Having allergies can be a truly frustrating issue, especially when you have to deal with them within your own home. There are potential allergens everywhere, and it’s crucial that you are as proactive as possible when it comes to dealing with them. When you think about allergens, you can make changes in your home if you need to and ensure that you have a safe space to be in (which is why your home should be, after all). With that in mind, here are some of the best ways you can manage allergens in the home. 

Identify Your Allergens 

It might be that you know you’re allergic to something, but you don’t know exactly what it is. This can be a big problem because you might be accidentally putting yourself in the same place as your allergens, becoming sick, and never knowing precisely what has caused it. 

If you know you are allergic to something but can’t work out what it is, the best thing to do is to go and get tested by professionals. When you do this, you’ll get a definitive answer, and that means you can make the changes you need to make to stay healthier and happier. 

It’s also a good idea to take it slowly when you’re trying new things. You never know when you might have an allergy to something, so trying new food, for example, in small quantities can be the safest option. This is certainly true if you have young children; small babies can be allergic to strawberries, for example, and trying a little bit of a strawberry puree recipe can help to make sure they are safe. 

Make Changes

Once you know – or have a reasonable idea – about what your allergens are, you can make changes in your home to make it a safer and more comfortable place to be. There are some allergens that are very common and very easy to remove from your home, so these are a great place to start. 

Dust mites can be found in your bedding and mattress, but if you use allergen-proof covers, they can’t breed, and they don’t enjoy being there, so you’ll have far fewer of them. It’s also important to change your bedding regularly (at least once a week) and wash dirty bedding in hot water. In between washes, you can vacuum your bedding and other soft furnishings using a HEPA filter in your vacuum cleaner. 

Pet dander is another issue, and because you probably won’t want to get rid of your pet, the alternative is to not let them in the bedroom or on your furniture. It can be hard to do this if they’ve been allowed to roam around the house until now, but if it makes you and your family healthier, it’s worth it. 

Mould can be hugely problematic, so if you have any water leaks, you need to address them immediately so they don’t cause damp and mould (not to mention other problems) in your home. Also, make sure your ventilation is good in your kitchen and bathroom, otherwise mould can occur here too. 

Keep Your Home Clean And Clutter-Free

A clean and clutter-free home can make a big difference when it comes to allergens and how they affect you. For example, the more often you dust, the less chance there is of dust mites being in your home in large enough numbers to cause allergies to flare up. Use a microfibre cloth to dust with, as this will remove dust without it settling back down right away. Plus, the less clutter you have, the less dust there will be, so it makes sense to declutter when you can. 

Be careful with the cleaning chemicals you use in your home, too, as these can be allergens in themselves. Instead of using strong-smelling chemicals, look for items labelled as hypoallergenic and that are fragrance-free. Even better, make your own cleaning solutions out of natural ingredients; not only will you help your allergies, but you’ll save money, too (and using fewer chemicals is better for the environment). 

Improve Your Indoor Air Quality 

A lot of people are allergic to pollen, and they assume that once they are inside, it won’t be able to affect them anymore. This is wrong; pollen can come inside on your clothes and shoes, in your hair, on your skin, and, of course, through open windows and doors. Although there won’t be as much pollen inside as there is outside, there will still be some in most cases. Improving your indoor air quality can help you. Invest in some indoor plants, as these will filter the air – just make sure you choose ones that you’re not allergic to. 

Improving the air quality with plants, filters, humidifiers, purifiers, and other tools (including opening doors and windows when the pollen count is low) can help reduce more than just pollen allergies – the cleaner the air, the healthier you’ll be. 

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