Hayfever and your Home
It's that season again and with the wind last week the pollen and dust was everywhere!
I've suffered my entire life with allergies, so there are many things I've learned about my condition that may be useful to others.
There are so many contributing factors in our homes that aggravate this condition and some of them can be minimized to help with this uncomfortable experience.
Dust and pollen come in from the outside and cover everything in our homes, so keeping the windows closed when the wind starts blowing would be the first step in protecting ourselves. Once dust in the house (as it always is) its time to keep everything clean and dust free. Vacuums with Heppa filters are helpful. This filter helps to trap the dust from escaping from the vacuum. I started dusting inside my store after the last weeks winds and the dust was overwhelming! I had to call in for help to dust as I have allergies and that would weaken my resistance to allergies. My allergies were already kicking in with all the wind and I was very uncomfortable...
If you have a house with carpet, it is also very important to keep it as clean as possible. if you have allergies its nice if you can live in a home with all hard surfaces for flooring, that way it can be kept cleaner and more comfortable for the allergy sufferer.
One of the most important places to help keep the allergens down is the bed in which we sleep. There is special mattress covers and pillow covers to protect against dust mites. One of the most helpful ways to keep us free of pollen and dust in our beds is to keep your hair clean. Especially after being outside, our hair can become full of pollen and dust that we are allergic to and then we sleep on our pillows and our face is filled with just the thing that will make us miserable. So keeping a clean pillow case and clean hair will make a big difference.
Hypo allergenic bedding can also help.. Some people are allergic to down pillows and down comforters, so fiber-fill can be a relief in that department. Keep out bedrooms and bedding clean and dust free can make a big difference in our health. Also wash your bedding and clothes with fragrance-free laundry detergent. The chemicals in the soaps, shampoos, lotions and cleaning products we use can also affect us negatively, so read the labels and stay away from strong fragrances and harsh cleaning products.
Of course our pets can be a contributor to our allergy problems as well. Not only from their own pet dander and shedding, but they also pick up pollen when they are outside running through the shrubs and dirt roads. Keeping your house free of pet hair will help maintain your immune system. Non shedding dogs are a relief to those who suffer from pet allergies.
Certain plants around the home can affect our allergies as well. In many areas the Rabbit brush can be devastating to some people. The only solution is to stay away from it, which is almost impossible. Other flowering plants can have a debilitating affect on those who have bad allergies. Filter can be place in the home and/or on the forced air systems to help remove particles from the air.
Sometimes even fresh flowers brought into the house and affect a persons sinuses.
Our homes are meant to give use shelter and protection, but sometimes they can be a dangerous place for those who have severe allergies. Keep everything as clean as possible and stay away from strong fragrances and chemicals. Enjoy you late summer and try to keep from sneezing...!
