Simple Strategies to Eczema-Proof Your Home

Eczema-Proof Your House: A Room-by-Room Guide

Eczema-Proof Your House: A Room-by-Room Guide
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Updated on April 22, 2026
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Eczema — a group of inflammatory skin conditions that cause dry, itchy, sensitive skin — can be brought on by many factors. While these triggers can be different for everyone, they most often include stress, allergens, and your environment.

“People who have eczema are much more susceptible to irritation from things that they can commonly come into contact with, which could be as simple as water,” says Marisa Garshick, MD, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine and dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City.

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to keep these potential triggers to a minimum in every room of your home.

Avoiding Eczema Triggers: Housekeeping 101

To start, it’s good to be mindful of the overall temperature and dryness in your house. People with eczema (including atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema) may be sensitive to dry air and hot temperatures. Try to keep the temperature in your home as consistent as possible, which means heating it in the winter and cooling it in the summer to achieve a similar temperature year-round.

“Winter is a very common time for people to experience dryness, not just because of the cold weather outside, but also because when we’re inside and we put on the high heat, that can actually be drying on the skin,” says Dr. Garshick.

A humidifier can help when your house gets too dry, unless you have a type of eczema that gets worse in high humidity, such as dyshidrotic eczema. Try to keep the humidity level at about 50 percent and the temperature between 68 and 72 degrees F, Garshick says.

Eczema-Proof Your Bedroom and Closet

Potential eczema triggers in your bedroom are mainly on the bed itself, as mattresses and bedsheets can attract dust mites, which feed off dead skin cells and can irritate your skin. To cut down on dust mites, it’s a good idea to encase your mattress in a dust mite–proof cover and wash your sheets in hot water weekly. Some experts also recommend removing carpeting, particularly in the bedroom, though research has found that steam cleaning can help reduce dust mites.

Importantly, you don’t want to use a heavy-duty detergent or one with harsh chemicals. For both bedding and clothes, opt for a gentle detergent — one free of dyes and scents — that’s good for sensitive skin, says Garshick. Be sure to prewash new sheets and clothes before use.

In addition, some types of fabric can irritate your skin, particularly wool and synthetic fabrics. Try to wear cotton clothes whenever possible and choose white or undyed sheets.

Eczema-Proof Your Kitchen

Although it’s good to avoid harsh cleaners, you still need to keep your home clean, especially in areas that can get dirty fast, such as the kitchen. That’s why Garshick recommends wearing gloves when you’re doing dishes or cleaning.

“You don’t necessarily need to worry about the product itself; it’s just making sure you’re protecting the skin that would come into contact with products,” Garshick says. She also suggests keeping hand lotion by the sink, so that if you wash your hands prior to cooking or other activities, you remember to also moisturize your skin. This helps prevent frequent washing from irritating skin.

Eczema-Proof Your Bathroom

As with the kitchen, it’s important to keep the bathroom clean to avoid potential eczema triggers, such as mold. Wear gloves when cleaning your bathroom, which you should do regularly. Also, avoid harsh cleaning products with strong scents, which can irritate the skin, as well as caustic ingredients like bleach. Keep a moisturizer next to the sink for after you wash your hands.

Aim for short, lukewarm showers. It’s also important to use the right kinds of products when showering. Skip harsh soaps and abrasive scrubs. “Make sure you’re looking for products that are designed for sensitive skin or eczema-prone skin,” says Garshick. After you’ve showered, apply a layer of moisturizer while your skin is still damp.

Eczema-Proof Your Living Room

Dust mites are one of the biggest eczema triggers lurking in the living room, in addition to the bedroom. Routine vacuuming using a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and dusting can help, as can investing in easy-to-clean fabrics or covers for your furniture.

“If you have a couch, make sure that the fabric is less likely to collect dust and that it’s easily cleaned,” says Garshick. That also goes for other fabrics in the room, such as carpets, rugs, and curtains.

It’s a good idea to use the HEPA-filtered vacuum on upholstery and curtains, in addition to carpets and rugs. Most fabrics can be steam-cleaned as well, but check the labels first.

Eczema-Proof Your Yard

If you have a front yard or backyard, it’s good to have access to shade to avoid the sun. Make a habit of wearing sunscreen that’s SPF 30 or higher when you go outside — look for products that have the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance — and consider putting up umbrellas for shade. Some people find that their eczema gets worse when exposed to the sun.

“If eczema spots get some sun exposure, sometimes they can be more likely to leave a little mark behind,” which is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, says Garshick.

The Importance of Eczema Treatment

All of these measures can help you to avoid triggering your eczema at home. It’s also key to follow your eczema treatment plan or, if you don’t have one, see a dermatologist.

“If the eczema is already active, it’s important to treat it,” says Garshick. That means moisturizing and using any topical or other treatments you’re prescribed. “Avoidance of triggers is just one important part of managing eczema.”

If you follow all of these steps but still consistently experience eczema flares due to triggers in your home, be sure to see your dermatologist. They can do patch testing on your skin to see if you’re allergic to common ingredients found in household products.

The Takeaway

  • Eczema, a group of inflammatory skin conditions that cause dry, itchy skin, can be triggered by a variety of household irritants.
  • Making sure to minimize your personal triggers at home — whether they include dry air, mold, or dust mites — can help reduce eczema symptoms.
  • Avoiding triggers can’t treat eczema flares, however, so you’ll also need to see your doctor for treatment.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Eczema. Cleveland Clinic. October 25, 2022.
  2. What Is Eczema? National Eczema Association. January 27, 2025.
  3. Koslofsky J. Best Eczema Treatments for Winter. University of Rochester Medicine. January 4, 2024.
  4. Dyshidrotic Eczema (Dyshidrosis). Cleveland Clinic. July 16, 2025.
  5. Moncayo-Hida J. 5 Common Places Dust Mites Are Lurking. National Eczema Association. January 16, 2024.
  6. Stover J. Have an Eczema Flare Up? 9 Easy Tips to Stop Scratching. University of Virginia Health. June 27, 2023.
  7. Eczema and Washing Hands Frequently. Allergy & Asthma Network. January 13, 2026.
  8. Bathing and Eczema. National Eczema Association. March 20, 2025.
  9. Sun and Eczema. Eczema UK.
  10. Patch Test. Cleveland Clinic. April 21, 2025.
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Amy Spizuoco, DO

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Amy Spizuoco, DO, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist. Dr. Spizuoco has been practicing medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology, as well as dermatopatholo...

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