There’s Help for Getting Rid of Allergens in the Home

There are a variety of products designed to reduce allergens around the home.

Allergy Control Solution--introduced in 1989--is a carpet spray that works by chemically changing the allergens produced by cats and dust mites, which make many people sneeze and sniffle. Spray it on the rug, let it dry and then vacuum, says Annette Miller, president of Allergy Control Products in Ridgefield, Conn.

It works well, according to Bernard Geller, clinical professor of pediatrics at USC School of Medicine and a Santa Monica allergist who sometimes recommends it for his patients. But “some people complain it makes the carpet a little sticky.”

To trap dust mites, there are special pillow case and mattress covers from the Topeka-based Aller/Guard Inc. (800-234-0816) or Allergy Control Products (800-422-DUST).

“These (encasements) do block out mite allergens,” Geller says. But some people dislike the feel of sleeping on the plastic. Geller advises: “Place a quilted mattress pad on top of the plastic.”