Every step you take when you walk across the carpet in your home stirs up thousands of microscopic dust mites. So if you've been skipping the back side of the recliner as you vacuum the living room or neglecting the curtains all year, you might be setting yourself up for aggravation. There are as many as 40 different components in dust that can trigger allergies and asthma, said Dr. Stephen Chadwick, a Decatur allergist.
Spring cleaning can be a really big issue.
It's also the time of year when indoor mold may be prevalent from an extended period of humidity during the winter. And since pets typically spend more time inside during the winter, there's probably a buildup of dander indoors, too. Many people do their spring cleaning during peak allergy season, which comes in late May or early June. That means the health hazards for more than 50 million allergy sufferers can be just as significant inside as they are outside. Some doctors recommend that people who are allergic to dust mites cover their mattresses and pillows with special allergen-proof plastic, remove carpet and drapes from their bedrooms and replace upholstered furniture with leather or vinyl varieties.