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My husband has horrible allergies, but I didn’t realize just how much this spring weather bothers him until I saw our 1 year old daughter suffering from the same allergies. Helping kids with environmental allergies is not as easy as you would think. It is hard to escape from the everyday environmental allergens, but I am trying! Our daughter is coughing and sneezing and has a constant cold (well, what looks like a cold!) When we went to Hilton Head (our favorite vacation spot) in April, we saw that our nephew was the same way- our poor little four year old nephew had red, watery eyes, a runny nose… all of the things that defines allergies.
So, I went home and did a bunch of research to find simple ways (not including medication) to help them… and it all starts IN THE HOME. Here are my favorite tips for helping to reduce allergens in your home.
- This first one is a no-brainer (and my Dad and husband’s best tip to help keep our home energy efficient). Replace yourFiltrete Filter more frequently. We try to use the Filtrete Allergen Defense MPR 1000
- Washing bedding once a week
- Keeping soiled clothes in a designated area for frequent washes.
- Shower when you come indoors
- Don’t let people wear their shoes inside. Keep a basket on your porch and have them put their shoes outside.
- Wet-dust. Don’t just push the dirt around, use a wet rag or cleaner to help get rid of it.
- If you do take allergy medication, start long before allergy season starts.
- Don’t forget to clean those areas that we often DO forget: Near pet beds, stuffed animals, under the refrigerator, around the shower heads, etc…) You can clean the shower heads by just filling up a baggie with vinegar, tie it around the shower head with a twist tie and let it sit overnight.
- Use a neti pot with a saline nasal rinse (you can make it yourself). I saw Dr. Oz introduce this on Oprah a few years ago and now so many of my friends and family members swear by it!
- Eat local honey – this one is something that I only learned about last year, but eating local honey is a great way to combat allergies in your area.For more tips on combatting allergies and keeping your home allergy free, visit Filtrete on Facebook, on Twitter: @Filtrete or you can register to receive seasonal e-newsletters featuring special offers, filter change reminders, better home living tips and more at www.Filtrete.com.I
F you want to try to declutter your home (dust can make this worse and dust hides in clutter!) check out my Series on How To De-clutter your Home or even How to Organize your Home.In the meantime, go on and snuggle up with your little one until they feel better. Remember, when they ask Mommy, will you lay with me? try to say YES!
I also put blankets and pillows in the freezer for 20 minutes. This kills allergens. You can place some things in the dryer also. My allergy doc. gave me this information.
Good tip! thanks!