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Do you suffer from a stuffy nose, itchy watery eyes, or other symptoms related to allergies? If so, this article may help you to reduce allergens in you home, and subsequently lessen your symptoms.

The first step to reducing allergens in your home, is to identify what you are allergic to. Find a reputable allergy doctor and set up an appointment as soon as possible. Once he performs the appropriate allergy tests, you will be able to find out exactly what you are allergic to. If you would like to lessen allergens for your entire family, you will need to have each member tested, as allergies vary from person to person.

Many people are allergic to dust mites. For this reason, it is important to dust daily. Try getting at places where dust accumulates quickly, such as around appliances, tops of bookshelves or cabinets, and other hard to reach places. If you have fans in your home, the tops of the blades and surrounding areas are a good place to start.

Window sills are another common place where dust accumulates. Lampshades, both the top and bottom can also become dusty quickly. Cleaning with a feather duster can move the dust around and make allergens worse. Try capturing the dust with a cloth that has a wet surface in order to obtain optimal removing of mites. It is a good idea to use an unscented cleaner when dusting or cleaning, so that the odor doesn't become an irritant to those with allergies.

Try to keep your house free of any scents or odors if at all possible. Perfumes, lotions, sprays, and soaps are other household products that may irritate people with allergies. It is important to keep bedrooms especially clean. Sheets and pillows should be washed frequently in hot water. Try to use an unscented laundry soap for this job.

Curtains and drapes should also be washed as needed. Vacuum all carpets and floors frequently to remove any allergens from these surfaces. If you tested positive for animal allergies, you will need to make sure that all pets you are allergic to are removed from your house. It is important to think of the health of your family first, even though you may love animals.

Keep windows shut during days when outside allergen concentrations are high. Many weather-related sites feature an online allergen counter that you can access to determine air allergy counts for your area. During high allergen count days, it may also be a good idea to dry your clothes inside versus hanging them outside to dry.

In summary, you should follow the advice given by your doctor, and follow the recommended cleaning techniques. Doing so will help you to cut down on allergens in your home and allow your family to breathe a little easier.

Learn more about this author, Kaarina St. John.
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