You probably associate allergies with spring and summer. Of course, they can be made worse because of increased pollen at these times. However, they can strike at any time because of air quality and other things. So, here’s how you can keep winter allergies at bay to breathe easier.
Vacuum Everywhere
Pollutants in the air settle into your fabrics. These include carpets, furniture and bedding. You can get some of it out by dusting. But sometimes, it can really get in there and contribute to irritating your nose, eyes and throat if you are sensitive. So you need to vacuum pretty much every day to get rid of dust. Your pets can also contribute to this. The best Shark vacuum cleaner models and other major brands come with attachments for getting into hard-to-reach areas. And for cleaning fabrics. Some models also come with special pet hair attachments.
Get into the Habit of Dusting
You can also cut down on the number of annoying particles in your home by making it a habit to dust. You can get rid of extra dust in your home with feather dusters and other similar items. Dust tends to build up on shelves and other flat surfaces. But it also makes webs in the corners. Also, the electromagnetic parts inside electronics like your TV make them more likely to gather dust. But be careful. If you dust an expensive OLED screen or something similar too hard, the surface can get scratched. Also, you should never put anything wet on your TV screen.
Keep Winter Allergies at Bay with Fresh Air
Since energy costs are higher than ever, you probably try to keep your windows shut as much as possible to keep your home warm. But this can be wrong in the winter for more than one reason. First, stale air inside is very bad for you. It’s worse for you than the polluted air outside. But you are also making a great place for dust to gather and bacteria to grow. You can cut down on these by letting some airflow through your house. And you don’t have to worry about the heat. To get the benefits, you only need to open your windows for 5 minutes a day.
Stay Away from Sprays
Since you’ll probably keep your windows shut for longer in the winter, you shouldn’t use compressed sprays with harmful ingredients because you won’t be able to use them for as long. For instance, many store-bought air fresheners have chemicals in them that make your nose itch. Just watch what your dog does when you spray it. If your nose is sensitive, your own body deodorant could also cause an allergic reaction. You need this, of course. So, if you have to use deodorant, do it in a room with good airflow and leave as soon as you’re done.
Steam Hardwood Floors
Products that use steam are very popular right now. And with good cause. A steamer makes it easy and quick to clean wood floors. When steam cleaning, the person using it doesn’t have to do much. It makes it easy to clean quickly and well, at least on the surface. The long-term reliability of a hardwood floor depends on what happens under and between the surface. But the primary benefit is that they really are great at getting rid of dust and killing bacteria that can be harmful or annoying. And you can get powerful handheld tools for the bathroom and kitchen.
Supplements that Can Help with Allergies
There are many reasons why vitamin and mineral supplements are great. And they are good for your health in many ways. But there are some that can make it much easier to stay cosy this autumn and deal with winter allergies. Here are some of the best OTC medicines for allergies:
- Peppermint, eucalyptus, and lemon essential oils.
- Quercetin.
- Nettle with thorns.
- Butterbur.
- Astragalus.
Most people can use most of these supplements without any problems. But talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using these if you have a long-term illness or a history of bad reactions. You can also use antihistamines like cetirizine and loratadine, which are well-known.
Keep Your Pets Well-Groomed
We all love our pets. Even to the point where we had them on our laps, all over the couch, and even in our beds. If you have allergies, it can be a nightmare to have a pet. And because they are so warm and cosy, you might cuddle up with your pets even more in the winter. Cats and dogs, on the other hand, shed a lot of skin flakes and hairs. And these just make your nose itch. It might be worth it if you love your pet. But you can lessen the effects by giving your pet a good haircut, especially if it has long hair. It’s recommended once per month for dogs.
Keep Yourself Well-Groomed
Not just animals lose their hair and other things. Humans make about 80% of the dust in your home. You also lose about 80 pounds of dust every year. Good personal hygiene and grooming can help you cut down on how much you shed on yourself. Hairs that don’t belong and dry skin can be annoying. So try to keep this from happening by washing your hair and taking good care of it by brushing and combing it. And you can get rid of extra skin with things like exfoliants. This also feels great when you take your morning shower. Don’t forget to shave, too!
Change Your Bedsheets
You might or might not know that your bed is like a hotel for bugs. Even if a person is very clean, there will be living things deep in their bedding. Don’t worry, though, because this is nothing to worry about. Most are harmless and don’t hurt anyone. But, just like your house, your bed is full of dust from your body. And this can add up over time. Especially in the winter, when people tend to stay in bed longer and wear wool and other thicker fabrics that can irritate you. Bed allergies are easy to get rid of, though. All you have to do is wash your sheets.
Experiment with Holistic Treatments
To lessen the effects of allergies, you can try a holistic approach, just like with any other health problem. Maybe you have bad reactions to common over-the-counter medicines. Or you don’t think it’s a good idea to put chemicals in your body. No matter what the reason, there are other options. Using saline nasal sprays, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers are some of the best natural ways to treat allergies. The goal is to get rid of as many chemicals as possible from your home. Most of the time, this means breathing cleaner air and keeping your nose clean.
Try Hypoallergenic Products
Once upon a time, only things like makeup and skin creams were hypoallergenic. Today, you can choose from a wide range of allergy-free products, such as blankets, clothing, and pillows. These are made to make it easier to breathe, especially at night. Hypoallergenic skin creams are especially helpful in the winter when the cold can make your skin dry. But you can really lessen the effects of allergies by switching as many of your usual products, like soaps, deodorants, and hair care products, for ones that don’t cause allergies.
It’s not only spring and summer that come with allergies. If you experience strong allergies, then you probably already know this. Winter can also irritate your allergies. But you can keep winter allergies at bay by reducing dust, taking certain supplements and using hypoallergenic products.
