Suffer from Allergies? You Need One of These Hypoallergenic Rugs
For allergy sufferers, spring fever takes on an entirely different meaning. Stricken with seasonal allergies as irritants like pollen, mold, dust mites, and mildew start to fill the air, spring can be a sickly season. And while taking your allergy medicine is likely the best way to relieve your symptoms, there are other things you can do within your home to improve the air quality (hypoallergenic rugs, anyone?).
Spring cleaning is a good way to ensure you’re regularly removing irritants from your home’s environment. And using appliances like vacuum cleaners and air filters are great ways to reduce the amount of allergens you may come into contact with. But did you know that your area rugs can be natural air filters as well? It’s true! Let’s dive into the ins and outs of rugs, allergies, and what materials make for the best hypoallergenic rugs.
Can I be allergic to a rug?
Yes, you can be allergic to a rug – sometimes to the material, and other times to what can be found growing in the rug. Certain area rug materials can be breeding grounds for allergens like dust mites, mold, and mildew, and collection points for pet dander and pollen. Other times, area rugs can be made from harsher synthetic materials, dyes, or adhesives that can irritate the respiratory tract and cause an allergic reaction.
However, there are several things you can do to help mitigate rug-related allergies, especially if you have allergy sufferers in the home.
- Use hypoallergenic rugs. There are many rugs made of synthetic and natural fiber materials that help fight allergens. Wool rugs, for example, are inhospitable to dust mites, bacteria, etc. They can even absorb odor and improve the air quality in your home.
- Do regular rug cleanings. Have a weekly schedule for using a vacuum cleaner on your rugs to eliminate allergens. Also, opt for a washable area rug that you can throw in the laundry for easy cleaning.
- Keep home humidity low. Allergens like mold and mildew thrive in damp environments. Keeping the humidity low gives fewer chances for these irritants to take hold.
Can certain rugs trigger asthma?
Yes, area rugs can trigger asthma under a few different circumstances. For one, if a person’s asthma is triggered by dust mites, mold, mildew, dander, or pollen, a rug harboring any of those allergens can set off an attack. This is more common with rugs that are not hypoallergenic. They do not combat these irritants like a high-quality hypoallergenic rug.
Another way a rug can trigger asthma symptoms is when they are made from or with Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs. If the rug has been treated with chemicals, it can release VOCs into the air due to the adhesive, dyes, or flame retardants. These VOCs can linger in the air and aggravate asthma.
Finally, if you have a new rug, beware of shedding. These extra particles can contaminate the air and increase the chances of an asthma attack. Frequently using your vacuum cleaner on your new rug, especially in the first few weeks, can help minimize this risk.
How to get rid of dust mites
Dust mites are a natural part of our indoor environments, but that doesn’t mean you have to let them thrive. Dust mites typically seek warmth, humidity, and a food source. The best way to eliminate them is to cut them off from those conditions. Here are a few ways to do that:
- Use your vacuum cleaner. Ideally, your vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter that can remove up to 99.97% of allergens from the air and trap dust mites. You can also sprinkle your rug with baking soda 15-20 minutes before vacuuming, which helps absorb moisture and reduce dust mites.
- Steam clean your area rug. You’ll want your steam cleaner to get up to at least 130°F. The heat from the steamer will kill off the dust mites.
- Freeze your smaller area rugs. This works well when you have a smaller rug that can’t handle heat. Simply roll it up and throw it in your freezer for 24 hours to get rid of the dust mites.
- Use a dehumidifier. Dust mites love the humidity, so the more you can reduce moisture in the air, the less likely they are to reproduce and survive.
- Rotate and air out your area rug. This is a little more tedious, but leaving your area rug or runner rug in the sun helps kill dust mites thanks to UV rays.
- Use hypoallergenic rugs. Last but certainly not least, a hypoallergenic rug provides ongoing defense against dust mites. These rug materials are less hospitable to mites, especially low pile rugs.
Best hypoallergenic rugs
So, what are the best rugs for allergy sufferers? Check out our hypoallergenic rug recommendations down below, which can improve your home’s air quality, trap allergens, and alleviate symptoms for people with allergies.
1. Polypropylene rugs
The most reliable hypoallergenic rug option for allergy sufferers is synthetic, polypropylene rugs. The polypropylene fibers are made to repel allergens and inhibit mold growth, meaning they won’t house or release allergens into the air. This is what makes polypropylene rugs such a great option for the outdoors but also for a home where allergies need to be taken into consideration.
Another benefit to polypropylene rugs is that they’re low pile rugs, meaning they are tightly woven or looped rather than shaggy. Shaggy rugs tend to shed their loose fibers, serving as another potential irritant to sensitive noses. The low pile also helps to combat against dust mites.
2. Wool Area Rugs
Wool area rugs serve as a natural filter, trapping allergens and removing them from the air you’re breathing, even if you’re just sensitive to dust. As a naturally non-allergenic fiber, wool also prevents the growth of bacteria and dust mites. In fact, studies have shown that wool area rugs or carpets perform the best when it comes to resisting dust mite infestation. Beyond preventing dust and other common allergies, wool also wicks away moisture, helping to guard against mold build-up.
3. Sisal Area Rugs
Sisal area rugs are also low pile, making them thinner than other area rugs and a smart option for a hypoallergenic rug. Sisal fibers are also intricately woven, reducing the possibility for shedding. And because sisal rugs should never be cleaned with moisture, mold and mildew will avoid your sisal rug if you are caring for it properly and keep it dry.
4. Jute Area Rugs
As a natural repellant of dust mites, jute area rugs are ideal in homes where dust allergies are common. As a natural fiber area rug, jute rugs are also thin with tight and strong fibers, preventing the release of rug fibers into the air and improving your home’s overall air quality.
5. Grass Area Rugs
Like jute and sisal rugs, natural grass area rugs are also less likely to shed, reducing the number of irritants in the air. This includes natural grasses like seagrass and hemp. For allergy sufferers, this means that your home’s environment won't be floating with as many irritants in the air.
While grass area rugs are ideal for their non-shedding properties, they do tend to have larger weaves, meaning they don’t filter the air as well as polypropylene, sisal, jute, or wool rugs. However, they’re still an excellent option that can improve your air quality.
Allergy-Proof Your Home
The type of rug you have in your home can make a huge difference when it comes to your indoor air quality, positively impacting asthma and allergy sufferers alike. In addition to getting the best rugs for allergy sufferers in your home, it’s also a good idea to make sure you regularly clean your area rugs to remove allergens from your home. Not sure how to clean them? Check out our rug care and cleaning guide.
If you or someone in your family has allergies or asthma, allergy-proofing your home is important. One way to allergy-proof your home is to look at your flooring. Many allergists and the Mayo Clinic advise removing carpeting and using hardwood or linoleum floors that are easy to clean. Dust mites love soft plush rugs. So do mold spores, pet fur, and pet dander.
If that is not an option or you would still like to have a rug in the room, consider tightly woven natural fiber rugs such as sisal and seagrass rugs. They’re easier to keep clean. In fact, the use of natural fiber rugs is actually better than plain hardwood or linoleum floors because rugs can trap dust particles and allergens and keep them from circulating in the air. Then, they can then be vacuumed up. It is suggested that you vacuum with a vacuum cleaner that has a small particle or high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter at least once a week to suck up dust and other allergens.
Our flat woven sisals and any of our seagrass rugs would be great options for your home and office. If you would like a softer look and feel in a flat, tightly woven rug – try our sisal wool rugs.
