Why do my allergies get worse in my house? 7 home modifications to improve environmental allergy symptoms.

Why do my allergies get worse in my house? ? 5 home modifications to improve environmental allergy symptoms. 

Let's talk environmental allergy symptoms. Some of the most common allergens are dust mites, mold, pet dander and pollen. 

Depending on what you're allergic to, you could suffer from symptoms year round, though the severity will likely fluctuate. Check out this everyday health article that features a month-by-month guide to allergies. 

Environmental allergy symptoms are uncomfortable and a leading cause of doctor visits. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis or hay fever are NOT contagious and include cough, congestion, irritated and itchy eyes, nose, mouth and throat. 

Symptoms are caused from breathing in allergens through your nose and mouth triggering the body to release histamine (Cleveland Clinic).

The best "treatment" of allergic rhinitis is to avoid allergens or triggers. However, we only have so much control over our environment. Let's look at what you CAN do around the house to help control environmental allergy symptoms. 

6 home modifications to improve environmental allergy symptoms. 

1. Limit linens

Think of all of the things we have around the house that "collect dust": curtains, carpets and bed skirts to name a few. I realize you may be limited in what you can do - perhaps the cost is too high to make a lot of replacements or you rent so can't truly modify your home. 

Is there something you can do without? If bare windows aren't your jam, can you switch to blinds that are easier to clean? Pick up any area rugs if applicable and opt for bare floors. Bed skirts aren't a necessity, but if you like the look, maybe opt for this kind that's easier to take off and on for washing (commissions earned). 

2. Look out for what you bring in

Leave your shoes at the door, consider changing out of clothing you wore outside, and think twice before opening windows. Wearing outdoor clothing indoors and opening windows increases the allergen count inside your home. 

I'd also extend this warning to all the things - the less stuff you have, the less places allergens can linger. This will also reduce your cleaning burden! There's no time like the present to declutter - reduce your stuff, reduce your sniffles.

3. Dust, sweep and vacuum often

Once again, your life will be easier if you happen to have bare floors. Carpets just accumulate so much gunk! If you have loose carpeting lying around, shake it out to see what comes out. If you have carpet that's nailed down, then gleen it to see how much stuff is trapped in there, particularly if you have pets (commissions earned)! Not gonna lie, it's pretty gross.

Sweep and vacuum often. If you have bare floors, then consider a robovac and use a Swiffer wet mop (commissions earned). Dusting with a damp cloth is often more effective - same goes for window blinds and other hard surfaces. 

4. Tend to your bed

We spend a lot of time in bed. Beds are notorious for collecting dust mites, but you want your bed to be a place to unwind, not to ramp up your environmental allergy symptoms! 

Wash bedding often and invest in hypoallergenic products such as hypoallergenic pillows, a hypoallergenic mattress cover, and hypoallergenic sheet set (commissions earned),

5. Change the furnace filter

This is so important. Even if you rent and the landlord or property management says they change the furnace filter, this is typically done once a year with a standard filter. If you suffer from environmental allergy symptoms, then you would probably benefit from changing your furnace filter every 1-2 months and using a furnace filter specifically designed to trap allergens such as dust and pollen (commissions earned). 

I try to check my furnace filter on the first of every month, though I often actually change it every other month. You will see and feel the difference in your allergy symptoms - a worthy investment and form of maintenance. 

6. Use air purifiers

Just like a furnace filter, an air purifier will filter the air to remove allergens (commissions earned). And you will need to replace the filter periodically to keep it functioning properly. We have air purifiers of varying sizes all throughout our home and they're amazing. 

You can set air purifiers on an automatic setting that changes the speed of filtration based on the air quality. Your air purifier may ramp up after you burn something in the kitchen, for example (not speaking from experience or anything!). 

We typically place our air purifiers to high in rooms that are not in use - in bedrooms during the day and common areas during the night. Bonus: the low hum of an air purifier in the bedroom can double as a white noise or sound machine overnight to improve sleep.

7. Groom your pets if you have them

The older I get, the more I'm in agreement with my grandmother - that I should have a hairless cat! They're not the prettiest things, but I'd be happy to suffer less allergy symptoms. I've only had short hair cats until this love-able long haired cat stumbled into our home quite by accident. But boy, have I noticed a difference in my allergy symptoms since Leo became a part of our family. 

Whether you do it yourself or enlist a groomer, the grooming needs done. Leo has his own brush, clippers and sheers (commissions earned). If we keep his coat trimmed, then he sheds less and vomits less, too! That's a win win win. Even better if you bathe your pet often.

Conclusion

If you suffer from environmental allergy symptoms, then you're not alone. While there is no cure, control of symptoms is possible, starting with your home environment. Making lifestyle changes and home modifications where possible should be your first defense against allergens, as the best treatment of allergy symptoms is avoidance of triggers and eliminating causative agents as best you can within your ability to do so. 

To keep the allergens in your home to a minimum: limit linens and floor coverings; declutter; clean often especially sweeping, vacuuming and dusting with a damp cloth or mop; wash bedding often and use hypoallergenic products; change your furnace filter often; use air purifiers and groom pets if you have them.

Do you suffer from environmental allergy symptoms? What are you allergic to? How do you keep allergy symptoms under control? Let me know in the comments!

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