story by MARIO BOUCHER
Spring ushers in warmer days, vibrant leaves, and blossoms everywhere— but for many, it also means sneezing, congestion, and itchy eyes. Allergens like dust, mold, and pollen can build up quickly indoors. Your home should be a refuge— not a trigger.
Dust mites are among the most significant indoor allergens. These pesky, microscopic creatures live in household dust and can
cause sneezing, a runny nose, and asthma-related symptoms.
“Dust mites are present everywhere, especially in bedding and carpeted surfaces,” says Mayuran Ravindran, M.D., a board-certified
allergist with Allergy Partners of the Triangle.
Another overlooked irritant is pet dander, tiny flakes of dead skin shed naturally by household pets that can also result in itchy eyes and sneezing. “Similarly, in households with animals, pet dander can often be found in higher concentrations in bedding and carpets,” Ravindran says. “The biggest step families can take to minimize pet dander is to strictly keep pets out of the bedroom. Other measures that can be helpful include using air purifiers with HEPA filters in the bedroom and vacuuming carpets weekly.”
Cleaning fabrics and furnishings regularly helps create a healthier living environment. “Soft surfaces such as curtains, rugs, and
upholstery can trap aeroallergens and be a reservoir for those who deal with allergies,” he adds. “It is important to clean these
regularly, every one to three months, to help reduce allergen buildup. Also, make sure to dry them completely after cleaning.”
Bedrooms
Tackling allergens where you sleep can pay off. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) recommends encasing pillows, mattresses, and box springs in dust mite-proof covers and washing blankets, pillowcases, and sheets weekly in water heated to 130°F.
AAAAI also recommends making it a weekly habit to vacuum carpets using a cleaner with a small-particle or HEPA filter, wash area rugs and floor mats, and mop hard-surface flooring. Keep windows closed and use air conditioning during pollen season. Remove mold and condensation from window frames and sills using a solution of ¾ cup chlorine bleach per gallon of water.
“Paying special attention to cleaning bedrooms and bedcovers can be high yield for allergy sufferers, especially as we spend more than 25% of our time in these spaces,” Ravindran says.
To cut down on allergens where kids sleep and play, he recommends using allergen-impermeable covers for mattresses and pillowcases, portable HEPA filter air purifiers, restricting animals from the room, and keeping windows closed—especially on days with high pollen counts.
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Bathrooms
Bathrooms are prime spots for mold and mildew, which can trigger allergies and respiratory irritation. Focus on “hot spot” areas of high moisture, like shower surfaces, and make drying them a daily habit to help prevent growth. During spring cleaning, Ravindran suggests using a simple vinegar-and-water mixture for shower surfaces.
Humidity creates ideal conditions for dust mites and mold to thrive. Follow these tips from AAAAI:
- Use an exhaust fan to reduce moisture during baths or showers, and towel-dry the tub and enclosure after use.
- Scrub mold from the tub and faucets.
- Clean or replace moldy shower curtains and bathmats.
- Clean or replace small-particle filters in central heating/cooling systems and in-room air conditioners at least once a month.
- Maintain indoor temperatures at 70°F and relative humidity at 30% to 50%.
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Kitchen
AAAAI encourages mopping floors and wiping cabinets, backsplashes, and appliances weekly. To help prevent mold growth, wipe up moisture in the refrigerator.
Other tasks on your list should include cleaning cabinets and countertops with detergent and water, emptying and washing drip
pans, and cleaning or replacing moldy rubber seals around doors. Wash the dish rack and wipe down light switch plates, phones,
and the inside of the garbage can after taking out the trash.
Seasonally, wipe down cupboard exteriors, clean the range hood filter, and empty and scrub the inside of the refrigerator and utensil drawers.
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Products to Use and Avoid
HVAC filters can be invaluable for reducing aeroallergens in household air. Ravindran advises replacing them every 1 to 3 months and paying attention to MERV ratings when choosing filters to more effectively capture aeroallergen particles. He recommends purchasing filters with a MERV rating of 11–13.
Portable air purifiers with HEPA filters can play a vital role for allergy sufferers. “HEPA filters are able to filter a greater number of allergens compared to most HVAC units and are useful for smaller spaces such as bedrooms,” Ravindran says.
He advises staying away from heavily scented cleaning products, which can worsen rhinitis symptoms. “I also recommend avoiding harsh chemicals such as aerosol sprays, ammonia and undiluted bleach, especially if you suffer from asthma, as these substances can irritate the nasal and airway passages.”
Budget-Friendly Fixes
You don’t have to spend a lot to make meaningful improvements. “Prioritize the space where you sleep by keeping bedding clean, minimizing fabrics and clutter, and keeping pets out,” Ravindran says. “Use cleaning methods that trap allergens, like slow vacuuming and damp dusting, instead of spreading them around. Reduce what comes in from outside by leaving shoes at the door, changing clothes after outdoor time, and managing windows during pollen season.”
When Pros Are Better
There may come a time when you need to call a professional to remove trapped allergens, dust, and debris from your ducts to improve indoor air quality. You might also need one for a mold inspection, “if you are dealing with mold that keeps returning, large areas of visible mold, or to evaluate your home after water damage, roof leaks, or flooding,” he suggests.
Natural Paths to Better Breathing
Looking for allergy relief at home? Health.com offers simple strategies to breathe better and feel your best.
- Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air and reduce dust mites. Keep in mind it can also dry out your skin, irritate your nasal passages and worsen allergy symptoms if you are allergic to pollen and pet dander.
- HEPA filters trap allergens and other airborne irritants, reducing the presence of allergens like dust mites and pet dander. It can purify the air in confined spaces and circulate air five times per hour. However, the filters do not remove particles on surfaces or the ground, making vacuuming, sweeping and dusting surfaces important.
- Nasal spray can decrease inflammation and open nasal passages, providing relief from a runny or stuffy nose. Saline nasal sprays can clear excess mucus, moisturize your nasal passages and flush out allergens.
- A shower after working outside helps prevent pollen from getting into your clothes, furniture and surfaces. You can also inhale steam – such as a store-bought vaporizer – to flush out mucus, moisten dry nasal passages and alleviate a runny nose and sneezing.
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