Dorm Allergies

Since I started this blog, I've gotten a couple hits from people searching for advice on "dorm allergies". I am assuming that these are people who are dealing with environmental allergies. I'm not sure how other dorms are, but I think that the dorms we have on campus are pretty environmental allergy friendly. Why?

Radiator heat. Forced air tends to cause a problem with dust allergies since it causes the dust to blow around.

Most of the floors have classroom tile, which is also very good for dust allergies. Many students bring carpets from home but neglect to vacuum regularly, which is obviously NOT good for environmental allergies.

The air in the hall tends to be dry which can help with mold and mildew allergies, BUT most college students don't clean their shower regularly, which is NOT good for mold and mildew allergies.

Our mattresses are vinyl covered, rather than the old fashioned cloth mattresses that adorned our dorm (ewwwww).

So, what's a person with environmental allergies to do if they live in a dorm? If you have a cloth mattress, put a vinyl mattress protector on it to protect you from dust mites (you should do the same with your pillow). Bring thin bedding that you can easily wash on hot water and dry on hottest heat, the two combined will help kill dust mites. Don't bring a rug (wear slippers or socks instead). If you're hall has forced air heat or air conditioning, see if you can put a good filter on the register in your room. Dust your room weekly. If you live in a suite style dorm, clean your bathroom thoroughly, preferably with something that can kill mildew and mud. If you're sensitive to chemicals, check 7th Generation or other natural companies that make cleaning products.

Many suite bathrooms do not have exhaust fans. Invest in a cheap clip on fan and run it after you shower. If you can leave the door to your bathroom open to help it air out, that will help with the mold and mildew. I would also suggest in investing in a small air cleaner. Lastly, dust regularly.

And as always, take your allergy medication if recommended by a doctor. Before you move in, you can request to be shown an open room to give you an idea of what you'll be encountering by way of potential allergen hot spots.

With some forethought and good cleaning skills, living in a dorm can be a positive experience even for those who have environmental allergies.