The warm spring weather has finally arrived once again, which means (sadly) that allergy season is right around the corner. There are few things that will ruin a perfect day faster than a sneezing fit that just won't go away. It's a problem that millions of people around the country deal with, but the good news is that you don't have to any longer.
In truth, surviving allergy season and coming out fresh as a daisy on the other side isn't nearly as complicated as you might believe. You just have to keep a few key things in mind.
1. Cleaning Pollen and Other Allergens
When it comes to allergy season, cleaning isn't necessarily going to rid your life of dander, pollen, and other allergens. You really need to make sure that you're using the right products for the right job. According to the experts at Everyday Health, you should use cleaning materials like the following:
- Use a combination of vinegar and salt to clean regular surfaces like granite or wood countertops.
- Do you have any scents or odors on your carpeting that you're trying to get rid of? Baking soda will do the trick.
- If you want to take proper care of your furniture AND keep allergens away, use olive oil or lemon juice.
- If you're trying to give your home a breath of fresh air (literally) but don't want to use a product that will irritate your allergies, use cinnamon, cloves or even steeped tea.
- Kleenex and other types of tissues can also be very helpful when it comes to keeping things clean in the healthiest way possible.
2. Break Things Down Into a Manageable Schedule
Just as important as how you clean during allergy season is when - meaning how often you make a true effort to rid your life of dust, pollen, dirt, and debris that will only make a bad situation and worse. Generally speaking, things will go a lot easier if you don't try to do everything at once. Instead, break things down into a schedule like the following and try to accomplish it little-by-little:
- Give your home a good dusting on a weekly basis, probably on the weekend when you have the time to do a thorough job. When you do, make sure that you use something like a microfiber cloth to help actually get rid of allergens instead of just spread them around.
- Do your laundry at least once a week, too. All that pollen that attaches itself to your clothes while you're outside has been slowly building up on your bed sheets and other items all week long.
- Vacuum every couple of days just to be on the safe side. Most of the time, you'll be able to get by at a frequency of about twice a week. Keep in mind that the Academy of American Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommends that you use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to help remove dust, pollen, and dander in particular. If you don't already have one of those, now would be a good time to invest in one.
3. Get Rid of That Clutter
Nobody likes a cluttered home, but we all lead such busy lives that sometimes keeping organized can be a lot easier said than done. But this is one thing you'll want to make an additional effort for during allergy season, because clutter collects dust and dust irritates your allergies.
4. Turn On Your Air Conditioning More Often
Yes, it's true that there are few things better than opening up the windows and letting the breeze flow through your home on a nice cool day. But if your allergies are really that bad, you're going to want to rely on the good old air conditioner instead. Every time you open your windows, you're giving pollens, molds, and other allergens an opportunity to get inside. Your AC, on the other hand, has filters that will clean the air to help make sure they stay outdoors where they belong.
5. Know What NOT to Do
Finally, it's just as important to know what you SHOULDN'T be doing during allergy season, as it is to know what you should. Case in point: when you do your laundry once a week as outlined above, never let your clothes air dry outside. You'll only undo all of the hard work you just did and expose yourself to allergens. You also shouldn't use scented cleaners or detergent-type products, as those fragrances will likely trigger your symptoms and exacerbate the situation across the board.
