If you or someone you love is living with allergies, you understand how difficult it can be to enjoy life when the allergies hit. Paying attention in class or in an important meeting instantly becomes a chore when the intense pressure packs the back of the brow and sinus cavities. Life s everyday routine is haunted by watery eyes, uncontrollable sneezing, sinus headaches, and the voice of Charlie Brown s teacher. It s almost like a small band of woodland creatures moved in behind your face and is throwing a head-warming party!

You may not be able to remove the allergens from the outdoors, but there are steps to take for reducing allergens inside places you spend significant amounts of time: the office, the car, and, most importantly, your home. Allergy-proofing your house can be complicated and time-consuming, but there are also very easy things you can do that will help. Because everyone is allergic to different allergens, some things will be more effective than others. People spend almost a third of their lives in their bedrooms, sleeping, reading and wanting to sleep some more. This should be the first place you start ridding allergens from your life.

Beds
You can encase all your pillows, mattresses and box springs in dust mite-proof covers. Wash your sheets, pillowcases and blankets at least once a week in water heated to at least 130°F (54°C).

Floors
The best floors for allergies are hardwood or linoleum with washable area rugs. If you have a carpet and removing it is not an option, be sure that it is a low-pile carpet. High-pile carpets are notorious hide-outs for allergens. Vacuum weekly with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Shampoo your carpets frequently.

Curtains and Blinds
Use washable curtains made of cotton or synthetic fabric. Replace any horizontal blinds with vertical roller-type blinds.

Windows
Keep your windows closed during pollen season. Use double-paned windows, especially if you live in a cold climate. Clean mold and condensation from window frames and sills on a regular basis.

Furniture
Avoid upholstered furniture. Instead, choose easy-to-clean chairs, dressers and night stands made of wood, metal, plastic or leather.

Pets
If you are allergic to pet dander, keep your dog, cat or exotic animal out of the bedroom. Bathing them twice a week will also help control the dander they shed.

Air Purifier
Even if you keep your home dust free, it is very easy to miss areas like ceiling fan blades, air vents and other very high surfaces that consistently deposit allergy particles in the air. It is recommended that you use an Energy Star qualified air purifier that can filter an entire room.

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