Get leaks fixed, seal holes, clean the area, and keep it tidy and dry to eliminate irritant build-up. Also look for mouse droppings and cockroach webs, since rodents and bugs can trigger allergies, too. Pull everything out of the cabinet and inspect the interior carefully for signs of leaks. It's a prime spot for mold growth when pipes drip. "Most people forget to look under the kitchen sink," says Ross. Also replace broken tiles and recaulk sinks and tubs every few years to discourage mold growth behind walls. Clean it regularly, making sure to dry off surfaces that collect standing water, and make sure it's well ventilated. There are more than 100,000 species of mold on the planet, and one of their favorite places to live is your bathroom.
Remove dust by vacuuming once a week with a brush attachment, and wash them frequently during months when you keep the windows open. Ditch the DrapesÄ«linds or shades trap fewer allergens than fabric window treatments, but if you insist on curtains, opt for the machine-washable kind, which are easier to keep dust-free. Just follow the manufacturers' instructions on timing and frequency. Change Those Air FiltersÄon't forget to clean or replace the filters in your heating and cooling system. They're specially made to trap particles as tiny as 0.3 microns-which means they'll be able to capture most allergens. If it doesn't have a HEPA filter, switch to one that does.
Or, have your family and guests remove their shoes when they enter, so they don't spread allergens around. Lay down two doormats at each entryway-one outside, one inside-to keep outdoor irritants from finding their way inside. Walking across carpet re-releases all of that into the air," says Ross. "Just about every allergen accumulates in carpet-dust, pollen, pet dander. If at all possible, replace them with hardwood or other impervious flooring, especially in the bedroom. Anthony Tieuli Get Rid of Wall-to-Wall Carpet and Padding You spend so much of your day in bed-if you can just get a good night's sleep, you'll be off to a great start," says Ross. "If dust is one of your problems, cover your mattress and pillows with zip-on dust mite covers. Once you've established what causes your allergies, work your way around the house eliminating those specific allergens, starting with your bedroom. "Who knows, you might be allergic to cats, and here you are keeping your windows closed." Then Start With the Bedroom "There's no point in making changes at home if you don't address your particular allergies," says Laurie Ross, editor of Allergy and Asthma Today. The most common offenders are dust mites, mold, pollens, and pet dander. Visiting an allergist will help you focus your preventative measures. Read on for the most effective ways to clear the air. Medications can help relieve allergy symptoms, but removing irritants from your home is a much more effective way to stop your stuffy nose, headache, itchy eyes, and shortness of breath, according to the Allergy and Asthma Network/Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA). Sneeze much lately? Is your throat scratchy? Eyes watering, too? You're not alone: Allergies affect more than 20 percent of Americans.