When it comes to allergies, sometimes the root cause can come not from outside the home but actually from within it. That’s right, the same things that cause seasonal and other types of allergies like dust, pollen, and mold are all in your home as well. In fact, in some homes, air quality might be worse than by a busy road. So, what can you do around your house to help improve your indoor allergies and lessen your symptoms? Well, luckily, there are several steps that you can take to combat your allergies by incorporating a few simple changes into your house cleaning routine. So, if you’re ready to stop suffering and start being comfortable in your own home again, be sure to read on for our top seven home cleaning tips for indoor allergy sufferers.

  1. Shower Off Allergens
  2. Upgrade Filters in Your HVAC Systems
  3. Change Bedding Weekly
  4. Remove Pet Dander from the Source
  5. Deep Clean Your House Regularly
  6. Monitor the Humidity Level of Your Home
  7. Look Out for Other Potential Allergen Solutions Around Your Home

Shower Off Allergens

The very things that can cause allergy symptoms outdoors, like pollen spores, might be the same culprit for your indoor allergies if you bring the allergens inside the home with you. While no one would intentionally bring allergy-causing materials into their home, we often don’t have a choice as the most matter we are concerned with will stick to our clothes, body, and hair to hitch a ride to inside our house. The allergens’ stickiness is why if you’ve noticed your indoor allergies have become similar to your outdoor symptoms, it may be time to attack these outdoor allergens at their source, you.

Getting rid of outdoor allergens can be surprisingly simple if you follow these guidelines:

  • Limiting exposure and spread of allergens is critical, so be prepared to change from your work or commuting clothes immediately upon arriving home.
  • Wash soiled clothes in hot water to kill dust mites and any mold that may have collected on them.
  • Shower as soon as you get home; this will help remove any particles that may be causing allergic reactions from your hair and skin.
  • If you seem to be particularly sensitive to allergies caused by outdoor particles sticking to you and your clothes, consider donning an outer layer such as a raincoat or poncho. This extra layer will form an impenetrable barrier and provide more physical coverage from allergens for your protection.
  • The best part about showering is that the steam can provide natural relief for stuffy or blocked nasal passages while you’re also getting clean.

Upgrade the Filters in Your HVAC Systems

Suppose you can’t remember the last time you checked the status of the air filters in your HVAC (heating, ventilation, or air conditioner) systems. In that case, it is time to do so now, and you should continue to do so regularly in the future. This maintenance is because continuing to use an old filter isn’t just ineffective and inefficient; it can become a hotspot for mold growth and dust mites, which are probable sources of your indoor allergies. Replacing your old filter requires a little bit of knowledge of your specific situation and some pre-planning. However, this is a job you can routinely accomplish in less than an hour.

Here are some essential aspects to consider when changing your own home’s filters:

  • Much angst can be spared later by doing a simple visual check of your filter’s status once every four months.
  • If you notice excess dirt, grime, or dark fuzz on your filter, it is time to replace that filter, primarily if it is concentrated in one area.
  • At a minimum, you should consider replacing all filters every 12 to 18 months.
  • Those suffering from nasty allergies may wish to switch to a higher-grade allergen filter, such as a HEPA filter, and consider replacing them every six months as needed.
  • Check the branding of the filter you are looking to replace; this will give you good information on the specific size and type of filter you require.

With these tips in mind, it is essential to note that not all filters will work for your specific system. So be sure to have suitable filters for your job. For example, if your HVAC requires a six-inch filter, you must replace it with a similarly compatible six-inch filter. Using an incompatible filter for your system will not only make your filter a safety hazard but is as effective as not using one at all.

Change Your Bedding Weekly

It may be gross to think about, but we are all are constantly shedding skin, even when we’re sleeping. In fact, we shed a lot of it. And all of that shed skin is fodder for dust mites which means your bed might be a prime source of your allergy issues. So, if you find that your allergies are worst at night or upon waking, it might not be seasonal allergies but instead sensitivities to your bedding.

Take the following steps to ensure a healthy and allergen-free sleeping arrangement:

  1. Ensure your current mattress and bedding are still in good working order and free of any long-term issues. Beds have the potential to harbor harmful diseases.
  2. Use mattress and pillow covers; some are made to allergy-grade specifications and protect the mattress from spills.
  3. Last and most important: Wash your bedding weekly at a high temperature. To make this simpler, it can help rotating between multiple sets of bedding so that you never have to wait on your sheets to dry.

Remove Pet Dander from the Source

Your dog or cat may be a beloved companion, but that doesn’t mean they can’t also be a source of your allergies. Your pet’s fur produces enough dander to cause an allergic reaction, especially if allowed to reach concentrated levels inside your home.

These tips will help lessen the effect of pets as a source of your allergies:

  • Bathe your pet regularly to help remove dirt, dust, and dander and, as a bonus, makes cuddle time smell better.
  • Brush in between baths to remove allergens from your dog’s coat and to prevent dander from entering your home.
  • If your allergies seem to get worse at night, this one may be hard to hear, but don’t let your dog sleep in your bed or even lay there during the day. While this may be hard to forgo for some, allowing your dog or cat to spend time on your bed will contaminate your sleeping area with pet dander.

Deep Clean Your House Regularly

As mentioned above, dust is a prime source of indoor allergies, and it is best not to let it, or any other potential allergen, collect in your home by doing a deep cleaning regularly.

If you’re thinking, that’s great, but who has the time? You’re right; cleaning your home can be time-consuming, but even dusting surfaces twice a week will make a big difference in the quality of your home’s air. So, don’t worry, we aren’t asking you to scrub the tub with a toothbrush; instead, try to incorporate some of the following into your cleaning routine.

Try to do the following at least once every two weeks to prevent and combat allergies:

  • Vacuum your floors; this is especially important if you have many pets or live in a dusty area.
  • Mop your kitchen floor with a diluted bleach solution to inhibit mold growth.
  • Sterilize soft surfaces that may attract and trap allergens, like couch cushions or rugs, by using a diluted water and alcohol mixture.
  • Consider steam-cleaning your upholstery once a season.
  • Dust around the backs of appliances like TVs, computers, and anywhere else a cooling fan may be collecting dust.
  • Consider hiring a maid to ensure a high quality deep clean of your house. Check our our article on the benefits of using such a service if you have been contemplating this.

Monitor the Humidity Level of Your Home

If the humidity level in your home is naturally high, this may be encouraging mold growth and worsening your allergy symptoms. Therefore, the CDC recommends that all buildings have ventilation that provides a 50% humidity rate to combat such dangers.

If you think humidity may be a factor in your home, try the following:

  • If humidity levels seem low in your home, try adding a whole room humidifier to raise the humidity rate in your immediate area.
  • If the inverse is accurate, and you have found that your home is too humid, you may want to invest in a dehumidifier.
  • When humidity is a problem, it can also be helpful to vent kitchens or bathrooms when they are in use by opening windows or employing exhaust fans.

Look Out for Other Potential Allergen Solutions Around Your Home

If, after the above, you continue to have problems with indoor allergies, it may be time to move beyond simple cleaning or filtration solutions, as we’ve detailed above, and onto something more intensive to solve the issue.

For such incredibly stubborn or dire cases, it is recommended that you consider the following in your efforts:

  • It may be best to remove any existing carpeting and replace it with laminate or wood flooring.
  • Add essential oils, such as peppermint or eucalyptus, to a diffuser to lessen symptoms of your allergies.
  • Acupuncture has been shown effective in the treatment of stubborn year-round allergies.
  • Contact your primary care physician to get a referral to a good allergist specialist to narrow down your allergy sources and start working on other allergy treatments.