Sniffling. Sneezing. Coughing. Discomfort!
If you’re like most Americans, the winter months mean time spent wallowing indoors with allergy affliction. And if you’re like most Americans, you’re probably not taking advantage of these 5 key ways to help end indoor allergies:
1. Clean Cleaning – Don’t let your quest for ousting allergens get you sick in the process. Make sure to wash hands as well as change and wash your clothes after extensive cleaning.
Consider wearing a mask while cleaning to prevent being affected by the allergens that get kicked up during the process and use a HEPA-filtered vacuum to put an extra effort on gathering the tiniest of allergens that may not get picked up otherwise.
2. Weekly Washing – Your bed, towels, and laundry piles are prime locations for allergy-causing particles. The longer you go without cleaning them, the more likely it is for allergens and germs to creep in.
Make a point each week to wash bedding and clothes in hot water, and toss any stuffed animals your kids may tote around into plastic bags and into the freezer for a few hours. Extreme heat & extreme cold will kill these mites and germs.
Likewise, don’t forget the dog! Pet dander, saliva, and waste are the three main causes of animal-induced allergies, so take steps to ensure they and their accessories get a good scrubbing.
3. Quality Control – Air quality is key and poor ventilation or circulation can really hamper your home comfort.
Keep your home properly insulated by patching up cracks and crevices, reinforcing windows and door thresholds, and limiting the time doors/windows remain open. If you haven’t already, it is a good idea to have your air ducts cleaned and heating unit inspected to stop pollutants from circulating.
4. Hinder Humidity – Keep your home’s humidity lower than 40% to help minimize allergens. Mold grows in damp and dark locations like a basement or a wet bathroom after a hot shower, so recognizing and preventing moisture build-up by reducing this combination will payoff well in the long run.
5. Improving Immunity – The best offense can be a great healthy defense. Don’t underestimate the power a nutrient-rich, well-hydrated diet can have on keeping allergies at bay.
Routine exercise and a protein-packed, fresh food regiment will add energy to your day as well as to your immune system. Consult a physician if you have food allergies to discern what meal-exercise combinations will work best for you.
Of course, true medical matters should be taken up with an allergen specialist if you feel medication is needed. Prescription medications as well as allergy shots may provide more long-term relief.
