Learn laundry tips that will help reduce allergens and are good practices for everyone. We spend a huge part of our day in the bedroom so keeping bed linens clean and dust free is particularly important for those with allergies. Learn how to care for everything from mattress pads to pillows to quilts. Of course, it’s nearly impossible to wash a mattress and box springs or soft upholstered furniture. For those pieces, try a fabric allergen sanitizer vacuum (Raycop is a brand name). These vacuums use ultraviolet light to kill dust mites and bacteria and then a dual filtration system to eliminate the 99.9% of the offenders from fabric surfaces. Laundry rooms can frequently harbor mold due to a leaky washer (even a small leak) or poor air circulation. It doesn’t take long for mold to begin growing and it should be removed as soon as possible to reduce your family’s exposure and it prevent structural damage. High humidity in closets or storage areas can cause mold to grow on leather shoes and purses and on clothing. The mold is attracted to soiled areas - food stains and body soil - that encourages growth. Follow these tips to remove mildew and mold from fabrics and leather goods. Tossing damp clothes or towels into a hamper can cause terrible sour odors and begin mildew growth. The key to remove those odors is to get towels really clean (use hot water!) and use distilled white vinegar or baking soda to neutralize odors. Washers, especially front load models, can harbor mold and mildew on gaskets and hoses. If you don’t see the mold (it may be behind a door gasket) you will certainly smell it and if you don’t clean the washer, your clothes will have the same odor. Front load washers should be cleaned monthly and it is very important to limit the use of excess detergent and fabric softener that act as food for the mildew growth. Standard and high-efficiency top load washers should also be cleaned regularly. The key to keeping your clothes dryer from becoming an allergy-inducing machine is to clean it regularly. Vented dryers pull the moisture out of our clothes and should send it to escape out an outside vent. However, if that vent is clogged, mildew can grow and worse, a fire may ignite. Clean the dryer lint trap after every load and check dryer vents often for your health and safety. Non-vented dryers use a compressor and a collection bin to hold moisture drawn out of fabrics. These bins must be emptied often and cleaned to prevent the growth of mold. You may wish to eliminate commercial products and make your own laundry products and incorporate natural ingredients like distilled white vinegar and baking soda into your laundry routine. While most of us love the scent and feel of clothes dried in the sunshine, those clothes and linens also bring in allergens during high pollen count days. If you suffer from outdoor allergens, skip the clothes line and opt for an indoor drying rack or use the dryer.
