11 Ways to Allergy-Proof Your Home
Home, sweet, home may be full of sneezes and sniffles if you don’t take some precautions during spring allergy season. Here are 11 surefire solutions to keep allergies at bay.
1. Go with the Flow
Be sure that your house is well ventilated, including the under-floor area.
When pollen season kicks up, be sure to shut the windows and turn on the air conditioning to clean, cool and dry the air.
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3. Stay in During Peak Allergy Hours
Limit outdoor excursions when pollen and mould counts are high. Peak pollen times usually fall between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Avoid long periods outdoors on windy days, too, when dust, mould and pollen are blowing around.
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4. Immediately Hop in the Shower
Shower, wash your hair and change your clothing (including shoes) after being outside. Allergens can easily collect on your skin, hair and clothing. The allergens are then transferred to your face, hands and pillowcase.
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5. Garden Carefully
Have trees and bushes pruned regularly to cut down on vegetation near doors and windows. Don’t use leaf blowers. They spurt mould into the air at full force, which can then enter the house. Only plant trees and shrubs that produce small amounts of pollen.
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6. Keep Indoor Plants Dry
Wet soil encourages mould growth. Top indoor pots with small pebbles or stones to help prevent mould growth.
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7. Encase the Beds
Cover the mattress, box spring and pillows with allergen-proof covers to keep dust mites in check.
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8. Choose Feathers
Research from the University of Manchester in Great Britain found that synthetic fibre and foam pillows contain more dust mites and pet dander than feather-filled pillows. The densely woven covers designed to keep the feathers in also help to keep allergens out.
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9. Dust Less Often
Leaving an occasional dust bunny under the bed could be a wise move. Doctors at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, Colorado say that a molecule called endotoxin, found in ordinary house dust, appears to protect children against allergy and asthma.
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10. Roll Up the Rugs
Dust mites can’t live on bare wood. If you must have carpeting, vacuum often.
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