Cockroaches
Hidden hangout: Your kitchen
As if these
insects weren't creepy enough! Their feces, saliva and
exoskeleton (aka roach dust) can provoke sneezing and wheezing.
They like to hide in dark, warm crevices such as microwave ovens
and toasters and are attracted to food and water. If you spot one,
assume there are 800 more, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of
America in Washington, D.C., warns. Seal all entry points around
your pipes and doors with caulk and call an exterminator.
Here's how you can get a grip on stress in the real
world!
Hidden hangout: Your vacuum cleaner
This sucks: Researchers from the University of Arizona in Tucson
found that nearly all of the vacuum brushes they tested—on models
with and without bags—contained mold spores. Spritz white distilled
vinegar from a spray bottle onto bristles every three months to
keep mold out of fibers. And invest in a vacuum with a HEPA filter;
mold aside, it's best at removing indoor allergens.
Hidden hangout: Your pet
Think you have a pet allergy? It could be pollen on Pooch's fur
that sparks your symptoms. The same is true for your own coat.
"Leave jackets and shoes in the foyer or laundry room so you
don't track pollen into the house," says Kevin Lunde,
M.D., an ear, nose and throat allergist at Baylor Regional Medical
Center in Plano, Texas. Wipe your furry friend with a wet cloth
before he comes inside—to sop up allergen hitchhikers—and shampoo
your pet weekly.
Hidden hangout: Sofas and curtains
The critters eat human skin cells (lucky them!), so they thrive on
any soft surface your skin touches. Launder cushion covers weekly
on the hot cycle and dry-clean curtains every few months. Also,
shop wisely: Washable cotton fabrics with a flat surface, rather
than velours or materials with a nap, are less desirable habitats
for mites—so you can relax sans sniffles.
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