If you haven’t been sniffling and sneezing more than usual, you’ve at least noticed more people around you grabbing for tissues. This could be the start of fall allergies. While you can’t completely avoid seasonal allergens, there are ways to reduce your exposure to them so you won’t have to suffer from the sniffles as much.
Pets
Dogs and cats are havens for allergens. Not only do they carry their own hair and dander that cause some people to suffer from allergies, but they also pick up allergens while they are outdoors. Brush your pets outdoors and regularly bathe them to keep the loose hair and pollens out of your apartment. Limit their access to your blankets, bed and furniture during allergy season to keep them from transferring allergens from their fur to places where you relax and sleep.
Clean it up
Just like your pets, you can pick up fall allergens while you are out and about. Pollen and dust particles will stick to your shoes, jacket, clothing and hair. So, be sure to leave your coat and shoes at the door to avoid dragging these allergens into your home. And, vacuum regularly to suck up any allergens that might have strayed to your carpet.
Keep it closed
Fall is probably the best time to enjoy opening your windows in your home or apartment, but this is just an invite for allergens such as pollen to blow into your home. Resist the urge to open windows until your area has experienced a significant amount of rain that will reduce pollen levels in the air. Otherwise, keep the dry air and fall allergens out of your home by keeping your windows closed.
Wash regularly
If you spend a significant amount of time doing yard work or playing a sport outdoors, wash up when you get home to remove any allergens that you picked up on your skin or hair. Keep dirty laundry sitting around to a minimum and wash your bedding once a week to keep it clean and allergen free.
Dust
To clean up allergens such as dust, pollen and dander found on furniture, use a cloth and cleaner that will pick up the allergens, not just move them around on surfaces or stir them up into the air. Also, vacuum upholstered furniture and curtains that may have collected pollen and other fall allergens.
Some cities are worse than others for fall allergens. The Allergy Action Plan offers a list of “Top 50 Fall Allergy Capitals,” and some cities on the list include major metro areas such as Portland, Cleveland, Detroit, Tacoma and many more. Just because you live in an apartment or loft in a big city where foliage and fields of grass are scarce does not mean you will be able to avoid allergens altogether. So, always be aware of what sets off your symptoms and try these simple things to keep fall allergens out of your home.
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