1. Bless You
Allergy sufferers know that its allergy season when they begin sneezing and coughing from the pollen dust that is kicking up outdoors and seeping in through every crack in a screen or open door. People who are allergic to air borne dust from plants and trees can protect themselves in small ways by staying indoors, especially during particularly windy days when the pollen is blowing everywhere. However, closing the doors will only keep out some of the pollen. A good air conditioning system can help to suck in the outside air and re-circulate clean, fresh air. Antihistamines can fight off some of the itchy and scratchy eyes, stuffy respiratory system and misery that affects allergy sufferers in the spring.
2. Get the Dust Mites out
Dust mites have seen a lot of press lately, mostly through marketing materials put out by the mattress industry. Mattress springs are one of the favorite hiding places for dust mites. And when allergy sufferers learn how well the little buggers make out inside the place they spend eight hours in close contact with each night, they are horrified enough to go out and buy a new mattress. Dust mites feed off the microscopic layers of skin that humans lose each day. The best way to intercept their nightly meal is to encase your mattress in an airtight, hypoallergenic bed bag. Enclose your box springs with a vinyl covering. If allergies are severe, use clean sheets and blankets every couple days, depriving the mites of a home for their family to grow.
3. Clean the House
No matter how good a housekeeper you are or how gleaming every surface in your home appears, you still have dust in the house. And a sensitive nose will confirm that. Dust is comprised not only of dirt, but of floating particles of dead skin cells, hair and pet dander, dust mites and particles of fiber from nearly every piece of furniture, carpeting and cloth in the house.
4. Going to Extremes
The only way to be completely dust-free is to remove all the furniture, the flooring and the pets and people who live there. Instead add a few steps to your regular chores. Vacuum all the furniture when you do the floors. Take down curtains and window treatments for a good washing or soaking on a regular basis, sometimes weekly if you have a lot of activity in the house. Consider replacing open bookcases with ones encased in glass shelves so the dust collected in the pages of your books and on your knick-knacks doesn't add to the allergic reaction. Pull out appliances and clean behind furniture and cabinets regularly. Install an air filter in every room to pull out those minuscule dust spores that you missed.
