(PIX11)– An estimated 50 million people will experience seasonal allergies, according to the Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. However, with the right gadgets and home accessories, you don’t have to be one of them.
Lifestyle expert Justine Santaniello has a few spring-cleaning tips to help ease allergies.
Must-Haves for Spring Cleaning Allergies:
Vacuum with HEPA filter:
Try the new Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal + Allergy — it never loses suction because it doesn’t have any dirty filters to wash or replace. It has a whole-machine HEPA filtration, ensuring no dirty air escapes. Dyson Cinetic science captures microscopic particles as small as pollen and mold spores. It even comes with a mattress tool to remove all dirt, allergens and dust mites. $699, Dyson.com
Beds contain between 10,000 and 2 million dust mites alone. On average we shed 28 grams of skin cells per month and as we sleep these cells become entrenched in your mattress. The dust mites that feed on your skin lay up to 40 
million droppings – these droppings trigger allergic reactions in an estimated 20 million Americans, according to the AAFA.The most effective way to remove these allergens is through vacuuming your mattress. The new Dyson V6 Mattress cordless machine contains a whole machine HEPA filtration and removes more allergens and dust mites than any other mattress cleaner. The motorized brush bar maintains constant contact across the mattress and has a run time for 20 minutes. $249.99, Dyson.com and HSN (launched April 16)
Sleep sound with dust mite control case:
Your bed is the perfect environment for dust mites; they love to burrow into fabric and feast on your dead skin cells. Humans shed one to three pounds of skin a year, plenty of food for millions of dust mites. A Johns Hopkins University study showed that mite population and allergen levels decreased by 90 percent or more within a month of placing mattress and pillow covers and treating bedding. Try this AllerEase Maximum Allergy & Bed Bug Mattress Protector. $30, WalMart.com
Purify air in your home:
Choose an air purifier with a HEPA filter to remove 95% of dust, mold, odors and pollen 2 microns or larger to breathe easy. This portable, light model from Honeywell cleans air from room to room. $79.97, Home Depot
Make use of hygrometer:
Get in the habit of using a hygrometer to measure the humidity in your home; keep the humidity level below 55 percent as dust mites thrive in humidity levels of 70 to 80 percent. If it’s above 55 percent – use a dehumidifier or vent fan for removing moisture in bathrooms and the kitchen. Try an inexpensive gadget like the Vicks HealthCheck Hygrometer.
$9.99, Target.com
Rid stuffed animals of dust mites:
The dust mite allergen is the number one cause of seasonal allergies and stuffed animals tend to be a magnet. You can place stuffed animals in a sealed plastic bag and leave it in the freezer for at least five hours to kill dust mites. If your child is susceptible to allergies, keep allergy-causing particles away from stuffed animals by storing them in plastic bins. $6, Mass Retailer
Dust with Swiffer:
Swiffer 360 Duster traps and locks dust and allergens and is the first dry-dusting cleaner to be Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly (by the AAFA). $8.97, National Retailers
