If you’re hosting company for the weekend but know your guests have allergy issues like dust mites, here are some simple, easy steps you can take to make sure that their stay in your home is as pleasant as possible. We rounded up the top 7 things you can do to turn your guest quarters into a virtual oasis.
1. Change your home air filters
If you’re not changing your home filters on a regular basis, you should. But changing them prior to the allergy or asthma prone visitor’s arrival can make a huge difference in their comfort level. We love the Guardian Clean Air Furnace Filters, which are designed to give optimum performance, providing the highest filtration while ensuring low air resistance, and feature a MERV 12 rating.
2. Keep Your Dog and Cat out of the guest room
Reactions to pet dander can range from mild to severe, so it’s best to turn the guest room into a pet-free respite for company. This means keeping the precious pets out of the room and off the furniture. While dander may still be present in other parts of the house, they’ll sleep a little better in the room with the least amount present.
3. Chemical-free cleaning
The fumes, perfumes, dyes and various other chemicals in common household cleaners have the potential to trigger allergy and asthma reactions and symptoms in people with breathing difficulties. Clean surfaces of the guest room using more natural cleansers: lemon, vinegar, distilled water, baking soda, or hydrogen peroxide. Using a steam cleaner is also a great way to sanitize surfaces using only the power of vapor and steam – no harsh chemicals required!
4. Remove anything scented
Yes, even though bouquet of fresh flowers, since you never know what might set someone off. Opt for a green plant instead! If you want to freshen the room, placing a few drops of vanilla extract or essential oil on a cotton ball can have a pleasing effect without creating respiratory havoc!
5. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter
What’s the use of sucking up dust, allergens, dust mites and dander if the vacuum just spits it back out into the air? Using a machine with a HEPA filter, which captures 99.97 percent of dust particles, meaning whatever is removed from the carpet and rugs stays removed. A category-winner and customer favorite, the Miele Dynamic U1 Jazz features its exclusive 12-stage AirClean Sealed System with Active HEPA filtration, which keeps your indoor air clean as you vacuum.
6. Put dust mite covers on the mattress and pillows
Most of these types of covers are breathable, comfortable and washable, which makes them a smart, effective investment. Your guest will sleep much better – free from a stuff nose or watery eyes. We recommend the Solus dust mite pillow covers and organic mattress covers, which are both made from organic cotton and have a soft, breathable 233 thread count.
7. What are the advantages of an air purifier?
If you don’t already have them throughout your home, there are myriad options available at a range of price points. Placing one in your guest’s room will ensure an added level of protection and cleanliness they’ll surely notice and appreciate. One of our favorites is the Airfree Onix 3000 Air Sterilizer, which uses heat to incinerate mold spores, bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The Onix is best to use before your guests arrive, The QuietPure Home is super-quiet and is available with a HEPASilent particle filter for added protection.