Allergy, allergy asthma symptoms and seasonal allergy symptoms can all be helped with some common sense natural allergy relief precautions  and good housekeeping/hygiene standards.

1.  Avoid going outside, especially on dry, windy days.

2.   Use air conditioner at home and in car.  Avoid open windows and doors.

3.   Remove houseplants to reduce mold.  If you can’t make yourself get rid of them, at least remove them from the bedroom.

4.   Reduce mold with frequent cleaning of shower curtains, bathroom windows, damp walls, dry rot areas and indoor trash cans.  Use a mixture of chlorine bleach and water to kill mold.

5.   Don’t carpet damp rooms such as bathrooms.   Use mold-proof paint in these areas instead of wallpaper.

6.  Reduce the humidity in your home to below 35  percent with a dehumidifier to help prevent the growth of mold and mites.

7.  Replace small-particle filters in your central air conditioning system.

8.   Take a shower and change your clothes immediately after spending time outdoors.

9.   Avoid yard work like cutting the grass.

10.   Don’t hang your clothes outdoors on a clothesline where they can get covered in allergens.

11.   Pollen levels are highest in the morning.  Schedule outdoor activities for afternoons or evenings.

12.  Wash your hands after petting an animal that’s been outside or if it is known that you have dog allergy symptoms or cat allergies.   Keep pets out of the bedroom if you are known to be allergic to them.   Bathe your pet frequently.

13.   Dust mites occur in anyone’s home no matter how clean. Symptoms of dust mite allergy include itchy and running eyes, itchy nose, sneezing, wheezing, coughing and dry, itchy skin.

To combat dust mite allergy, remove drapes, feather pillows, upholstered furniture, non-washable comforters and soft plush toys.   Replace carpets with wood or linoleum flooring.  Vacuum often with a vacuum that has a high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA).  Vacuum soft furniture and curtains.  (You’re better off using blinds which can be wiped off than curtains.) Wash all bedding in water hotter than 130 degrees every 7 to 10 days.   Place an dust mite encasing around the mattress, box spring and pillow.  Tape over the zippers on these with masking tape for extra insurance.  Products such as benzyl benzoate or tannic acid are useful if there is wall-to-wall carpeting and it can’t be removed.

Leading allergists claim these  dust mite prevention techniques are much more effective than using HEPA air filter purifiers.

14.   Wear a disposable face masks (available at most drug and hardware stores) when cleaning, gardening,  or even just being outdoors when the pollen count is high and mold spores are being blown about on a windy day.   One ragweed plant can produce up to one billion pollen grains.  Each grain can travel more than 100 miles from its source.

15.  Children with allergy asthma should get a flu vaccine at the end of October before the onset of cold weather.

16.  Contact your family physician or allergist for proper evaluation and treatment of allergy symptoms.

Related posts:

1. Indoor Allergens – What they are and how to get rid of them
2. Get rid of indoor allergens
3. Natural Allergy Relief With Herbs and Home Remedies