How to Reduce Allergens in Your Home
Indoor air quality and allergen load is a significant issue in Toronto homes — particularly during the spring pollen season, in older homes with limited ventilation, and in any home with pets. The main indoor allergens are dust mites, pet dander, mould spores, and tracked-in pollen. Here's what actually makes a difference.
Dust Mites
Dust mites are microscopic arachnids that live in bedding, carpet, upholstered furniture, and soft furnishings. They feed on shed human skin cells. Their feces and body fragments are the allergen — not the mites themselves.
- Most impactful step: Wash bedding weekly at 60°C (140°F) or higher — this kills mites. Hot-water washing is more effective than cold with detergent alone.
- Use dust mite-proof covers on pillows and mattresses — these zippered covers create a physical barrier that prevents colonization of the most mite-rich surfaces
- Vacuum carpet and upholstered furniture regularly (use a vacuum with a HEPA filter — standard vacuum bags allow fine particles to pass through)
- Keep bedroom humidity below 50% — dust mites require humidity to survive; a dehumidifier in bedrooms during humid months reduces populations significantly
- Consider replacing wall-to-wall carpet in the bedroom with hard flooring — carpet holds 100x more dust mites than hard floors
Pet Dander
Pet dander (shed skin cells) is lighter than dust and stays airborne much longer. It also sticks to clothing, furniture, and walls.
- Keep pets out of bedrooms — the bedroom is where you spend the most time and where you breathe at the closest range to the surface (your pillow)
- Brush pets outdoors regularly — reduces shedding into the home
- Vacuum frequently with a HEPA-filter vacuum
- Wash hands after handling pets
- Air purifier with HEPA filter in the main living area and bedroom — these continuously capture airborne dander and pollen
Mould
Mould spores are always present in the air but only colonize and grow where there is sustained moisture. Prevention is about moisture control:
- Fix water leaks promptly — leaking pipes and roof are the most common cause of significant indoor mould
- Run bathroom fans during and after showering (20+ minutes after)
- Use kitchen exhaust fan when cooking — reduces moisture and grease in the air
- Keep whole-home humidity between 30–50% — dehumidifiers in basements during summer
Pollen (Seasonal)
- Keep windows closed on high-pollen days — HEPA air purifiers work better with windows closed
- Remove shoes at the door — this prevents tracking pollen from outdoors
- Change clothes when arriving home during pollen season and shower before bed
- Vacuum frequently during spring and fall when tree and ragweed pollen peaks in Toronto
HEPA Air Purifiers
HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters capture 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns and larger — this includes dust mite allergen, pet dander, mould spores, and pollen. An air purifier sized appropriately for the room (check the CADR rating against room square footage) running continuously makes a measurable difference for allergy sufferers. Good entry-level options available in Canada include Levoit, Winix, and Blueair models.
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