Allergy sufferers, how I feel for you! Itchy noses, watery eyes, scratchy breathing—it just can’t be fun. With all the beautiful flora and fauna in Alabama, we get visits from lots of customers with just these issues. I’m glad to offer a few suggestions for keeping indoor air quality at its cleanest, limiting the irritants you breathe.

Let me start out by staying this: allergies are a tricky business because they are different for every person. Your doctor probably has a great opinion about the best course of treatment for you. However, I can certainly give you some generalities.

First and foremost, hardwood is your best bet. It doesn’t harbor dust mites, mold or mildew. Tile or other hard surfaces work great too. But if carpet is your only option, consider these factors:

Fiber. Go for a continuous filament to eliminate shedding.

Treatment. Consider a carpet with the StainMaster technology. It’s known for being hypoallergenic.

Installation. Vacate the premises! Installation stirs up dust, dirt and all kinds of fumes. You don’t want to be inhaling those irritants.

Ventilation. After your carpet is installed, make sure you ventilate the room. Open the windows for a minimum of 24 hours.

Cleaning. For people with allergies, maintenance is even more important.

• You can’t vacuum carpet too much. The more you hit it, the more dust, dirt, pet hair, pollen, etc. you remove from your floor.
• Look for the Carpet and Rug Institute’s seal of approval. They test vacuums, cleaning solutions and deep cleaning systems to find the best for your carpet and for your health.
• Hire a professional who uses hot water extraction, and clean your carpets every 18-24 months.

Renee LeCroy is the Flooring Expert at Don’s Carpet One in Birmingham, AL. For 17 years, she’s been the consumer’s in-store advocate, decoding the flooring industry and offering insider advice. Contact Renee via email.