Putting the Room Together to Minimize Allergens and Carcinogens

In the bedroom make sure:

1. Floor is not carpeted (or dirty), to minimize dust and places for bugs to hide. Washable throw rugs can be acceptable in most cases.
2. Furniture is simple design and fully enclosed, e.g., no open bookshelves, for easy dusting.
3. Curtains and shades are hard plastic verticals; or, if cloth is used, they should be washed every 3 to 6 months (not as good as the dustable).
4. Chairs, benches, etc. in the room should be wood or plastic rather than cloth.
5. TV and electronics should be enclosed to minimize dust accumulation.
6. Walls and ceiling should be semi gloss paint or smooth vinyl wallpaper.
7. Clothes closet should have a tight fitting door.
8. Don't let pets in the room.

Why?

The concept is to minimize places that dust, pollen, pet dander, and bugs can accumulate. All cloth items should be machine washable, preferably in hot water to kill unwanted organisms.

Other

• Get a good HEPA vacuum cleaner, e.g., Miele
• Get a HEPA air cleaner, e.g., Sears Kenmore model 85501 (includes odor eliminator)

The bed

The frame should be solid wood, not plywood or pressed board. It should be a platform with the slats made from a hard wood spaced so that the slats are 50 to 60% solid, with 40 to 50% spaces between the slats. 3.5 inch slats with 3 inch spacing is about right. This provides good support yet room for ventilation. The frame can be unfinished or oiled with an edible oil (such as walnut or almond oil) with which you have had experience. If it must be finished, try and let the frame "dry" for a few months before putting it into an enclosed room.

The mattress should be 8 to 12 inches in thickness, preferably organic Talalay Latex covered with an organic cotton and wool ticking. It should be very soft to maximize the contact between the body and mattress for the optimum support (please see earlier pages).

I recommend getting one set of organic (but not feather) bedding to start. There are many alternative bedding materials such as silk and bamboo that might be just as healthy and less expensive. Try to introduce these materials one at a time to confirm that they are tolerated.

Example twin xl, queen, and king beds respectively:

Yarmouth bed from thebedworksofmaine.com (shipping will be $100 to $200 additional)	$330	$350	$450
10 in Talalay Latex mattress from Savvy Rest	$1989	$3139	$3789
organic cotton mattress pad from Coyuchi	$150	$200	$250
organic cotton sheets and pillow case from Coyuchi	$150	$200	$250
organic shredded latex pillow	$80	$90	$100
total	$2699	$3979	$4839