not collect and release dust, which makes these insulation types ideal for property owners and occupiers that experience common allergies.

 

Wholesale insulation in Melbourne

Insulation Essentials is a proud supplier of high-quality wholesale insulation. Since 2000, we have been passionate about helping owner-builders and contractors construct energy-efficient, economic and comfortable buildings from the inside-out.

Our online store stocks a range of hypoallergenic wholesale insulation types, from AIR-CELL to polyester. Get in touch with us today on (03) 8339 7111 to find out more about our hypoallergenic insulation.