My sewing room is also in the basement but it is 'finished' as in it has a drop ceiling. I have allergies. I never use Best Press and rarely use starch. I try to always work with fabric that has at least been rinsed to remove the sizing--another trigger for me. I don't think there is any way of getting rid of the lint etc that is in sewing room air, other than not creating it in the first place LOL. Having stated that, my DH is a woodworker and has an air filter in his workshop. It is basically like a dryer filter in that a fan pulls air thru it and the filter captures the tiny wood particles. I wonder if something like that is available for a sewing room.