Prescription 

Recommendation One: Flooring
•Remove carpet and carpet padding.
•Replace with hardwood, bamboo, cork, or rubber.

Recommendation Two: Walls
•Repaint all walls with a low saturated color, preferably shades of blue or green.
•Replace wall art with wall murals to eliminate surface areas associated with the frame
  where dust can collect.

*All paints should be low volatile organic compounds (VOC) as well as containing antimicrobial properties. It should be noted that there are many brands of paint that are either antimicrobial or low VOC, but not all of them have both attributes.

Recommendation Three: Window
•Remove horizontal blinds and replace with one of the following:
     — Double-paned window with blinds located in between the two panes of glass.
     — Vinyl vertical blinds that can be periodically wiped down.
     — Retractable pull-down shade.
     — No window treatment.

Recommendation Four: Furnishings
•Single mattress, no box spring.
•Remove the following:
     — One end table from the bed frame to reduce surface area and caverns where dust
        and other allergens can accumulate.
     — Wall hanging candleholders. Artificial scents from air freshener, candles, and synthetic
        flowers have been shown to cause sinus and asthma symptoms.
•Add one or two of the following plants (one plant should be allowed for approximately 10
  square yards of floor space, assuming average ceiling heights of 8 to 9 feet).
 
               — Chinese Evergreen        — Chrysanthemum            — Corn Plant
               — Golden Pothos              — Madag Dragon Tree       — Heart Leaf
               — Spider Plant                  — Waneckii                       — Mother-in-law Tongue
               — English Ivy                     — Peace Lily

**Plants can be effective in counteracting off-gassed chemicals and contributing to balanced internal humidity throughout the year.

Recommendation Five: Bedding
•Encase the mattress in a hypoallergenic mattress cover.
•Add hypoallergenic pillows and encase them in hypoallergenic pillowcases.
•Encase the blanket in a hypoallergenic duvet cover.

** When it comes to mattresses and bedding, it is important to distinguish between allergens related to chemical off gassing and allergens that cling to the mattress and bedding act as an allergen sink (Halkin, 2003).