Spring Cleaning for Allergy Relief: Your Go-to Checklist

Aside from a quick appointment with a doctor, there are other ways to tackle the challenges of allergies. Spring cleaning for allergy relief is one of those solutions often overlooked. Keeping your home tidy and free of pesky allergens like pollen, dust, grass seed, etc., is an excellent way to keep your body healthy and happy.

As the days grow longer and flowers bloom, spring brings the continuation of life and something that often impedes our lives–allergies. 

While many greet the longer stretches of sunlight and the renewal of life in their gardens with a smile, the accompanying allergy symptoms are less welcome.

How Do Spring Allergies Work?

Before we dive into the best cleaning tips for seasonal allergies, let’s discuss how spring allergies work. The root of the issue is the pretty trees and plants that so many of us celebrate when spring rolls around. 

Trees, weeds, and grasses produce a powdery substance called pollen. Pollen is harmless for most people, but if you have seasonal allergies, your body mistakes it for something dangerous and tries to attack it.

Allergic reactions cause several unpleasant symptoms like:

• Coughing
• Sore throat
• A runny or stuffy nose
• Itchy, watery eyes

Some people compare it to feeling like they have a cold, and it's challenging to go about your everyday life when these symptoms take over. Medication is often helpful, but maintaining your living environment will go a long way toward keeping your symptoms manageable.

How Do You Spring Clean for Allergies?

A deep spring clean and regular maintenance cleaning can free your home and body from allergens. 

Here are some tips to help you identify the likely problem areas in your home. We’ve also included the best ways to remove and reduce allergens.

1. Check Your Furnace Filters

It’s important to change your HVAC filters regularly year-round, but during spring, you should be more conscientious about this. Many people like to open their windows to let in the fresh, crisp air, but this can worsen symptoms for people with allergies. 

Instead of opening the windows, you’ll likely be switching to AC. Your HVAC system can filter out any allergens lurking in the air ducts through its filters. Make sure you’re changing these filters every 90 days or so, and change them closer to every 60 days when spring begins.

2. Watch Your Humidity Levels

Winter often makes the air in your home dry, so many use humidifiers to add moisture back to the air. Be sure to monitor the humidity level in your home and keep levels below 50% to discourage mold growth. It’ll also help reduce dust mites!

3. Change and Wash Your Bedding

Allergens will stick to you while you go about your day and transfer onto your pillowcases and sheets in the evenings. You can easily reduce the allergens in your home by changing and washing your bedding more frequently. 

There are also allergen-proof covers you can use to cover your bedding. 

4. Vacuum

People with severe allergies should avoid carpeting as much as possible because it contains allergens. If you have carpeted areas in your home, vacuum them at least once a week. 

Expert Tip: You may want to invest in a HEPA filter vacuum, which is designed to remove extremely small pollen and dust particles, which will help your allergies.

5. Dust

Dust mites are another enemy of those with allergies, so it’s important to ensure you dust frequently, at least once a week. Use a microfiber cloth on bookshelves, curtains and blinds, ceiling lights and light fixtures, and other home areas to remove dust. 

Spring Cleaning Tip: Those with severe allergies may want to use an N95 mask while cleaning to prevent inhaling any dust or allergens that get stirred up.

Additional Cleaning Tips 

Along with the cleaning checklist we mentioned above, you can do a few other things to reduce and remove allergens from your home. Here are a few ideas:

• Reduce Clutter: Go through each room of your home (especially the garage, attic, and other spaces that aren’t cleaned often) and reduce the clutter as much as possible. Boxes, bins, and totes stacked up will collect dust, contributing to allergies.
• Shampoo Carpets: Along with vacuuming carpets regularly, give them a good deep clean once spring begins to remove the sudden influx of allergens. Rent a carpet cleaner from a local store or invest and purchase one to use as needed.
• Try Natural Cleaners: Natural cleaning products are typically better for those with allergies. They don’t have the heavy fragrances and other additives that most cleaners do, and those ingredients can trigger asthma or allergic reactions for some people.

How Do You Manage Allergies in the Spring?

The best way to manage allergies in the spring is to have a regular weekly cleaning schedule. Also, be sure to seek medical care if your symptoms are interfering with your ability to perform day-to-day activities. 

Several allergy medications are available that can ease your symptoms. If you're concerned about your symptoms, start a visit online. with one of our Urgency Room providers.