We often associate seasonal allergies with the spring—plenty of pollen in the air, of course—but lots of people also experience an uptick in allergy symptoms in the winter, too. Winter allergies differ from spring allergies in that they’re primarily triggered by indoor pollutants, such as pet dander, mold and dust mites. When we shudder our homes for the winter and finally crank on the furnace, all sorts of microparticles enter the air we breathe, causing classic allergy symptoms like sneezing, watery eyes, wheezing and runny nose. The key to softening the annual blow is to address indoor allergens head-on and to not-so-politely usher them right out the door. Here’s how to do it.
Start with a Deep Sweep
—Experts emphasize the importance of regular vacuuming year-round to control indoor allergens. When you perform a whole-house sweep, you’re getting rid of the vast majority of the dust mites, mold, pet dander and allergy-triggering particles that settle on all floors, upholstery and window treatments. Make sure to perform a deep sweep at least once a week and do a little bit of maintenance in between using high-performance vacuum cleaners. Follow these vacuuming tips to eradicate many of the biggest winter antagonists.
- Use a HEPA vacuum that uses a special filter to trap more of the microscopic particles that settle in your home and worsen allergies.
- Vacuum regularly in-between deep sweeps with handheld or lightweight vacuums. For easier maintenance, consider automating with a robotic vacuum.
- Choose a multi-surface vacuum with several attachments for sweeping hardwood, carpet, upholstery and ceiling fans.
- Dust all surfaces with a microfiber cloth before vacuuming to ensure that you trap any of the dust particles that get swept onto the floor or other surfaces.
- Consider switching to a bagged vacuum cleaner if you tend to experience allergy attacks when emptying the canister on your bagless vacuum.
Combat Mold and Mildew
—Vacuuming is the primary way that we eliminate the airborne and deeply set-in allergens from our home, but it usually doesn’t help with other types of triggers, such as mold and mildew. With less airflow and plenty of melting snow, damp areas become damper and more hospitable to mold development. Performing a whole-house clean in the late fall is always a good idea to set the stage for a healthy, low-allergy winter. You’ll also want to integrate the following mold prevention tactics into your pre-winter prep.
- Place a dehumidifier in the basement or any damp areas of your home to deter the development of mold and mildew.
- Attack existing mold with bleach, vinegar, baking soda and other mold remediation products you can find at the grocery store.
- Don’t let any wet or damp items or puddles sit for long. Dry everything thoroughly to prevent mold from accumulating.
- Clean your gutters in the fall before the snow arrives. Clogged gutters prevent water from properly draining around your house and can cause flooding or wetness that leads to mold and mildew.
- Install humidity monitors and keep indoor humidity levels inside your home to between 30 and 50 percent, per the EPA.
Purify the Air
—There are a variety of ways that we can purify our indoor air from allergens so that every breath we take is a clean one. When we’re stuck inside for long periods of time without open windows and sufficient airflow, allergens can settle around us and become airborne for long periods of time with no hope for escape. Purifying is a good way to maintain clean indoor air after performing a thorough late-fall cleaning.
- Invest in an air purifier that suits your needs. You might consider a whole-home purifier or a portable style for your bedroom.
- Add some low-maintenance air-purifying houseplants to your environment to naturally cleanse the environment of airborne particles.
- Replace all of the filters in your home’s appliances, including the gas furnace, air conditioners, air purifiers and humidifiers, with HEPA filters.
- Before it gets too cold, open your windows to allow particles to escape and to prevent moisture from accumulating.
- Get a fireplace inspection before having any indoor fires. Smoke from fireplaces can trigger allergies, so you want to make sure your fireplace doesn’t allow any smoke to get into the house.
Stock Up on Remedies
—There’s nothing worse than feeling down in the dumps and realizing you have to run to the pharmacy to get the help you need. Thus, an important part of winter allergy preparation should be stocking up on the medications and soothers that help you get through winter allergy season without too much downtime. Make sure your medicine cabinet is totally prepared for whatever the season throws your way.
- Get a flu shot. It won’t help your allergies, but it will help strengthen your immune system against dangerous flu viruses, which can worsen allergies.
- Know the difference between winter allergies and the flu or a cold. Allergies tend to linger much longer than seasonal illnesses. Colds and the flu usually come with fevers, aches and pains, while allergies do not.
- Stockpile your favorite allergy medicines and make sure you have both daytime and nighttime relief options on hand.
- See your doctor in the fall to discuss prescription allergy medications or allergy shots if you expect a particularly rough season allergy-wise.
- Stock up on natural remedies, including herbal cough drops and teas, for a gentle way to ease certain symptoms.
Give Yourself a Break
While many people welcome the arrival of the cold air and enjoy relief from particularly pesky allergies, others experience an uptick in symptoms and find that spending time indoors is almost worse than breathing in pollen in the spring. If you’ve developed winter allergies, the best thing you can do is to prepare your home, your body and your medicine cabinet for the onslaught of discomfort. If you’re diligent about cleaning and ridding your environment of allergens, you just might get a break from the suffering during the chillier months.
