Home Habits That Could be Making Your Allergies Worse

It’s that time of year again. You’re coughing and sneezing. Your eyes are itchy and watery. Unfortunately, it’s allergy season. If you feel like your symptoms are taking over your life right now, know you aren’t alone. But you should also know that allergies don’t come out of nowhere—and you could inadvertently be making yours worse if you aren’t careful. Here are nine habits that could be exacerbating your allergies at home. 

You Keep Your Windows Open

Sure a breeze feels nice, but is it worth a stuffy nose or itchy eyes? According to allergist-immunologist Jason Bellak, MD, the answer is no. “Although your house may feel a bit stuffy after being closed up all winter, resist the urge to throw open your windows for a breath of fresh air,” he says.

Leaving your windows open invites allergens like pollen into your home. Miss the breeze? Bellak recommends running your air conditioner or a fan instead.

You Aren’t Using an Air Purifier With a HEPA Filter

Dr. Bellak tells me even if you’re careful to keep windows and doors closed, allergens can still sneak into your home. “Invest in High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters for an air cleaner for a single room,” he says. “Check to see that the filter has a CADR (clean air delivery rate) that matches the size of the room where it will be used.” 

But don’t just set it and forget it. You still need to change out the filters every three months.

You Wear Outdoor Clothing Indoors

Want to stop allergens in their tracks? Change your clothing right at the door when you get home. “Pollen and other allergens can stick to your clothing, shoes, hats, and other accessories,” Dr Bellak says. “As soon as you get home, ditch your outside clothes for a clean, pollen-free outfit.” 

But don’t just throw your clothing on the floor. Take your outfit to the laundry room or toss things in the washer as soon as possible. Anything that needs to go to the dry cleaner should be kept in a separate bag. 

You Aren’t Showering at Night

Need an excuse for a little self-care? Your allergies are an excellent reason to add a shower to your nightly routine. “If you don’t shower at night, it may be time to consider a switch,” Dr. Bellak says. “Rinsing off before bed can wash away allergens that cling to your hair, face, and body throughout the day. It will also prevent you from transferring pollen to your pillow and bed.”

You might even find showering before bed helps improve your sleep. 

There’s Too Much Carpeting or Fabric in Your Room

We all want to make our bedrooms ultra cozy, and for many of us that means filling them with plush pillows and soft rugs under foot. But, this could backfire when it comes to keeping allergy symptoms at bay. As Dr. Bellak explains, dust mites—which are a common allergen for many—can be found in mattresses, pillows, bedding, carpets, rugs, blankets, and more. Basically all the stuff that keeps us comfy at home can also be home to lots of irritating dust mites.

To resolve the issue, one option would be to cut back on some of the plush stuff in your home—and especially in your bedroom. This might mean ripping up the carpet and replacing it with hard flooring or simply cutting back on throw pillows. Cleaning or washing these items more often or investing in dust mite covers for your mattress and sleeping pillows can also help limit your exposure to allergens.

Vacuuming Isn’t Part of Your Weekly Routine

If you get too busy to vacuum, it’s essentially an open invitation for allergens to stick around at your house like a guest that’s overstaying their welcome. Dr. Bellak suggests vacuuming weekly—or more often, if you have pets—to kick those allergens out. 

There Are Pets in Your Bed

While it’s nice to snuggle up with your furry friends—that scratchy allergy throat can be a hard trade-off. “Dogs, cats, and other furred pets, including rabbits, gerbils, and hamsters, should be kept out of the bedroom,” Dr. Bellak says. “Keep the bedrooms as allergen-free as possible. You may not be allergic to your furry family member, but, if the pet goes outside, your pet may bring in allergens from the outside.”

He also advises scheduling monthly grooming sessions to keep your pets extra clean and allergen-free.

You Don’t Know What You’re Allergic To

If you don’t know what you’re allergic to, it’s hard to figure out the source on your own. So, it’s a smart idea to go to an allergist for testing. “A board-certified allergist can help take the guesswork out of allergy management so you can better avoid allergy triggers,” he says. “Also, be aware of when allergy season starts in your region. Check the internet for the specifics of pollen levels near you”. 

Your Allergy Meds Need to Be Switched Up

Go to any drugstore and you’ll find a plethora of allergy meds on the shelf. So, if you try one and you aren’t getting results—know there are other options. “For example, if antihistamines aren’t working, it may be time to give nasal sprays a chance,” Dr. Bellak says. “You may even consider allergen immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, which can be extremely effective.”