How To Prepare Your Home For Allergy Season

2. Allergy-proof your bed.

When you crawl under your sheets at night, you’re tucking yourself away in a collection of pollen, mildew, fungus and if you have pets in your home maybe even some pet dander.

While you should be washing your sheets at least every other week, Hatch recommends upping that chore to once a week in hot water (about 130 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Mayo Clinic).

For added protection and as to how to prepare your home for allergy season, use dust-and mite-proof bedding to keep the allergy-triggers at bay and, no matter how irresistible your pet may be, keep them off the bed. There are many mattress vacuum cleaner models that can work wonders to clean your mattress easily.

3. Attack the dust.

It’s easy to overlook cleaning the dusty corners of your home, so consider buying and using the best vacuum cleaner to help remove household dust. The debris found can contain a combo of human skin, animal dander and insect waste.

This alone and can set off a respiratory issues so dusting your home is crucial during the allergy season.

To reduce the amount of allergens in your home, dust at least once a week and, if your allergies are really bad, invest in an air purifier to give your lungs the relief it needs.

4. Keep your windows closed and change out your air filters.

After a cold winter, it can be tempting to open your windows to let the springtime air in, but for those with allergies, that fresh air can quickly become a nightmare scenario.

During allergy season, keep your windows closed and stick to central air to keep your place cool. Hatch suggests checking and changing out the air filters in your heaters and air conditioning vents to prevent dirt and dust from gathering and circulating around your house.

5. Put your houseplants on the offense.

Plants have a way of making a home look bright and fresh, but they are also ripe grounds for mold to grow. In fact, while you might overlook this, it is a key factor. To prevent mold spores from thriving in your planters, place houseplants in an area with good circulation.

The Mayo Clinic also suggests sprinkling aquarium gravel over the soil to limit the growth of mold.

6. Don’t wear shoes in the house.

If you want to prevent allergens from entering your home, leave footwear at the door. Your shoes pick up the dirt and pollen that loom outside and when you wear them indoors you’re basically pollinating the floors of your home just like a bee.

If you can’t stand having your bare feet exposed all night, slip on some house shoes and make sure to wash them periodically, as dirt and dust from your floor can collect on your indoor footwear over time.

7. Re-dress your drapes.

Heavy curtains can accumulate dust, mildew and pollen like a magnet. And when you pull them aside to let the spring shine in, you can conjure a dust devil vacuum that can easily clean drapes from pollen and sorts within seconds.

One tip when it comes to how to prepare your home for allergy season is to swap out thick curtains for light and breezy fabrics made with cotton or synthetic fabrics — and don’t forget to wash them often. If you’re extra ambitious, you can throw them in with your weekly sheet wash to double up your defense.