Summer is the peak of allergy season, but that doesn’t mean that allergy symptoms are exclusive to the warmer months. The habits that help you manage your allergies in the spring and summer are just as beneficial in the fall and winter. So, let’s discuss how to make a plan for allergies to keep your symptoms minimal and prevent major flare-ups year-round.
Keep Your Home Tidy
Weekly Routine
A clean home is absolutely critical to allergy management, both for controlling indoor allergens, such as mold, pet dander and dust mites, and keeping out outdoor allergens, such as pollen. A weekly cleaning routine should include:
- Vacuuming and sweeping every room in the house
- Doing the laundry
- Dusting all surfaces with a damp cloth (dry dusting just stirs things up)
- Declutter and clear surfaces
- Clean the bathroom: toilet, sink, shower and tub
When done regularly, these steps are very effective at keeping allergens like pet dander, pollen and dust under control.
Monthly Routine
On a monthly or semi-monthly basis, more thorough cleaning is necessary; we recommend doing this routine at least once per season. Do the steps above, as well as:
- Dust ceiling fans, blinds and baseboards
- Wash bedding, curtains, rugs and cushion covers
- Shampoo the carpets
- Wash the windows
- Deep-clean the fridge and check for mold
- Clean around the laundry machines and check for mold
- Check all vents in the house and change them if they look clogged
Pro tip: This monthly or seasonal routine is also a great opportunity to consider allergy-safe swaps, such as replacing your bedding with hypoallergenic options, pulling out carpet and replacing it with hardwood flooring, investing in a HEPA vacuum and installing HEPA filters throughout the home.
Take Medications
In all likelihood, your daily allergy maintenance routine will include some kind of allergy relief medication. Antihistamines, such as Claritin and Allegra, are a common choice: half of adults who suffer from allergies take antihistamines to manage their symptoms. These medications work best when taken daily, so they can build up in your body.
If over-the-counter medications aren’t getting you the relief you need, consider adding immunotherapy treatments to your allergy routine instead. You’ll take this either as an oral drop daily at home or receive it as an injection weekly at an allergist’s office. Both options are highly effective and can easily fit into your allergy routine.
When Making Plans
Routines aren’t just about cleaning and taking meds; they also involve making time to see our loved ones and do fun activities with the family. Don’t let allergies get in the way of our important social needs.
Whenever you’re making plans, and you need to take allergies into account (especially if you have kids with allergies, too), consider the following:
- The location: a pool party will have far fewer allergens than a picnic in a field
- The pollen count: check the local weather forecast for a pollen count, and aim for indoor activities if it’s a high-pollen day
- The time of day: mornings and evenings tend to be less intense allergen-wise, so consider making plans in those hours, rather than at the peak of the day when pollen is at its worst.
To learn more about any of these allergy management routines and what might work best for you, contact Willamette ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery. Our expert team of allergists is happy to help you craft an allergy-safe routine that manages your symptoms.
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