16 Must-Have Home Products for People with Allergies

Millions of people suffer from environmental allergies and contact allergens, which can negatively impact daily quality of life. Poor air quality, pollen, dust mites, mold, smoke, chemicals, and pet dander are some of the most common allergies in this category. And while there’s no cure, there are ways to limit exposure. The following items can help reduce discomfort for people with allergies.

Clean air is vitally important when you have allergies. The Levoit Wi-Fi Air Purifier has a pre-filter to capture hair, lint, and pet hair; a true HEPA filter to trap dust mites and pollen; and a high-efficiency activated carbon filter to absorb smoke odor and VOCs. It cleans the air in a 360 square-foot room 4.5 times each hour. Using your smartphone, you can also change cleaning modes, create a schedule and set a timer, and check when your filter needs to be cleaned. The air purifier can also be used with Alexa or Google Home Assistant. Available on Amazon.

Allergies take many forms, and some people have fabric allergies. This set of Coyuchi Undyed Air Weight Organic Towels is made of sustainably grown and woven organic cotton. It’s free of irritating chemicals and toxins that can cause skin irritation. In addition, the highly-absorbent towels are also quick-drying, so there’s less of a chance that bacteria will grow on them. The towel set includes two bath towels, two hand towels and two washcloths. Available on Amazon.

Related: Allergy-Proof Your Home in 7 Steps

If you wake up with red eyes and a runny nose, the culprit might be the chemicals and dyes in your sheets. Cariloha Resort Bamboo Sheets are made of 100 percent viscose from bamboo, with a sateen finish. Since they’re not made of chemically treated fabrics, the hypoallergenic bamboo sheets (which are twice as soft as cotton) won’t irritate your skin. And they’re also breathable and odor resistant. The sheets come in several sizes and numerous colors, including harbor gray, stone, blush, coconut milk, and blue lagoon. Available on Amazon.

Washing your bedding can reduce dust and other allergens, but your mattress won’t fit in the washing machine. The Malouf Encase LT Mattress Encasement zips all the way around to protect the top, bottom, and sides of the mattress, protecting it from bacteria, dust mites, pollen, and bed bugs. And even though it’s waterproof, this isn’t one of those squeaky, squishy-feeling mattress protectors. The hypoallergenic polyester fabric is quiet, lightweight, breathable, and wicks away moisture. Available on Amazon.

An air purifier can clean your air, but you also need to identify exactly what’s in the air. The Airthings Wave Plus Air Quality Monitor can detect volatile organic compounds, radon, and carbon dioxide, in addition to monitoring temperature, humidity levels (since moisture can lead to mold and dry air is conducive to colds and flu) and air pressure. The air quality monitor can be mounted on the wall (like a smoke detector), and by waving your hand in front of it, the device will turn green (for good air quality), yellow (for fair air quality) or red (for poor air quality). Also, you can download the smartphone app or connect to Alexa, Google Assistant or IFTTT to get specific readings for each of the six indoor air factors. Available on Amazon.

Related: 7 Reasons Indoor Air Isn’t as Pure as You Think

If you don’t like to vacuum at all, the Proscenic M6 Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner can both vacuum and mop your floors to reduce dust and other allergens. Using a laser navigation system, the robot can create a map of your space and then decide the best path. When the battery runs down, the robot will automatically return to the charging station, and when charging is complete, it will pick up where it left off. It’s versatile enough to work in three cleaning modes: vacuum, y-shaped mopping, and simultaneous vacuuming and mopping. Using the app, you can schedule cleaning, specify certain rooms to clean, create no-go zones, and more. The robot also has sensors to ensure that it doesn’t slam into furniture or walls, or fall off the top of your stairs. Available on Amazon.

Whether sleeping on your back, side, or stomach, your head is cradled on your pillow for several hours each night. And when you combine those foam by-products in your pillow with dust mites, allergens, sweat and bacteria—it’s enough to cause nightmares. However, the Coop Home Goods Eden Adjustable Pillow is hypoallergenic, made of memory foam and microfiber. The fill is encased in a stretchy liner, and then covered by a case that’s made of bamboo-derived viscose rayon and polyester to resist dust mites. The pillow also includes an extra half-pound of bag fill, so you can unzip the pillow to add more fill (or take some out) to reach your desired level of comfort. Available on Amazon.

When creating an allergy-proof bedroom, don’t forget your covers. The Mellanni Bedspread Coverlet Set combats allergens in two ways. The brushed microfiber material is hypoallergenic and minimizes dust mites, moisture, and allergens (and it also resists fading, wrinkles, and stains). Also, since the bedspread is oversized, it hinders the amount of dust that gathers under your bed. The three-piece set also includes two pillow shams, and is available in over a dozen colors, including gray, beige, black, burgundy, navy and spa blue. Available on Amazon.

