During this spring, it can be great for your overall health to do a spring cleaning of your home! For those of you who are sensitive to allergens that are indoors, allergy “season” is one that lasts all year round, but your symptoms may worsen when the tree pollen comes in the springtime.
Recently, the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) put together some tips to help you effectively reduce allergen in the home and to avoid letting more allergen in!
I have summarized below a brief overview of the tips. You can find more detailed information on the ACAAI website.
1) Close the windows. This might seem counterintuitive since most people think that opening the windows will let the fresh air in. For those who are allergic to tree pollen, this can lead to pollen particles entering your home.
2) Scrub away the mold. Your bathrooms, basements and areas that are tiled can be especially prone to mold. The key to reducing mold is moisture control. Scrub any visible mold from surfaces with detergent and water, and completely dry. You can also help ward off mold by keeping home humidity below 60 percent.
3) Love your pet but reduce their dander. You can reduce pet allergens by vacuuming frequently and washing upholstery, including your pet’s bed. Also make sure you keep your pet out of the bedroom at all times to ensure you can sleep without burying your face in what you are allergic to!
4) Clean the entire house! Cleaning the entire house from top to bottom may take days. But you can get a head start by changing your air filters every three months and using filters with a MERV rating of 11 or 12. Wash bedding and stuffed animals weekly.
5) Avoid the outdoors during peak pollen count times. As the grass turns green and flowers bud, it’s hard to neglect the outdoors during your spring cleaning routine. It’s best to avoid being outdoors when pollen counts are highest (mid-day and afternoon hours). When mowing and gardening, be sure to wear gloves and a N95 particulate pollen mask (Centers for Disease Control (CDC) NIOSH rated). You can also download our App (we have our very own App for our practice!) and from it you can easily check pollen counts from where you are!
If you have any questions regarding exactly what you are allergic to and how to reduce your exposure to those allergens, please see your board certified allergist for a personalized treatment plan to get you feeling better!
-Faith Huang, M.D.
Allergy & Asthma Associates of Southern California provides relief from allergies, asthma, sinus problems, chronic cough and other related conditions. Dr. William E. Berger, Dr. Warner W. Carr, Dr. Mark S. Sugar, Dr. Christina D. Schwindt, and Dr. Faith R. Huang together with their staff specialize in allergy and immunology in Southern California.
If you or your child is suffering from any type of allergy, please call us at (949) 364-2900 to schedule your appointment today. You can also use our online Request an Appointment form to schedule a future appointment.
