Best Cleaning Tips for Anyone With Allergies
Millions of people have allergies to a variety of things. Some of the most common allergens include pollen, foods, animal dander, dust mites, insect bites or stings, and medications. While each individual person has a different reaction to a variety of allergens, some people have it worse than others.
If you regularly suffer from seasonal allergies by battling a runny, stuffy nose, sneezing, watery, itching eyes, and coughing or if you break out in itchy, red hives, it’s important to know how to handle it. There are a variety of life hacks you can use to control your allergies.
See an Allergist
One of the most proactive steps you can take to control your allergies is to see an allergist. If you are not 100 percent sure about what you’re allergic to, a skin scratch test can help to reveal that. You can also have blood drawn to be tested for allergies that cannot be tested via scratch test. Knowing what you’re allergic to can better help you to avoid those allergens and keep your allergies under control.
In addition, once you know what is triggering your allergies, you can get prescription medication from the allergist to treat your symptoms.
Use Nasal Saline Rinse
Saline is a great natural remedy for controlling nasal allergies. If your nose is stuffy, you can spray some nasal spray containing saline into your nostrils to ease your allergies. You can also get a saline rinse or Neti pot or make your own saline solution at home using a mixture of water and salt. Add it to a squeeze or spray bottle and spray the mixture into your nostrils.
Another option for clearing nasal congestion from your allergies is to breathe in steam from a bowl filled with boiling water or from a hot shower.
Run the Air Conditioner
If your seasonal allergies are particularly bothersome during hotter days in the spring and the summer, you can keep them better under control by keeping your windows closed. Run the air conditioner to stay cool. Generally speaking, pollen is at its peak between the hours of 4 am and 6 am, so you will want to have your windows down during that time period to keep it out of your home.
Stay Indoors
Stay indoors until at least 10 am if it’s at all possible. This gives a bit of extra time to allow the pollen to settle so that it’s not floating around in the air as much.
Shower More Often
During the summer, you may want to shower more often to stay cool. However, it’s also a good practice for controlling your allergies as well. Take a shower and wash your hair when you come back home from being outdoors. You should also change your clothes. This can get any pollen off of you and keep it at bay. If you have a significant other who sleeps in the same bed with you, you should ask them to do the same thing.
If you have furry pets that spend any amount of time outdoors, you should bathe them more often as well to keep their fur pollen-free.
Use a Mattress Cover
If your allergies stem from dust mites, pet dander, and other environmental allergens, you can use a mattress cover on your mattress. You can also cover up your pillows to keep them free of dust and pet hair and dander.
In addition to covering up these things, you can keep your pets out of your bedroom to reduce your allergies, especially during the night.
Maintain Your HVAC System
Performing regular maintenance on your HVAC system is absolutely essential, especially when you suffer from allergies. During the summer, you should regularly clean or replace the filters for your air conditioning unit. Meanwhile, during cooler seasons, you should clean your furnace’s filter to keep it free of debris.
Avoid Using Carpets
Carpets can be breeding grounds for allergens. As a result, you should avoid using them or have them removed if you want to better control your allergies.
On the other hand, if you don’t want to part with your carpeting, you can do your part to keep them as clean as possible with this carpet cleaning tip.
Have them professionally cleaned at least once or twice per year and thoroughly vacuum them. Wear a mask over your nose and mouth to prevent dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens from affecting you.
If you are interested in more cleaning tips for allergy sufferers, you will want to check out these tips here.
Hang Laundry Indoors
If you have your own washing machine but want to hang your laundry instead of using the dryer or don’t have one, avoid hanging it outdoors. This can attract pollen to attach to your clothing and linens. Instead, hang your laundry indoors.
Limit Your Gardening
Limit the amount of gardening you do in your yard. You can hire a gardener to tend your lawn or have a family member from your household who is not allergic or as allergic to do it for you.
Take Over-the-Counter Medication
There are other options available to you for controlling your allergies. Over-the-counter medications are often effective at bringing you some relief. Opt for something that doesn’t cause drowsiness. Take your allergy medicine first thing in the morning before your symptoms kick in.
These hacks can help you to feel better while dealing with allergies. Some natural remedies may even work better.
