The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created the Asthma Home Environment Checklist to help home care providers
educate asthma patients on protecting their homes from allergens and other irritants, which includes those found on floors.
Whether you are a home care provider or simply someone looking for tips on allergy friendly flooring, you will find tons of
great tips from the EPA's Asthma Home Environment Checklist in this blog.
When applied to flooring, the EPA's Asthma Home Environment Checklist can help you address common allergy triggers
including, but not limited to:
- Dust mites – Dust mite droppings and body parts can be found in carpet, upholstery, and other material items.
These tiny insects are too small to be seen by the human eye.
- Mold – Mold can grow on just about any wet or damp surface including flooring in areas that experience water or
moisture (bathrooms, basements, kitchens, etc.).
- Animals – Cats, dogs, and other warm–blooded pets can leave behind animal dander (skin flakes), and also
salivate or urinate on flooring, all of which can irritate one's allergies.
By following the procedures below taken from EPA's Asthma Home Environment Checklist, you can minimize, or possibly
eliminate these allergy triggers from your flooring.
- Carpet and Rugs – If the home has carpet or area rugs it should be vacuumed regularly with a vacuum that has a
high efficiency filter such as a HEPA filter. If the person vacuuming is the one with allergies, he or she should wear a
dust mask and have someone else change the vacuum bag or empty the dust canister when needed, though it is best for this
person to avoid vacuuming altogether. Throw rugs can often be washed in a washing machine with hot water to eliminate
allergens.
- Hard Surface Flooring – Hard surface floors such as hardwood, laminate, bamboo, vinyl, ceramic tile, stone, and
linoleum should be mopped regularly. Avoid allowing flooring to become overly wet as many floors can absorb moisture which
can create a breeding ground for mold.
For more tips on how to make you or your patient's home allergy friendly, including not only tips on flooring but tips on
just about anything used in the interior of the home, visit the EPA Asthma Home Environment Checklist.
