Do you feel sniffly, stuffy, and sneezy in your home? While most assume indoor allergens are things like mites, mold, and dander, the culprit could be more innocuous—your upholstery. Many fabrics contain harsh chemicals or have loose weaves that allow dust, dirt, and other particles to penetrate the fibers. This mix of chemicals and contaminants can trigger symptoms like sneezing, wheezing, and itchy hives.
So is there anything you can do about this? Reupholstering your furniture could help. Here are three hypoallergenic upholstery fabrics that will reduce allergies.
Linen
Linen is one of the oldest fabrics in the world. It’s an all-natural textile derived from the fibrous flax plant. Linen has various pros and cons, but a notable benefit is that it possesses natural hypoallergenic properties. It also doesn’t contain harmful dyes or chemicals and has a tight weave that keeps dust out. Furthermore, it’s moisture-wicking and breathable, qualities that prevent it from collecting moisture and dead skin cells.
Cotton
Cotton is one of the most popular upholstery fabrics for good reasons. It’s affordable, easily accessible, and unbelievably soft. Zero chemicals go into the production of organic wool. This means those with formaldehyde resin and para-phenylenediamine allergies can relax and rest on it without worry.
Silk
This ultra-luxurious hypoallergenic upholstery fabric can also help curb your allergy symptoms. Silk isn’t cheap, but the comfort and peace of mind it provides are well worth the cost. Silk is dust mite–resistant because it comes from silkworm cocoons, and those cocoons need to repel predators and other external hazards to keep the insects alive. The material excretes sericin residue, a natural repellant, to keep all potential dangers away. For similar reasons, silk is also resistant to mold, fungus, and bed bugs.
If you have allergies that you suspect your upholstery fabric is causing, consider reupholstering your furniture with one of these natural fabrics to alleviate discomfort.
