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Having Allergies Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Be Stylish



I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour conducted by Clever Girls Collective on behalf of Claritin®. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program.  About ten years ago I found out I had eleven allergens.   I was allergic to everything it seemed even dust mites, hickory, dogs, southern grasses and more.  I was told to get rid of all my carpet, stuffed animals (my kids, not mine), and any decorative thing that might be a breeding ground for dust mites.  I was lost, but after a bunch of research I found some great tips to follow that didn’t mean I had to sacrifice style.

Stylish Tips For An Allergy Free Home

The first thing I did was get rid of carpet.  You can actually use throw rugs for burst of color if you want to, just be sure to use carpeting with low VOC (volatile organic compound) which means reduced or no formaldehyde and benzene.  Also, consult with your local merchant about “greener” options for padding.  If you do chose to use carpeting make sure you vacuum daily and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.  Hardwood floors are always the best option for someone with allergies.

Get rid of the standard fabric window treatments and draperies.  You can find great venetian blinds now that are super stylish and match almost any decor.  Remember that metal or plastic blinds are the best for allergy sufferers because wood can actually host dust and dust mites since it is porous.  I don’t know too much about it, but I have read some on window film that can easily be applied to windows thus cutting UV.  Do your research and you can find some pretty stained glass window films too.

Finally, another great way to cut back on dust and dust mites is to vacuum your living room furniture weekly.  Ultimately having leather furniture is the best option as it can be easily wiped and is less likely to cause problems for allergy sufferers.  This was not an option for us, but I will definitely buy leather in the future.

Remember, being stylish doesn’t mean you have to suffer.

For more tips on relieving allergies visit www.Facebook.com/Claritin. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Comments

  1. I’m glad you were able to find some other ways around it! I would love to get rid of my carpet… and I don’t even have allergies!

  2. Thank goodness you were able to find some things to help.

    I too would love to get rid of my carpet. It is on the list of things to do. And all leather furniture seems like a bonus to me!

  3. my dad is severely allergic to carpet (the off gassing) – it’s horrible. It’s one of the reasons we wanted wood floors in this house. Great post Lisa!

  4. I never knew that about wood blinds – we have wood blinds throughout our house and we all have allergies. Hmmm… Good to know!!

  5. I didn’t know leather furniture was good for keeping allergens down, interesting to know!

  6. Now that gives me hope. My daughter is asthmatic and my son was just diagnosed with dust mite allergies. Here I was envisioning an antiseptic hospital like appearance to our home, once we get rid of all the carpet and all, but that looks great!

  7. The hardwoods idea is so true and i honestly wouldn’t have thought of that! the hepa vaccum thing is a great tip, most people don’t think about the fact that the vaccum really does need to be a hepa vaccum, not just a $40 piece of junk. i would strongly recommend and air purifier too.

  8. I’ve found Claritin works well for my allergies (dust,pollen,animal dander and an air purifier is a great help too. It’s good to have at least one clear room that you can escape too!

  9. Even though we and our family suffers from allergies, we can still fight them , by following this procedure you have shared, at first I have no knowledge about this until I have read this good info.

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