Did you know that more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies every year? What’s even more astounding is that Houston is actually rated number one in the country for highest pollen counts. Needless to say, the spring and summer seasons can be extremely rough for many of us!
A great way to avoid allergy symptoms is by controlling your exposure to the allergens that trigger your allergies. This process can begin at home.
Below, we’ve listed seven ways you can create an allergy-proof home.
1. Use Air-Conditioning to Cool Your Home
Instead of opening windows or using window fans, cool your home by using an air-conditioning unit to keep pollen, ragweed and other allergens from entering your home.
Be sure to change your A/C filter every month. This is very important because once the filter gets clogged with dust and particles, the A/C unit will stop working properly. Then, it could actually start spreading allergens all over your home!
[Related: How Do Allergy Shots Work?]
2. Wear a Mask When Cleaning (and Clean Regularly)
The key to keeping an allergy-proof home is to clean it regularly. Vacuum and mop the floors once or twice a week to keep the dust mites, pollen and other allergens that may have snuck into your house under control. When you clean the rest of your house, don’t forget to vacuum or mop the porch or outside patio and to wipe down the window frames and sills.
As you dust, vacuum and perform other cleaning duties, dust mites and other allergens are always present in the air. Wearing a protective mask can help you avoid breathing in the allergens and save you from allergy-related discomfort while cleaning.
Choosing the right cleaning tools is important, too. Microfiber cloths, microfiber mops and vacuum cleaners with a high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA filter) help capture those tiny allergens that tend to fill the air.
Additionally, leave the house for a couple of hours after you’re done cleaning. That will give the air time to clear before you return.
3. Wash Bedding Regularly
Wash clothes, pillow cases, sheets, blankets and comforters at least once weekly in hot water. With the nicer weather, you may be tempted to air-dry laundry outside. Unfortunately, this isn’t the best choice if you’re an allergy sufferer.
Pollen can cling to clean laundry and make your allergy symptoms spike when you wear those clothes or sleep in those sheets. Rather than air-drying bedding and clothes, toss them in the dryer.
If you have any pets, try to keep them outside your bedroom and avoid letting them get on your bed. If they do, wash the bedding immediately afterward.
[Related: Best Hypoallergenic Cat Breeds For Allergy Sufferers]
4. Wash Your Clothes When You Get Home
Another trick to keep pollen outside is to wash your clothes and take a shower as soon as you get home. By doing this, you get rid of any allergens that your clothes or hair may have picked up. Also, keep a watch on those pollen levels — don’t spend long periods of time outdoors when the pollen levels are high.
5. If You Can, Get Rid of Carpet
If it’s feasible for you, always choose hardwood or linoleum flooring over carpet. However, if getting rid of your carpet isn’t an option, make sure you vacuum the entire carpeted area at least once per week. Try to use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to allergy-proof your home.
6. Avoid Letting Mold Grow in Your Kitchen and Bathroom
Wash the dishes daily and scrub the kitchen sink to remove all mold and food debris.
Every time you take a shower, towel-dry the tub and enclosure to reduce the chances of mold growing there. Clean your bathroom every week and use bleach to scrub mold from the tub, shower, sink and faucets. Don’t forget to replace moldy shower curtains and bath mats.
7. Control Humidity Level in Your Home
A humid home is the perfect breeding ground for mold and dust mites. If you’re trying to learn how to allergy-proof your home, it’s important to address humidity. Make sure the humidity level inside your home is never over 50%, and try to keep the temperature between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Breathe Freely: Contact Pasha Snoring & Sinus Center Today
Avoidance is the key to controlling your allergies, but it won’t solve the problem and can’t guarantee that you’ll never experience allergy symptoms. To avoid allergy symptoms altogether, it’s crucial to get your allergies treated before they kick in.
Here at Pasha Snoring & Sinus Center, we focus on finding the underlying cause behind your allergy symptoms. We begin with an allergy test. Then, based on the results, we determine the right course of treatment for you.
If you’re interested in learning how to treat your allergies, schedule an appointment today.
