I don’t know about you, but in my area, we’ve had a fairly mild winter.  Due to this, our trees are starting to bud out, and you know what that means – allergy season is right around the corner.  I am so not ready for the itchy, watery eyes, the sneezing, or the turning into a snot factory. 

There are some things you can do to help combat seasonal allergies. 

Combat mold in your home.  The main way to do this is to keep everything dry, as mold needs a damp habitat to grow. 

Wash your shower curtain with bleach every few months.  It needs to be cleaned anyway, and those spots on the bottom?  They’re usually mold.  Gross, right?

Run your heat and air conditioning.  In the winter, when you keep your heat above 65 degrees, it helps to dry out the air in your home, which helps to inhibit the growth of mold.  In the summer, the air conditioning helps to filter the outside air of contaminants.   You can even get a filter for your forced air system that helps cut down on the contaminants even more. 

Keep control of the dust. 

Take your shoes off when you come into the house.  Your shoes track all kinds of dirt and debris from the outdoors. 

Vacuum regularly.  It’s amazing what’s hiding in your carpet when you think it’s super-clean.  Remember to change your vacuum bag or filter regularly.   Don’t forget to vacuum your closets, under the bed and tables, and those other hidden spots.

If you have a pet, keep them brushed and bathed.  Many people are allergic to pet hair and dander, and they can create lots of extra dust. 

Get your carpets and furniture steam-cleaned.  It can help to kill whatever might be hiding.  There are lots of services that can do this for you.  Click for more info.
 

Watch what you eat. 

Many foods can cause allergy-like symptoms.  Monosodium benzoate, an additive found in many canned foods, and trans oleic acid, which is found in beef, have both been shown to trigger allergies and allergy-like symptoms. 

Conversely, kiwi, oranges, and other foods that are high in vitamin C can help the body’s natural antibodies kick into gear. 
 

Medications

While I prefer to combat allergies before they begin, sometimes you need some additional help.  Personally, I can generally manage on OTC medications.  If you want something more natural, fish oil supplements, vitamins A & E, and many herbs are all believed to aid in the relief of allergies. 

Hopefully, this helps us all to combat seasonal allergies this year!  What’s your best allergen-fighting tip?