Now that we’re well into October, we can be fairly certain that the allergens of the Spring and Summer months have settled. With Autumn, however, strong winds, humidity, and even household air can still present irritants to your respiratory system.
If you suffer from allergies year-round, it’s a good idea to evaluate the possible sources of your sensitivity. A visit with your doctor can also help you identify what you need to do to care for your suffering sinuses.
Today we’re sharing some easy ways to combat allergens inside the home. As the weather gets cooler, we’re more likely to spend time indoors, so it’s important to make sure that the air we’re breathing is healthy and clean.
Allergen Sources and How to Manage Them
01.
PEt Dander
Our furry friends love to romp and play around the house or in the yard. To minimize how much of the great outdoors ends up in your home, wipe all paws after outdoor potty breaks, and brush out their coat after a day of outdoor play. This helps leave dirt and pollen outside. Because your pet’s skin releases oils and sweat (just like ours), allergens can easily stick in all that glorious fur. So, if it’s possible, bathe pets as often as is still healthy for their skin, coat, and overall wellbeing.
02.
floors
If your pet is shedding or if there’s simply more dirt outside to track in because of high winds or harsh weather, cleaning the floors helps keep allergens from accumulating. You can keep a schedule to vacuum or mop on certain days of the week to help you build a routine around the extra chore.
03.
Windows
Closed windows are not a bad thing. In fact, recovering cancer patients are often encouraged to keep windows closed and to run the heater or AC to circulate and filter the air in the home. Outside-air can be heavy with traffic pollution, dust, pollen, and, if you live in areas that often experience wildfires or high winds, you’ll get a lot of pollution from that too.
In-Home Air QUality
You typically won’t need an expensive HEPA filter for your air system. If your existing filter is clean, it does a fine job of filtering out most pollutants. Of course, if you know you’re more sensitive to allergens than most, springing for a HEPA filter will help pull even more potential irritants out of the air.
04.
Plants
Be aware of live plants in your home. Your AC or heater can kick up pollen and other irritants from the plant and its soil and carry it through your home. If you suspect that your indoor plants are a problem, try removing them or putting them in a closed room with the air vent closed. This will help keep plant particles from circulating through your home.
05.
Mold
As the air gets humid with the cool autumn moisture, mold has the right environment to grow. Check your kitchen, bathroom, attic, basement, around your windows, and other areas of your home that tend to be exposed to moisture. For small mold patches, you can usually clean it away with a mild cleaning agent from the store. Larger problems may require some professional help.
To tell the difference between cold symptoms and allergy symptoms, we’ll need the space of another post. For now, we hope you feel armed with the knowledge to make your home a more restful place.
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