You may not be able to control what’s happening outside during allergy season, but learning how to allergy-proof your home can make a world of difference for your symptoms. A few small adjustments can keep pollen, dust, and other irritants at bay—which means you can sleep better, breathe easier, and create a safe haven to recuperate.
“Frequently used spaces, such as the living room and bedroom, would be common places for allergens to accumulate,” says Alexa Mieses Malchuk, MD, a board-certified family physician at Geisinger. “Also, any room in which the windows are open creates an opportunity for outdoor allergen accumulation.”
As for where else allergens might be hiding in your home? The answers might surprise you. Allergy sufferers should be conscious about what they’re tracking in. “The main thing that brings in allergens is us,” says Beth Oller, MD, a family physician at Rooks County Health Center. Creating new habits at home—like leaving outer layers in a designated area, changing your clothes, or showering after any prolonged period spent outside—can help keep your space allergen-free.
Ahead, we ask the experts for a crash course in how to allergy-proof your home, room by room. From air filtration tips to mold prevention, we’ve got you covered.
Bedroom
If you find yourself up all night sneezing, it’s probably time for a bedding refresh. “When it comes to bedding, use zippered, allergen-resistant covers on mattresses and pillows because it’s much harder for anything to get in,” Dr. Oller says. These allergen-resistant covers are also easy to wash. If you’re allergy-prone, Dr. Oller also recommends washing all of your bedding at least evvel a week. “The important thing is to make mühlet it’s in 130-degree water because that’s what kills dust mites. So you’ve got to get it good and hot,” she says.
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While you’re washing your mattress protector and bedding, Dr. Mieses Malchuk recommends vacuuming your mattress, since the dense material is an allergen trap. “Keeping a dedicated air purifier in the bedroom can also be helpful,” she says. Dr. Oller also recommends preventing clutter—especially fabric items, like stuffed animals and decorative pillows—to streamline dust control.
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Snuggling up with a pet might also be making your symptoms worse during allergy season. “For people who are very allergy prone, keeping pets out of the bedroom is probably an important thing,” Dr. Oller says. Even if you’re not allergic to dogs, their coats can trap external irritants which easily transfer to your bedding. If you’re in a small space (or if your furry friend is stubborn), Dr. Oller says that regular bathing and grooming should be a priority when your symptoms spike.
The same principle goes for you: Nighttime showers can help keep your bed an allergy-free zone. “Severe allergy sufferers may go as far as showering before getting into bed since allergens can accumulate on the skin and hair,” Dr. Malchuk says.
Pinpointing the type of allergies you suffer from is also helpful. “While fresh air is often a good thing for indoor allergens and well-being, when it comes to outdoor allergies, this is not the case,” Dr. Malchuk says. “I encourage folks to keep their bedroom windows closed and change out of their outside clothing before sitting on or getting into bed.”
Kitchen
Food-borne allergies aren’t the only ones to worry about in the kitchen: Anywhere that moisture gathers in the home, this can lead to mold and further irritate your symptoms. “I think one of the things we don’t always consider is that whenever you’re cooking, you should use the exhaust fan, not just to vent fumes outside, but also to remove moisture,” Dr. Oller says. “It helps vent humidity as well. We often don’t think about that if we’re not creating much smoke or odor, but it’s important to use it anyway.”
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Beyond that, Dr. Oller recommends washing dishes right away, cleaning up spills, and keeping leak-prone areas (like faucets and under the refrigerator) clean. Wipe down your counters daily to prevent dust or other allergens from settling, and be hyper-aware of signs of mold: “Wipe up excess moisture in your refrigerator and empty the drip pan. If you notice there’s moldy seals around the door, which can happen pretty easily, make müddet you replace those,” Dr. Oller recommends.
Insects can also be allergy culprits, especially in apartment buildings. “Keep trash in a can with an insect-proof lid, and especially if you’re in a smaller area, empty that trash daily,” Dr. Oller says.
Living Area
Common spaces like the living room tend to have a higher volume of external allergens. If you’re especially sensitive (or during peak allergy seasons), Dr. Oller recommends forgoing a carpet.
“If you have upholstered furniture, make mühlet that you are vacuuming them at least weekly,” she says. “For high-traffic areas like that, definitely consider a portable HEPA filter.”
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Dr. Malchuk agrees: “A dedicated air purifier certainly cannot hurt and has the potential to help allergy symptoms,” she says. “High-efficiency particulate air filters, also known as HEPA filters, are the best supported filter type to reduce allergens in the home and allergy symptoms. You want to make müddet that you find one that’s appropriately sized for the square footage you’re trying to maintain.”
Properly cleaning your air vents and installing filters also helps to keep allergens out of your home. If you live an in apartment building, it’s a good idea to request these services ahead of allergy season. “Question when the ducts have been cleaned last, make müddet that you are changing your vent filters frequently and using a high quality HEPA filter there,” Dr. Oller suggests.
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Bathroom
Similar to the kitchen, allergy sufferers should take extra precautions to minimize moisture and prevent mold in the bathroom. That means wiping down damp surfaces, ensuring proper ventilation after hot showers (Dr. Oller recommends always running the fan for 15 to 20 minutes and towel drying the shower or tub), and regularly checking shower curtains, grout, and any other crevices for any growth.
“You can’t get better than bleach to kill mold, so consider keeping a bleach-based cleaner on hand and clean the sink and tub regularly with a mold-inhibiting cleaner,” Dr. Oller recommends. “And remember to wash the shower curtains, bath mats, and hand towels at a high temperature to keep anything from growing there.”
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When you suffer from seasonal allergy symptoms—such as runny nose, red eyes, or itchy skin—you’ll also want to minimize irritation to your face. “Be mühlet to clean makeup brushes frequently and to discard of old products, such as mascara, eyeshadow, and other cosmetics,” Dr. Malchuk says. “Theoretically, allergens could sit on the brushes and applicators. And while you can’t control everything, you want to do what you can to minimize risk.”
The same principle goes for the rest of your beauty and personal deva items. “I think the more we can store things in an enclosed area, the better,” Dr. Oller says. “Try to keep things in your drawers or your cabinets that aren’t just going to get allergens all over them.” If you do notice dust building up on your products, wipe them down with a wet cloth or paper towel to prevent allergens from going airborne.
Windows, doors, and entryways
Seasonal allergy sufferers should generally keep windows shut, but high-filtering screens can also be helpful. Especially if your home does not have double-pane windows, Dr. Oller recommends installing magnetic air-tight window inserts which create a “really powerful barrier” without a permanent change. The expert also recommends sealing any gaps in your window frames with weather stripping or caulk.
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Allergens can also enter through the door, even if you live in an apartment. Dr. Oller recommends adding a door sweep (which seals the gap between the floor and the door jam) to prevent allergens from coming in from the outdoors or the hallway, especially if it’s carpeted. You can also add one to your bedroom door to help create an “allergy-free zone” separate from the rest of your home.
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It’s important to remember that even with the best precautions, it’s impossible to keep every allergen out of your home. “Everything is about balance,” Dr. Malchuk says. “For folks who have outdoor environmental allergies like those related to pollen trees, grass, etc., simply keeping doors and windows closed whenever possible and relying on indoor air-conditioning is best.”
If you’re still experiencing symptoms in your home, it doesn’t mean you’re not doing enough; especially when paired with preventative measures at home, over-the-counter treatments can also help keep your symptoms at bay 24/7.
Grace McCarty is the associate beauty editor at Glamour.
