How to Stop Allergies?

It's like a scene from a low-budget horror flick: the trees are blooming, the grass is growing...and runny-nosed zombies are invading the planet! Seasonal allergies are here, but if you're one of the sniffy multitudes, you may have noticed that the "allergy season" can span most of the year.

Here's your best defense--from least to most invasive, medically speaking. Try the first few and you may not need to hit the pharmacy at all.

Ditch the Carpeting:

It may feel cushy underfoot, but carpet—especially in the bedroom where we spend eight-plus hours a night—can be a haven for dust mites. Worse, if it's been installed over concrete, carpeting can interfere with the evaporation of moisture, which also contributes to dust mites and mold, "Both thrive in high levels of humidity," And both are common allergens. To discourage them, opt for bare floors or area rugs.

Don't Let Pets Sleep with You:

As much as you (or your kids) want to sleep with the family cat or dog, the experts say skip it. Snuggling up with all that fur (and dander—dried skin, hair, and saliva—which is the real allergen) can cause sniffles even in folks who aren't highly allergic. What's the difference between an allergy and a cold? It's a good bet your child is allergic to your pet if he or she sneezes and has a runny nose for three weeks or more.

Rethink Your Houseplants:

As much as your indoor plants cheered you up during the dreary winter, spring is a good time to put them outside. That's because houseplants can be surprisingly irritating. The culprit is mold spores that live in the warm and wet dirt. If you just can't part with that collection of Peace Lily plants, make sure to avoid overwatering them to keep mold away. And keep an eye out for rotten leaves that can be a sign of overwatering or disease.

Run Your Air Conditioner:

It may sound counterintuitive, but running your air conditioner (so long as your filter is clean) is a great way to prevent pollen from entering your house, which is what happens when you throw open your windows. "Air conditioners also benefit allergy sufferers by reducing the humidity in the house.” If you can't use your air conditioner, at least close the windows until the afternoon. Morning is when pollen counts are often highest”. And avoid using a fan. It just ends up blowing pollen around the room.

Scout Your Bathroom:

You probably know "that green stuff that forms in your bathtub gives off spores that get sent into the air". The result: sneezing, wheezing, and other allergic reactions. Scrubbing the tub with a combo of one cup of bleach to a gallon of water (or a purchased cleaner) will remove the mildew. But don't forget to look elsewhere, too. For example: the bottom of the bathmat you step on every day when exiting the shower can be a culprit. Being constantly damp can encourage mildew. After using, hang the bathmat over the shower rod to let it dry, and wash it weekly.

Leave Your Shoes at the Door:

Your favorite spring wedges might be what's tracking pollutants, allergens, and toxins into your home. To keep those spores out of your living space, wipe your shoes briskly on a mat and then park them in the foyer, garage, or laundry room. If your family members are highly allergic, consider leaving outerwear in the garage, too, not hung up in the closet where pollen can spread to other coats.

Boil your bedding:

Not literally, but you should wash your sheets and pillowcases weekly in water that’s at least 140 degrees; that this temperature wiped out all dust mites.