Laminate flooring is a good option if someone in your home has a dust or pet allergy. However, dust is easily disturbed with smooth floorcoverings so carpet is still a viable option for allergies. In fact, airborne dust content is lower in rooms with carpet.

If you opt for carpet, go for a tight pile that has fewer hiding places for dust mites.

Carpet acts like a filter, trapping airborne dust until it is vacuumed up. Consider investing in a vacuum cleaner specially designed for allergy sufferers.

It is thought that beds, not carpets, are the worst culprits in harbouring dust mites, with there being fewer mites in carpets than beds.

If you have pets like cats or dogs, make sure they lie on a washable rug to reduce their impact in causing allergies.

Many allergies can be removed by carpet cleaning, so get your carpets professionally cleaned on a regular basis.

Good ventilation deprives mites of the humidity they need to thrive, so air your home by opening windows whenever possible.