The seasons are changing and so are the particles in the air. Don’t let fall allergies follow you throughout the fall, learn how to get rid of them quickly so that you can enjoy your winter. Allergies can also mask an infection or cold with their overlapping symptoms.
Fall is allergy season in the US. In your home, numerous allergens such as dust, pollen, dander, and mold can occur. Use some smart strategies to minimize the allergens in your home and you can reduce both asthma and allergy symptoms.
- Wash your curtains
Curtains provide a cozy home for dust, dander, pollen and other allergens that can enter the apartment through open windows. Close your windows for the season, and make sure they are sealed properly. Seal cracks or holes around the window frame and windowsill. Take down your curtains or draperies and launder them to get rid of accumulated allergens.
- Upgrade home storage
Do you have a lot of items that are stored in open boxes or bins? Here, allergens can sneak in and settle down. Store toys, craft supplies, and similar items in sealed plastic containers to keep them clean. Store out of season clothes in plastic bags or boxes. Avoid frills and clutter as much as possible so that dust can be easily wiped away during normal cleaning.
- Change your HVAC filter
You should change your HVAC filter about once a month. Keep to a strict schedule if you have asthma or allergies in your home, so you should often throw away accumulated dust and dirt. Keep a supply of additional filters ready for you to swap out quickly and easily.
- Pretty up potted plants
Mold is often at home in the moist soil of potted plants. You can help stem the mold simply by sprinkling a thin layer of aquarium gravel across the ground in all potted plants. Another added bonus you can get is that your green interior gets a more decorative look as the air stays twice as clean.
- Get steamed
During the allergy season, try to take a sauna every few weeks to relieve sinus congestion, help with relaxation and strengthen immunity. If you have access to an infrared sauna, get in! Several studies have shown that the time in the infrared sauna, as well as the steamier incarnation, can improve and alleviate allergy symptoms.
- Sip some tea
Ease symptoms and boost your immune system with a soothing tea like those made with stinging nettle, elderberry, licorice or peppermint. Green tea is another good choice, as scientists have found that an antioxidant called ECGC in the tea blocks histamines that cause allergic reactions.
- Neti for your nose
If you’re often outside during windy, high pollen-count days (especially in the morning when counts are the highest) it’s a good idea to use a neti pot daily. Rinsing your nasal passages with salt water is a great way to wash out pollen and mold-spore allergens before you even start having symptoms.
Good luck fighting your allergies, and we will see you again soon!