Related: Here’s How Often You Should Launder Every Item in Your Home

Steam is a powerful ally against germs and debris. The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Cleaner both steams and sanitizes hardwood, tile, and other types of hard floors. Using three levels of cleaning, it can eliminate 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria without using harmful chemicals. For tough, sticky areas, the flip-down easy scrubber brushes them away. Another convenience is the water cup, which makes it easy to fill the water tank, and can be attached on the handle when not in use. And since the steam mop has swivel steering, it’s easy to mop around and under furniture. Available on Amazon.

All kinds of germs lurk in your trash can, and understandably, you don’t want to touch the lid. However, the Kohler 8-Gallon Loft Stainless Steel Step Trash Can uses a metal foot pedal for hands-free operation. The stay open feature allows it to remain open as long as needed. The trash can also has a fingerprint-proof finish to keep it looking clean, comes with a removable plastic liner, and uses regular trash bags. And since the trash can has flush features, you can put it right up against the wall or cabinet to save valuable floor space. In addition to stainless steel, the trashcan is also available in black with stainless steel, and white with stainless steel. Available on Amazon.

Related: 22 Effortless Ways to Make Less Trash

Staying hydrated is important—especially if you have allergies—but contaminants in the water can cause health issues. The LARQ Self-Cleaning Stainless Steel Water Bottle uses UV-C LED technology to sanitize the water inside and also clean the bottle’s interior. By touching the button on the top, the inside of the bottle (and its contents) are cleaned in 60 seconds, and it continues cleaning every two hours to ensure the water bottle stays fresh and free from bacteria and viruses. The 32-ounce bottle also includes a USB rechargeable battery, and a single charge lasts up to a month, plus the silicone sleeve protects it from bumps and scratches. The bottle is available in black/onyx and white/coral. Available on Amazon.

If you need a heavy-duty air purifier for high-traffic areas or open floor plans, consider the Molekule Air Pro with PECO Technology. It’s designed for extra-large rooms up to 1,000 square-feet and uses PECO technology to not only capture, but actually destroy pollen, black mold, bacterial spores, viruses, burnt food smells, dust mites and cockroach allergens, detergent, tobacco smoke, pet dander, and other pollutants. The air purifier uses intuitive controls with tap and swipe features, and the app can also be accessed from your smartphone to see the filter status, and air particle level. The stylish appliance also has a vegan leather strap and a hidden cable management system in the base to keep the cord out of sight. Available on Amazon.

It’s easy for allergens to get trapped on drapes and curtains, sofas and chairs, throw pillows, and other fabrics. The Raycop RS Pro Handheld Allergen Vacuum Cleaner uses UVC light and steamless heat to sanitize fabrics and kill dust mite matter and pollen, in addition to killing 99% of E. coli and staphylococcus bacteria in just a few seconds. It also has a pulsating brush that removes human and pet hair. The vacuum cleaner uses an ultra-fine PureAir HEPA filter that captures human hair, pollen, household dust, pet dander, and smoke particles. Available on Amazon.

A clean home goes a long way in reducing allergens, but you don’t want a vacuum that’s just going to push dust and dirt around. The Samsung Jet 90 Stick Cordless Vacuum captures pet dander, dust, pollen, and other allergens on hardwood, tile, and carpets using a 5-layer HEPA filtration system. There’s a main cyclone, a metal mesh grill filter, and an ultra-fine dust filter to capture dust of all sizes. Since the vacuum cleaner is lightweight and has a telescopic pipe, you can also clean window blinds and cabinet tops with one of its three brushes, and you can also reach under appliances, beds, and sofas.

Another convenience is a freestanding dual charging station that allows you to charge two batteries at once. When charged, each battery lasts for up to 60 minutes, providing up to 120 minutes of continuous use. There’s also an optional Cleaning Station, which automatically empties the dust from the vacuum, resulting in 400 times less dust emission. Available on Amazon.

Humidifying the air can help to reduce allergy symptoms and the Elechomes Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier can ensure the right level of moisture regardless of the season. It’s designed for large rooms up to 775 square-feet. Water is conveniently added at the top of the device, which also reduces spills and mess—and since the tank is large, it doesn’t need to be filled often. Another convenience is the digital readout to let you know the current humidity level. The eight touch control options are all conveniently located on the front. Available on Amazon.

Related: 7 Reasons Every Home Needs a Humidifier

A dirty air filter doesn’t just make your HVAC work harder. It also contributes to indoor air pollution. That’s why you need to change your air filter at least once every three months for maximum effectiveness. The Filtrete Micro Allergen Defense Air Filter captures a variety of particles in your home, including dust, lint, pollen, dust mite debris, pet dander, and smoke.
Available on Amazon.