Hypoallergenic Fabrics for Your Apartment

Share:

Hypoallergenic Fabrics for Your Apartment

Staff Writer · Oct 22, 2009

The term hypoallergenic is sometimes used to describe fabrics that are less likely to cause an allergic reaction. Today, many companies are creating materials and clothing that are free of toxins and harsh textiles. These milder resources are easier on the environment as well as the people who decorate their apartments with them.

In fact, a healthier living space is one with hypoallergenic fabrics and household items. If you own an apartment or rent one, you can foster an allergy-free environment for your tenants, family members and friends.

Cotton: Soft and Safe

A popular hypoallergenic fabric on the market is cotton. It’s non-abrasive and used to make everything from clothing to bedding and linens. Start by choosing 100-percent cotton fabrics for your apartment’s decorations and furniture covers. This will help you avoid using materials that contain harmful chemicals and dyes.

Hypoallergenic Options for Bedding

In some cases, no matter how much you clean, dust mites still lurk under beds and invade mattresses; but here’s how to sleep easier:

Explore bedding covers. Pillows and mattresses sometimes collect dust-mite feces that can build up over time, causing severe allergies. The first step toward preventing this is to choose the right mattress-covers and pillow-cases. There are some that are specifically made to protect you from dust mites and allergen triggers.

Mattress covers with zippers come in all sizes from cribs to king-sized beds. These protective coverings help prevent the mites from penetrating and are easy to remove and clean. A quality covering will be made of a highly woven fabric to keep the mites out. Many of these hypoallergenic bedding products are designed with anti-microbial fabrics, which are soft and washable.

Bedspreads and comforters. Comforters are also made with hypoallergenic materials. You’ll see duvet covers and comforters that have special fibers to suppress down allergies. However, even though a product is labeled hypoallergenic, it can still cause an allergic reaction. There are companies that offer a return policy for hypoallergenic items if the consumer develops an allergy. When you shop for bedding accessories, look for all-natural cotton. To select an organic fabric be sure the label indicates that the product is untreated with no bleach or dyes.

Eco-friendly Furnishings and Rugs

Shop around for environmentally-safe furniture manufactured with non-toxic materials. Avoid buying furniture and coverings with chemically-derived substances like nylon, polyester and viscose. Instead, look for fabrics that are safer such as hemp, linen, cotton and those assembled with non-toxic glues. You can even find chairs and sofas with cushions made out of soy products.

For flooring, it’s important to realize that some types of throw rugs and carpeting collect pet hair and allergens more easily. To prevent this, choose hemp or jute flooring for your apartment.

Reinforce a Hypoallergenic Environment

Stay away from using harsh fabrics made with rough fibers. Along with that, steer clear of wools, synthetic materials, polyesters, vinyl and fabrics colored with dyes.

For window treatments, consider wood blinds instead of heavy drapery. Some window fabrics collect dust, pollen and other air borne allergens more readily than blinds or shades.

One last tip, try and keep your fabrics and household items clean to prevent dust mites and pet dander from getting out of control. Use organic cleaning products and free-and-clear laundry detergents.

You might also like:

Moving into a new apartment or rental property can be both exciting and stressful. From packing up your belongings to coordinating logistics, there’s a lot to manage. However, one aspect that is often overlooked is what to expect on move-in day regarding the condition of your new unit. Surprisingly, according to recent surveys, a significant […]

Jessica Lee

 · Mar 12, 2024

On ApartmentRatings, real renters have the ability to rate and review their apartment communities based on their experience touring and or living in the communities. ApartmentRatings offers renters the ability to see what life is like at a community through a report card grade style format called epIQ. Every month we highlight apartment communities whose […]

Jessica Lee

 · Feb 28, 2024

On ApartmentRatings, real renters have the ability to rate and review their apartment communities based on their experience touring and/or living in them. ApartmentRatings offers renters the ability to see what life is truly like at a community through a report card grade style format called epIQ. Every month we highlight a major city across […]

Jessica Lee

 · Jan 31, 2024