Allergies suck. If you happen to be unfortunate enough to be afflicted with allergies to animals, dust, pollen, mites or the multitude of other seemingly innocent things some humans react to with sneezes, itches, hives and even worse – well, know that you are not alone in your sniffling, scratchy struggles.

 

For the vast majority of my life, I was lucky enough to have avoided riding the snot-laden allergy train, but somehow, in the past couple of years I’ve suddenly become allergic to pollen. At first, I thought I was just getting lots of colds when the spring and summer seasons came around. But, then I began to realize that the stuffed up nose, sneezing and general feelings of malaise coincided with the days when everyone else was saying “Ugh, my allergies are SO out of control today.” That’s when I had my “Aha!” moment and resigned myself to suffer through the affliction in silence. Well, okay maybe I don’t suffer in “silence.” Actually, to be honest, now that I know it is allergies, I tend to be quite vocal in complaining about them. What do you want from me?

However, if you too suffer from allergies, you don’t need to complain – or suffer as much – because I’m here to give you tips on how to protect your family from allergens at this time of year.

What Are Allergies?

Essentially, you have an allergy when your body overreacts to things that don’t cause problems for other people. These allergies occur when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance such as pollen, bee stings or certain pet dander. Those things affecting you are called “allergens.” And, as we’ve established previously – they suck. But, you can do a few things to keep them under control in your home.

Vacuums: The First Line of Allergen Defense

If you want to start reducing the allergens in your home, then the best and first place to start is with your floors. That’s where dust, mites and dander pile up, and it’s even worse if you happen to have carpets. Most people have carpeted bedrooms, and we spend upwards of eight hours a night in that room, just breathing in whatever is trapped there. It’s usually better to opt for bare floors with a nice area rug here and there, however even with wood or laminate floors, you’ll need to keep ‘em clean to limit the allergens in your home.

 

That’s why a good vacuum is the essential first line of defense in your battle against spring and summer allergies. And, although there are lots of great vacuums from solid companies like Dyson out there, why not just embrace technology and pick up an iRobot Roomba 761 Vacuum Cleaning Robot? This is 2017 after all, so why do your own vacuuming like a sucker? Not only does this little round vacuum follow pre-programmed schedules, and intelligently moves around your home on its own – but, it also gets rid of 98 per cent of dirt, dust, mites, dander and other allergens, thanks to its three-stage cleaning and dual HEPA filters. So, you get a super clean floor, and you don’t even need to lift a finger.

 

Air Purifiers Make Allergens Disappear

You can vacuum, dust and wipe down your home as often as you like, however this is the spring and summer season after all, so you’re going to want your windows open for some of that clean, fresh air – ahhhhh….choooo! Oh yeah, there’s that pollen hit you’ve been dreading. But, luckily there are a multitude of air purifiers on the market that can strip away the majority of allergens wafting through your home. The Dyson Pure Cool Link Tower Air Purifier with HEPA Filter is a great example of a device that says it can remove 99.7 per cent of allergens and unpleasant odours in your living space. The Germ Guardian AC4825CA 3-in-1 Air Purifier with True HEPA UV-Z & Odor Reduction is another option for those with more of an eye toward budget. We also tend to spend a lot of time in our vehicles, so it may also be a good idea to pick up something like the Heaven Fresh 60 Vehicle Air Purifier, which scrubs pollutants, allergens and germs from the air in your car or truck, plus it floods the environment with healthy negative ions.

 

Allergy-Free Bedding Completes the Allergy-Free Home Package

Finally, since you do spend so much time in your bed (eight hours or more for most folks), it’s always a good idea to invest in bedding and bed accessories that help reduce allergens. The LuxeportZEN 200 Thread Count Allergy Free Deluxe Silk Duvet lets you enjoy a good night’s sleep, while also wicking away moisture from your body, and the silk threads act as a barrier against bed bugs, dust mites, mould, mildew and allergens. To increase the allergy-free zone in your bedroom, combine the duvet with the Live Well Allergy Protection Mattress Pad, and you’ve got the ultimate comfortable protection against allergens, dust mites and bed bugs.

 

However, to keep your bed clean and allergy-free, it’s also a good idea to stop the snuggling with your pets. I know it will be hard, but Fido or Kitty will have to find somewhere else to cozy up if you want to avoid the sniffles and sneezes associated with pet dander. My last tip, is to keep an eye on your plants. Yeah, those green things that keep your living space cheery can also harbor mould spores and such, thanks to damp, warm soil. So, avoid overwatering in the summer, and keep an eye out for rotten leaves, and you and your family should be allergen free this season.

 

Do you suffer from allergies? How do you keep those nasty allergens at bay during the spring and summer? I’d love to hear your tips and tricks for surviving allergy season in the comment section below.

Steven Hill
I am an award-winning writer, freelance journalist and blogger who is a self-confessed geek and tech lover. When not playing the latest video games or salivating over the newest gadgets, I enjoy cooking for my family, mountain biking or snowboarding the deep powder on Whistler Mountain.