Frequently Asked Questions. 

The Allergy Relief Center - Your BEST resource for allergy relief products.

Q: What is the meaning of an allergic reaction?

Q: What causes an allergic reaction?

Q: Which are the most common allergens?

Q: What is a dust mite?

Q: What can I do to reduce my contact with dust mites?

Q: How can I control dust mites in my bedroom?

Q: What is house dust?

Q: How can I reduce my exposure to house dust?

Q: Where do pollen grains occur?

Q: How can I reduce pollen exposure?

Q: What is animal dander?

Q: How do I reduce my exposure to animal dander?

Q: Can cockroaches produce allergens?

Q: How can I reduce exposure to cockroach allergens?

Q: What is mold and how does it grow in my home?

Q: How do I reduce mold exposure in my home?

Q: I have questions about asthma relief and sinus infections treatments?

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Q: Where do pollen grains occur?

A: Trees, weeds, flowers and grasses produce pollen grains, which become airborne by the wind. Not only are you exposed to it outdoors but in your home as well. These allergens are carried indoors on our clothing, pets, and they infiltrate through doors and windows.

Q: How can I reduce pollen exposure?

A: Be informed about the pollen timetable in your area.

• During peak seasons, stay indoors as much as possible.
• Keep windows and doors closed.
• Keep clothing worn outside of your bedroom.
• Seal windows with tape to stop infiltration from the outside.
• Use a high performance filter in your central air system.
• Use a room air purifier in your bedroom, play area or office.
• Use a mask when walking, performing housekeeping tasks, grooming pets, or working outside.
• Keep pets outdoors or bathe them frequently with Allerpet.

A tannic acid solution such as ADS anti-allergen dust spray can be used on carpets and upholstered furniture to denature pollen grains.

Q: What is animal dander?

A: Animal dander is not the hair or fur of a dog, but is old skin scales, which are constantly being shed.

With felines, Felis domesticus allergen 1, a primary cat allergen, is a glycoprotein found in the sebaceous glands of the cat's hair roots and in their sublingual salivary glands. It is also present in the urine of male cats.

Pet birds produce a feather dust, which can cause allergic reactions. Allerpet for birds can be safely sprayed to your pet to further reduce feather dust.

Q: How do I reduce my exposure to animal dander?

A: Remove the pet from the house and then clean ALL surfaces thoroughly with a damp mop or cloth.

• Use a vacuum cleaner with a High Efficiency Air Filter to trap the tiny particles of animal dander.
• Bathe your pet weekly with Allerpet, a shampoo and conditioner.
• If the pet cannot be removed from your home, at least keep it out of the bedroom.
• Use a room air purifier in your bedroom to remove airborne animal dander.
• Wear a mask when grooming your pet.
• Keep clothing worn when playing with pets out of your bedroom.

Q: Can cockroaches produce allergens?

A: Yes, it is the cast skins of the cockroach, which causes most of the allergic reactions.

Q: How can I reduce exposure to cockroach allergens?

A: Keep all foods in sealed containers.

• Remove all food waste from your home or office.
• Keep plumbing well maintained to reduce leaks and condensation on pipes, which become a water source for roaches.
• Increase ventilation in damp areas.
• Seal roach entry areas around baseboards.
• Use Damp Rid in kitchen cabinets, under appliances, and sinks.
• Use a high performance filter in your central air system.
• Use a room air purifier in any room suspected of cockroach allergens.
• Use a mask when working in this room until the problem is resolved.

Q: What is mold and how does it grow in my home?

A: Mold, mildew and fungi are all terms used to describe a diverse group of plants, which appear as a woolly or powdery growth. They have been recognized as allergens for centuries. Molds are everywhere-indoors and out, found in any climate. They are elusive and will be more prevalent at different times of the day or night.

They are found in decaying leaves, straw, grains and wood. Mowing the grass, raking leaves, cleaning pet litter, or evening cleaning your closet. Any form of contact to these things can expose you to mold.

Poor housekeeping practices is another way that can increase mold growth, i.e. dirty dishes and food left around the house, trash kept in the house in cans or compactors, dirty clothes lying around and infrequent housekeeping.

Even the use of ceiling fans in lieu of air conditioning can increase mold levels in homes. Higher thermostat settings means the air conditioner operates less so humidity is not removed from the air.

Your home's filters, if inefficient, will allow dirt to accumulate on coils, the drain pan and duct work. This dirt becomes "food" for the mold.

Q: How do I reduce mold exposure in my home?

A: The first step is to locate the mold in your home. Mold test kits are available should the need arise. Inspect your walls, ceilings, carpets, windowsills, drain pan, ductwork, vents, bathrooms, and wall board for any darkened or discolored areas.

• Decrease moisture and the food source for mold on all surfaces.
• Use a high performance electrostatic air filter in the central air system.
• Remove items on which mold can grow from the bedroom.
• Use a room air purifier in the bedroom.
• Drain and ventilate areas under and around the house.
• Clean and maintain your central air system.
• Use air conditioning to reduce humidity.
• Use a dehumidifier to keep relative humidity below 40%.
• Frequently use a HEPA vacuum cleaner on carpets and furniture.
• Clean visible mold from surfaces using Safety Clean or Super Clean. Then treat cleaned areas with X-158.
• Remove moldy carpets.
• Ventilate and put lights in closets.
• Keep shrubs and grass trimmed from around the foundation of the house.
• Wear a mask when doing any activity that could expose you to mold spores.
• Use Damp Rid to help prevent mold and mildew.

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