Why Are Your Allergies Worse at Home?

Why Are Your Allergies Worse at Home?

If you suffer from allergies and you feel like the symptoms start up mostly when you get home, there could be a cleaning problem in your home. Do you wake up with a stuffy nose or feel like your eyes are watering more at home than when you are outdoors?

Part of it could have to do with the fresh air and how the outdoors are simply better for your body’s airways than indoors, but you may need to do some cleaning in your home to deal with the allergy issue there. Here are some problems to look for at home that could affect your allergies, as well as some help with how to deal with those problems. 

The Mold Problem

You may have mold in your home and not even know it. Mold can be many different colors, but it is most often a green or black color. The visible mold is only a small part of the mold presence in your home, as there are invisible mold spoors floating through the air from the visible mold that sticks to walls and floors. Those microscopic spoors will get into your nose and mouth and cause allergy symptoms, and they spread throughout your home looking for new places to grow and develop further.

To deal with mold, you need to have proper ventilation in your home, opening windows to let in fresh air. You can get rid of mold using herbicides and powerful home cleaners. It is tough to get rid of all of it, because simply removing the visible mold may still leave the spoors behind. You may need to call for mold remediation services to remove it once and for all. 

Mold hides out anywhere there is water for it to feed on, and it uses biological materials like wood to grow quickly. 

The Dust Problem

You could be experiencing severe allergy symptoms at home because of how dusty your house is. If you have lots of dust in your home, you don’t clean the house regularly, and you have poor ventilation, then you will have a serious dust-allergy issue. 

The best way to handle dust in the home is to keep a clean house. Do a routine cleaning on all surfaces, under the beds and other furniture, and on the carpets. Anywhere dust can hide needs to be cleaned. A commercial cleaning service can help with this as well, doing the cleaning on days you are unable to or doing a deeper cleaning for you so that you stay on top of the dust problem.

To prevent dust buildup, clean frequently and ensure good ventilation in the home. Change out the air filter as frequently as it requires, which could be as often as every three months. When you clean dusty surfaces, use a wet cloth rather than a dry feather duster. If your allergy problem is severe, use a dust mask when you clean. Try to avoid vacuuming and sweeping and leave those for someone else to do, as they generate a lot of dust. When cleaning in the home, make sure the windows and doors are open to let out dust particles rather than keeping them trapped in the home. 

The Allergen Problem

While mold and dust are considered allergens, they are not the only ones. Let’s put all the other allergens together now to consider how they might be a problem for you and what you can do about them. These allergens include pollen, dust mites, insect and pet droppings, and other substances that cause allergic reactions. 

Once again, proper ventilation and regular cleaning are the keys to dealing with all kinds of allergens. If you clean your home well on a regular basis, you will get rid of most pet dander, pet droppings, pest droppings, and other substances that trigger your allergies. By keeping a tidy home, you are less likely to have pests in your home, so they won’t be leaving behind as much dander and fecal matter that would be setting off your allergies.

Pollen can be dealt with fairly well by simply keeping your home ventilated and then closing windows and doors when they are not in use during the allergy season. 

The Sleep Problem

Do you have problems falling to sleep or do you wake up during the night because your nose is stuffy and your sinuses are acting up? There are a few reasons why you are having this problem and a few ways to deal with this.

You may not be getting much sleep because of the dust on your sheets and pillowcase. If you clean them every week and use hypoallergenic coverings, you will cut down on the dust, dander, and dirt particles in your bedding. Also shake out your sheets and pillows every morning when you make your bed to clear away excess debris. 

Mold may be causing a problem for you, and you can help to reduce mold in the bedroom (or in any room) by setting up a dehumidifier and running that during the night. This will get rid of excess moisture in the air and make it difficult for mold spoors to develop and spread. 

If you are not dealing with the allergy issues and allergens that affect your sleeping habits, you will not get adequate sleep and will wake up feeling tired and lethargic. Kayla with Imagine Maids in Boston suggests "Proper cleaning habits and proper ventilation in the home will help with this issue, but you may need to take extra precautions in the bedroom". That is the one room you will be most susceptible to allergens and their effects, so you want to spend extra time combating allergens there. 

Your home should feel like a safe place for you where you can be comfortable and healthy. If you have an allergen problem in the home, though, the tips we have given you will help in making your home healthier and safer for you and your family. You don’t have to suffer severely from allergy attacks where you live if you are taking proper precautions.