It is always wonderful to welcome guests into your home, but when your visitors suffer from allergies, you need to make some special arrangements to guarantee their comfort and health.
Dust, pet dander, mold, and certain cleaning products can all cause allergies. Making a small extra effort significantly enhances visitor safety.
In this guide, we will guide you through the need for allergy-friendly and allergy-friendly hosting, how to prepare your home, and what to avoid to ensure your guests have the best experience possible.
Why Preparing for Guests with Allergies Is Important
Allergic reactions are more than just a nuisance; they can be quite bothersome and can even be life-threatening in some cases. Some of the common allergy symptoms include sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, and skin rashes, which can make your guests feel sick and uncomfortable.
For those with asthma or severe allergies, exposure to triggers may lead to serious health consequences, including asthma attacks. Therefore, it is essential that you prepare your home for your guests with allergies to minimize the chances of triggering allergic reactions and guarantee that your visitors are comfortable.
Steps on How to Prepare Your Home for Guests with Allergies
Step 1: Clean Your Home Thoroughly
A thorough cleaning of your house is the first and best way to allergy-proof your house. Dust and allergens build up with time, and even the simplest dusting can disturb the particles that cause allergic reactions.
Focus on Common Allergen Hiding Spots
Floors: Carpets are known to hold dust, pet dander, and pollen. For effective allergen removal, a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter is essential for cleaning your floors. Where possible, you can use floor coverings that are easy to clean and less likely to accumulate allergens, such as wood, tiles, and laminates.
Air Vents and Filters: Clean dust from the vents and replace or clean the air filters in your heating and cooling systems. This helps prevent dust and other airborne allergens from circulating in the house.
Furniture and Upholstery: Clean all upholstered furniture, curtains, and cushions, which can harbor dust, pet dander, and pollen. Vacuum fabric with a vacuum cleaner attachment or steam clean for a more thorough cleaning.
Use Allergy-Friendly Cleaning Products
Choose hypoallergenic or non-toxic cleaning supplies in order not to cause allergies in your visitors. So, look for products labeled as “fragrance-free” and “harmless to skin.”
Step 2: Keep Pet Dander in Check
For guests with pet allergies, pet dander should be kept under control. It is not possible to eliminate all dander from your house, but there are specific steps that you can take to reduce the amount of dander that your guests are exposed to.
Groom Your Pets Beforehand
If you have pets, wash them and comb them before the arrival of your guests. This decreases the amount of fur that falls off and the amount of dander released into the air. If pets are allowed on the furniture, keep them off or clean them before guests arrive.
Create Pet-Free Zones
Choose specific areas in your house to be pet-free, especially the guest rooms and the bathrooms. This will help create a safe area for guests to unwind without worrying about allergens.
Step 3: Eliminate Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew are allergens usually found in your home’s moist areas. To avoid mold from being a problem, check your house for moisture accumulation, especially in the bathrooms and basements.
Dry Damp Areas
Ensure that wet areas, such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens, are well-dried after use. Fix any leaks and make sure that there is enough ventilation to prevent mold growth.
Clean Surfaces with Mold-Resistant Solutions
For areas that are more likely to have mold, you should use a cleaner designed to kill mold and mildew. Regularly cleaning these areas will stop the growth of mold and mildew, thus reducing the allergens in your home.
Step 4: Focus on the Bedroom and Guest Areas
When making your home welcoming to people with allergies, the guest bedroom is essential. Because your guest will probably spend a lot of time in their room, making that room allergy-friendly is essential.
Wash Bedding and Linens
Before your guests arrive, wash all the bedding, pillowcases, and linens. Hot water is the best temperature for washing because it will kill any dust mites or allergens hiding in the fabric. If possible, use hypoallergenic pillow and mattress covers to add another layer of protection from allergens.
Use Air Purifiers
A HEPA air purifier will remove dust, pollen, and pet dander from the air. Put one in the guest room to make the air quality better and help reduce allergy triggers.
Step 5: Control the Air Quality
The air quality in your home is a big factor in managing allergies. Allergens can worsen allergic reactions, so you must focus on getting better air flow and cleaner air in your home.
Keep Windows Open When Possible
Open windows to let fresh air pass through your home when the weather permits. This helps to get rid of stale air and get rid of any allergens that are stuck inside.
Use a Dehumidifier
A dehumidifier can prevent mold and dust mites by lowering humidity levels. 30% to 50% is a good humidity range to shoot for.
What Not to Do When Preparing for Guests with Allergies
When hosting guests with allergies, getting everything ready can be challenging, but there are also several things you should avoid when preparing your home.
Avoid Strong Scents
Strong perfumes, air fresheners, and scented candles can trigger allergic reactions. Choose fragrance-free products, and if you want to have a natural scent without overwhelming your guests’ senses, you can use essential oils with a diffuser.
Don’t Use Harsh Cleaning Products
As we discussed earlier, most of the cleaning products have chemicals in them that can irritate allergies. Stay clear of bleach and ammonia-based cleaners and select products specifically stated to be hypoallergenic and gentle on the skin.
Don’t Overlook Ventilation
Ventilation is one of the most important things you should pay attention to when hosting guests with allergies. It’s also important to remember to clean the air vents and change filters. Poor ventilation can make allergens more common in your home even after thoroughly cleaning it.
Conclusion
Having your home ready for guests with allergies requires thorough cleaning, eliminating allergens, and creating an allergen-free environment. It’s a simple process, and by following the steps, you can ensure that your home is welcoming to everyone, including people with allergies.
If you are looking for a house cleaning service to help ensure your home is allergen-free before guests come over, try NW Maids. Our cleaning team is equipped with the best tools and green cleaning products to give your house a deep clean and safe cleaning. Call us today to have a clean and allergy-friendly home.
