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Two members of our household are prone for allergies. For quite some time we are trying to make the house as allergy proof as possibile. Our cat found a new house with good friends. All carpentry was removed, and so are our mattresses which are replaced by allergy-proof ones.

All these efforts had an effect, but we think that there are still allergens floating around. Is there a protocol to work through to identify most, if not all, potential allergens spots in your house?

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  • There are air quality tests, similar to mold testing, that tests for a few highly known airborne allergens that tend to linger. The problem is people can be allergic to nearly anything; for instance cats, every single cat produces its own specific dander. Most people allergic to cats will build a tolerance in 6-12 months but introduce another cat or swap cats and they're still allergic to the new one.
    – Jason
    Aug 29, 2013 at 10:07
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    If you have not already, I would take the members of your household to an allergist to test and tell you what the members of your household are allergic to (so you know what you are trying to eliminate). There is no sense in wasting effort searching for and eliminating things that someone might be allergic to. Personally, I would start by removing cantaloupe and honeydew melon from the house since I am allergic to those.
    – user14416
    Aug 29, 2013 at 12:15
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    How clean are your carpets, if you have any? Per square inch, they hold much more dust, mites, pollen and other allergens than pretty much any other sort of flooring. Also, how often do you change your HVAC filters? Have you experimented with different filter grades? How tightly is your house constructed with respect to air leaks and exterior air infiltration?
    – alt
    Aug 29, 2013 at 16:02
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    To add emphasis to my suggestion, a guy I know lived in his house for years with consistent bad allergies. He did a lot of things to try and avoid them (akin to what it sounds like you are doing). It turned out that he had a specific tree to whose pollen he was allergic planted right outside of his bedroom window. After he learned this information, he had the tree removed and has had significantly reduced allergy symptoms. Again, I wouldn't go removing all the vegetation from your yard based on that anecdote. It would be much cheaper to go to a doctor and find out what you should remove.
    – user14416
    Aug 30, 2013 at 14:47
  • @statueuphemism Thanks for the input, it is much appreciated. Although we have done extensive allergy testing, we might consider a second opinion
    – Andra
    Aug 30, 2013 at 14:55

3 Answers 3

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You are going to have to wet clean. You can steam walls, hire professional carpet cleaning (the ones you rent don't get that hot), spray down hardwood floors with some green cleaner, same for the bathrooms.

Clean fans super good.

Replace air filters.

Have your ducts cleaned. Use a company that hooks up a negative air machine - not one that "washes" your ducts. You probably have a ton of cat hair in there. Do your returns too.

Wash everything that you can. Blankets, rugs, bedding... anything that can go in a washer.

Steam clean - or better yet see if your carpet cleaners can clean all couches, chairs, upholstery...

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I know this thread is old, but it case someone comes across it. i would wash your pillows regularly and get mattress and pillow bags(not sure what they are really called but they enclose the items) and then put your sheets and pillow case on top..air purifier may help..do cats have bedding??(i only have dogs and they have lots of washable toys/bedding that I wash)...get hard wood flooring if helpful....i wouldnt even spend the money on allergy shots...I spent $2k on shots for Fido and it said allergic to everything. but i realized if I cleaned his ears out everyday then he is fine...

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You have already eliminated major sources, air filtration is the next step. Whole house filtration or room air purifiers that use hepa filers will clean the air you breath by filtering out very small particles in the air.

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