Seasonal allergies are running rampant! Stepping outside you can literally see the pollen flying through air, just waiting to get in your eyes, nose and mouth. Itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, ear pain, and even trouble breathing are not uncommon this time of year. I have no magic tricks for stopping the pollen from flying, but you can help control your allergies by keeping your home as clean as possible.
Getting your exposure to allergens down at home often means you won’t suffer quite so much during the day. You can think about it like an allowance. Imagine that each day you are given an allowance of 5 defense coins and every time you are exposed to an allergy you give one of those coins away. When the coins run out, then you start to pay the price with all those nasty allergy symptoms. If at home you have pet hair or dander, mold, dust, or dust mites, you may have just given away all of your coins and when you go outside your body will instantly react to all that flying fluff. But, if we can save those coins for when you are outside instead of spending them all in your home, you will be able to handle more allergens while you are out and about .
So, how do you stop spending coins at home? You have to get the allergens out. Your home may be a big space, but most of us spend at least 6 hours in a single room: the bedroom. By focusing on your bedrooms you can greatly decrease your exposure to allergens.
- Bedding: Sheets and blankets should be washed and dried on high heat once weekly. The high heat is important because this is what kills the dust mites.
- Pillows & Comforter: If you have dust mite allergies, as many of us do, your pillows and comforter may be an issue, particularly if they are made of down. Down feathers are one of the main habitats for these critters. If you use down, you have a couple of options. First, you can consider getting allergy covers. These are made of non-breathable material and make it so the dust mites can’t get in the down. The down side of this is that they can cause sweating, but if you can handle that, then you don’t really need to worry about washing your pillows or comforter. If you prefer to keep your down and skip the covers, your down items will need to be thrown in the dryer for 30 minutes on high heat once per week. For non-down items, consider washing them at least once per month.
- Pets: Keep pets off the bed if at all possible. If your dog or cat is used to being on the bed, you can put an extra sheet over your bed (especially your pillows) during the day to keep them free of pet dander and the pollen they carry in their fur.
- Floors: Vacuum at least once per week with a HEPA filter vacuum. If you have hard wood floors, sweep and use a dust mop at least once per week.
- Dusting: Dust is one of the most common allergies and during allergy season it seems to accumulate at an alarming rate. Be sure to wipe down all the surfaces in your room at least twice per month.
- Windowsills: In the Northwest, we are extremely susceptible to mold. Even if it isn’t the deadly black mold, it often contributes to allergy symptoms. The number one place for mold to grow is near windows, especially if you ever see them fog up or get condensation. At least once a month windowsills should be wiped down with a mold killing solution. There are natural home remedies, such as white vinegar or tea tree essential oil, but how well these work is not clear. I suggest a 10% Bleach solution. First wipe off any visible mold and then spray the area with the bleach solution and allow it to dry. Repeat as needed for any staining.
- Air Filter: A HEPA filter is a great addition to the bedroom if you suffer from allergies. HEPA filters help to capture micro-particles, including dust and pollen, from the air. There are a wide variety of options, so be sure to choose one that is large enough for the space and clean the filters regularly. If the noise bothers you while you sleep, remember to keep it running during the day so it can filter your air.
These may seem like a lot to tackle all at once, so start with the bedding and then slowly build in the rest of these habits. Once you get in the routine, it is easy to maintain and most people will notice improvement in sleep in addition to having less allergy symptoms during the day. If you have serious allergies, be sure to consult with one of our providers to talk about the other ways to control and eliminate your allergies.