Been sneezing a lot and dealing with a scratchy throat lately, and you don’t even leave the house much? You might be dealing with allergens and need to make your home an allergy friendly zone.
Allergens are always important to keep away from your house, whether or not we are in allergy season. Fortunately, allergies are nothing to overthink about—they affect more than 20 percent of Americans, and there are many ways you can turn your home into an allergy-friendly zone!
Before we go through each tip, make sure you’re first well-aware of what you’re allergic to. Whether it’s dust mites, molds, pollens, or other allergens, you can tackle the issue more impactfully once you know what exactly is triggering the allergies. Now that we’ve got that settled let’s dive in!
Reduce clutter
Too much clutter can be an attractive place for allergens to gather. De-clutter your home to minimize the chances of keeping allergens around. Sort through your cushions, boxes, and other stuff—who knows, there might be some things you can do without and can even donate for a good cause? The clearer the spaces in your home are, the harder it is for allergens to stick around.
Vacuum regularly
You don’t have to be a clean freak that cleans the house obsessively, but make sure your house gets a thorough cleaning every once or twice a week!
Allergens such as pet dander and dust mites can get trapped in different parts of your homes, especially on the carpets, so it’s a good idea to use an effective vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter that can pick up even the tiniest allergens.
Don’t skip the laundry
Fabric can collect allergens like dust mites and pet dander over time. Make sure you change your bedsheets around once a week and wash them thoroughly with hot water to prevent allergens from staying too long. Other often neglected fabrics include curtains and soft toys like stuffed animals, so make sure you give them proper laundry too!
Go green with cleaning products
Harsh chemicals in cleaning products such as ammonia can worsen allergic reactions. While it’s important to clean the house regularly, it’s best to pick cleaning products wisely, especially if you or somebody else in your house is suffering from allergies.
Look for products with ‘green’ labels when shopping for house-cleaning products. Alternatively, do a little DIY with baking soda, vinegar, and lemon to scrub those dirty areas clean!
Keep pollen out
Sure, you have to open up the windows and let fresh air and sunshine in for a healthier living. But at the same time, you also need to keep pollens out as much as possible. Generally, pollens are at their highest around 5 to 9 AM.
If you can, keep windows closed during that time and open them afterward. You can also place a doormat before your door and ensure anyone who enters your house always takes off their shoes. Always change clothes immediately after you get home as pollens can stay on your clothes too!
Proper pet care
If you have pets at home and pet dander is one of the culprits of your allergic reaction, this tip is even more crucial. Pet fur can also be a hiding place for dust and pollen, which can potentially spread around the house when they come in after playing outside.
Make sure you brush your pet’s fur thoroughly whenever they come into your house to keep them as clean as possible.
Allergies are a common issue and shouldn’t be afraid of as long as you find their root cause and deal with them properly. With these simple and doable tips, you can turn your home into an allergy-friendly zone and, hopefully, minimize the presence of any allergens for good!
