Study: Clean up to reduce allergens in your home

Putting off spring cleaning? You might want to get to it.

New research published in the journal of Allergy and Clinic Immunology found almost all American homes have at least one allergen problem, which could be causing people's sleep problems.

Dr. Sandra Hong of the Cleveland Clinic said, "99 percent of individuals had found at least one of eight common allergens in their home, and up to 70 percent had actually had three or more in their homes."

Hong says the research was the nation's largest indoor allergen study to date as researchers looked at dust samples from bedroom floors of nearly 70,000 homes.

They studied eight common allergens: cat, dog, cockroach, mouse, rat, mold and two types of dust mites. Homes with animals and pests were most likely to have more than one allergen present, as were older homes, rental homes, mobile homes and homes in rural areas.

The findings are especially important for people who have asthma and allergies, as exposure to these irritants can put them at higher risk for sinus infections and asthma attacks, Hong said.

In order to keep symptoms under control, Hong said it's essential to cut down on the amount of home allergens, especially in the bedroom where people inhale them all night.

"Many common ways to do it is actually to get dust mite covers around your bed," Hong said. "Do lots of vacuuming, especially on upholstered furniture and also in the bedrooms and carpeting."

Getting rid of carpet for hardwood or other solid floor can help, too. Allergists also recommend washing bed linens in hot water and drying them in heat.

Experts said stuffed animal toys should also be washed in hot water once a week, or they can be placed in the freezer in a plastic bag to kill off potential allergens.