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 i