Cleaning Tips for Surviving Spring Allergies

Is your car yellow and your throat scratchy? Trying to figure out how to deal with seasonal allergies this month? Surviving spring allergies has become quite a chore in my house. I’m already stocking up on saline, tissues and eye drops. The number of people suffering from spring allergies has increased significantly in the last 10 years. Air quality is getting worse and our immune systems are getting overwhelmed.

Are You New to Seasonal Allergies?

Having grown up in the North, my system just can’t seem to handle the mold, cockroaches and year round plant blooming that you find here in Georgia. Some people have a harder time than others when it comes to dealing with allergies. There seems to be a genetic component to some allergies which sometimes makes solutions trickier to come by. Talk to your doctor about your allergy symptoms.  They may recommend allergy shots or a daily allergy medicine.   

Check out my post on allergy symptom relief for more ways to combat allergy symptoms.  If you experience sudden allergy symptoms after moving to a new location, you may need allergy shots or a really thorough cleaning of your new living quarters.  

Cleaning Tips for Surviving Spring Allergies

If you find yourself sniffling and sneezing already this year, here are 10 cleaning tips to help you combat spring allergies.

Wash your bedding:

Bedding, comforters, curtains, towels and other soft surfaces trap dust mites. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, dust mites are the most common trigger of allergies and asthma. Wash bedding, comforters, towels and curtains in hot water reaching at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

Bedding Tips for Allergy Sufferers

1. Clean and filter bedroom air prevent dust buildup.
2. Watch the humidity. Mold loves a humid climate
3. Keep your bedroom windows closed. No listening to crickets for you!
4. Say goodnight to Fido and Fifi somewhere else.  Don’t allow pets in the bedroom if you have bad allergies.
5. Choose a hypoallergenic mattress and bedding.
6. Maintain your bedding with regular cleaning. Take large blankets and comforters to the dry cleaners.  Don’t air dry your sheets. 
7. Avoid scented products when you wash your bedding. 

Air things out

There is no replacement for good ventilation, so air out the house as weather permits and put on exhaust fans when cooking. Try not to do this during the height of pollen season.  Use HEPA air purifiers to remove airborne allergens and reduce symptoms caused by house dust allergies.

How to Choose the Best HEPA Filter to Survive Spring Allergies

• Determine why you need an air purifier. What are you allergic to?  Cat dander?  Dust mites?  Size and type of allergen matter when choosing a HEPA filter.
• Select which type of air purifier best suits your needs. Read the technical specifications of the air filters as well as the reviews. 
• Look for a model that has a prefilter as well as a HEPA filter.  This will extend the life of your HEPA fine particle filter. 
• Calculate the area you need to purify. Big rooms will need a larger model. 
• Decide your budget. Remember, though, you get what you pay for sometimes.  Cheap is rarely better when it comes to the best filters for seasonal allergies.  

Don’t forget the basement

Basements, vents, and crawl spaces can hide and trap allergens and household dust, pushing them into clean areas of the home. These areas should be cleaned on a regular basis because they easily hide areas with high moisture and humidity, promoting mold growth and circulation of spores in the home.

Protect yourself

Use a dust mask while cleaning if needed. This will limit the exposure to airborne allergens in the home and decrease allergy symptoms. Use a damp rag when dusting, rather than a dry one so the dust and allergens get trapped in the cloth instead of sent airborne. Does dusting help allergies? Yup, it sure does.  However, allergy sufferers should reduce exposure to allergens, including molds, pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and cockroach droppings, by wearing a protective mask. 

Don’t air dry your laundry

As much as I love air drying clothes, I don’t do it very often in the spring. When the pollen counts are high, that pollen ends up on your clothes, which makes surviving spring allergies pretty tough!

Tackle Spring Allergies with Smart vacuuming

Consider replacing your vacuum with a HEPA filtered vacuum for tackling home cleaning projects. Traditional vacuums put allergens back into the indoor air triggering house dust allergies while HEPA filter vacuums are designed to prevent their recirculation. Here is an affiliate link for a reasonably priced HEPA vacuum on Amazon.

Bedroom bookshelf solution

Bookshelves collect dust and dust mites that can trigger symptoms like itchy eyes, congestion and sore throats. Get some relief by cleaning these spaces thoroughly at least once a week. For a more permanent solution, remove the bookshelves from the bedroom entirely or buy a cabinet with a door.

Air regulation

One of the most important spring allergy tips I can provide is to keep your household air clean and dry. Use dehumidifiers inside the home and change their filters regularly. 

Allergy Relief TIP: Buy a portable dehumidifier. If you plan to move the dehumidifier from room to room frequently, consider buying a portable model. These often have wheels on the base or are light and easy to move. Having a portable dehumidifier will also enable you to move it around the room.

Chill out

Every time the refrigerator opens and closes, mold spores collected in the door seal are released into the air. As spilled liquids and food crumbs find their way into the crevices, mold begins to grow, which can trigger allergies. Kill these mold spores and relieve symptoms with a thorough cleaning. When wiping the seal down, use cotton swabs to get into the crevices where food, mold and dust collect.

Wash and dry

Dry all surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen after use, and check for leaks in the plumbing that can result in mold growth.

Ways to Control Mold Growth Inside

1. Dry wet areas immediately. 
2. Prevent moisture buildup with proper ventilation.  
3. Equip your home with mold-resistant products. Mold resistant shower curtains work well. 
4. Monitor humidity indoors.  Invest in a dehumidifier. 
5. Direct water away from your home outdoors.  

Figuring out how to deal with seasonal allergies can make your life much more pleasant once spring his.  If you want more tips for surviving spring allergies, check out these housecleaning tips to ease allergies on WebMD. 

Have any other tips for surviving spring allergies?

(NOTE: This post updated and content added from previous publish date)