5 Easy habits to help the allergy stricken in your home (Mommy Hack)

5 Easy habits to help the allergy stricken in your home

If you are like my family we have seasonal allergies.  Our symptoms vary from occasional congestion and morning burger factories to all out sinus, ear and respiratory infections (depending on the person).  For my highly allergic members of the family I have started doing some easy and normal things in our home that have made a huge difference.  No medicines, oils, or diet changes required.  Just some new  habits to implement.  Very easy stuff here but it makes a huge difference.

1) Change that air filter monthly! 

At least every month, if not more in high peak season.  A few suggestions on this is to either buy a huge bulk pack of filters from your local hardware store and set a reminder on your phone or calendar to help you follow thru.  Or... I have found a great subscription service.  Every month it comes straight to my door. Then I have big box staring at me, mocking me, until I make myself go to the basement and change the old for the new.  Try this Filter Subscription Service - I LOVE IT! (www.filtereasy.com).

2) Switch the fan to on!

Yes, it will help!  No, it doesn't cost much more (maybe a few dollars a month) it's just a fan, not the actual cooling or heating element.  Just move that switch from auto to on!  Keep circulating that air....keep it filtered...keep that filter new and clean.  This works!

3a) Control the windows!

I know you hate hearing this, but stop opening the windows!  Yes, this might be a budget concern.  I am advocating going from a/c to heater and back to a/c.  On those really wonderful days that have the best temperature and you want to just fling those windows open you are also planting a new layer of allergens in your home, inviting them to stay and be your new house guest for a very long time.

3b) Wise choices...

If you need to air out the house.  If you simply cannot deal with the option of keeping them closed.  Be smart about it.  Check the daily allergy report.  Weather Bug app is a great resource.  If your allergic to pollen, then don't open your home on a high pollen day.  Check what is out there first.  If your unsure, then wait for a good rain.  The rain basically cleans the air of allergens and it's usually safe after a good rain to air out for a few hours.

Same thing on taking those rugs outside to air.  Choose a low allergen day to do this.

4) Bed time bathing!

I know I might seem presumptuous to suggest a time of day to bathe, but consider this.  Your head is basically a big cotton ball to the world.  Your going out into it and swabbing the environment of all things airborne.  This is especially true if you use any styling products at all.  Hairspray, gel, volume-izer etc all create a sticky trap for allergens to nestle right in.  Then you go home, but that earth swab on your pillow and breath it in all night.  It might not just be gravity making your morning noise goes crazy, it might be your hair.  Wash your hair at night and every night.  If you cannot wash your hair daily, then change your pillow case every night or wrap your head in a towel or wear a show cap.  Consider this even if you don't have allergies but maybe your spouse does. They will thank you. 

5) Curtains - wash em!

Everybody can see the dust and pollen gathering on flat surfaces, so of course dust those mantels, mini blinds, ceiling fans and shelves.  But, when was the last time you washed the curtains?  I assure you there is more being trapped in those than sunlight.  Same goes for all clothe items like bedspreads, bath rugs, door mats, etc.  But, if you are a open the window kind of person, think about the curtains and give them a good cleaning.

You can apply this to your pets that visit the outdoors as well.  Bathe them, and do it often.  They are swabbing the environment just like your head does.  Then they come in and spread it all over your house.  Our dog gets a shower every couple of days in the summer (mostly because he is allergic to grass) but it helps a lot with keeping our house more comfortable.

  

That's it,  doing these things has saved my family from excessive uncomfortable symptoms, and also a lot of money of secondary infections (Dr. visits, sick days, and prescriptions) because of severe allergies.  Yes, we go outside, no we don't live in a bubble.  I do these things because I strive to make our home a sanctuary of comfort.  These small changes have helped us tremendously.

Let me know  if you have any other tips in the comment section.  I'm always looking to do better.