The great outdoors isn't the only cause of sniffling and sneezing. The culprit could be in your home. About 20 million Americans suffer from allergies throughout the year and sometimes wintertime means extra trouble. Homes that are sealed against the elements have less ventilation and therefore dust and other allergens can build up. Although antihistamines can help relieve many of the symptoms, they won't get rid of what's causing the trouble. A better solution is to eliminate the source. Here are a few ways to spring clean that will protect your house and your respiratory problems all year long:

Bedroom

I'm a cat and a dog lover, but they don't belong in the bedroom! Animals' skin cells (dander) and dried saliva and urine, which can provoke allergic reactions, collect on carpets and furniture, which is a major problem in the bedroom. Why? We spend a third of our time in the bedroom. Replace feather pillows and comforters with synthetic bedding. Dust mites (which feed on dead skin cells), thrive in natural materials. Encase mattresses and pillows in airtight plastic or canvas. The first time I saw a dust mite under a microscope, I physically got sick!

Attic

Many people store their unused clothing in the attic. Be sure it is clean and dry before storing it away. Even small amounts of moisture promote the growth of mites and mold, whose spores can filter into living spaces.

Living Room

Deprive dust mites of their habitat by removing carpets. If you can afford it, replace carpet with hardwood floors or ceramic tile, especially in the bathroom and kitchen. If you don't want to give up your wall-to-wall carpeting, trade shag or wool materials with a short nap kind of carpet made of synthetic fibers. Be sure to use a vacuum with a HEPA filter, available from specialty hardware stores and specialty outlets.

Bathroom

Clean all surfaces that get wet, including the tub and shower, with a mold cleaning bleach solution. You can make your own by adding one part liquid bleach to 20 parts water. Do this once a week.

Laundry

Wash clothes, bedding, rugs, and window coverings at your machine's hottest setting (130 degrees) to kill dust mites. If you have your water heater set at a lower setting for child safety, crank it up long enough to get the laundry done, and then dial it back to a safe temperature setting.

Kitchen

Clean under the sink weekly with a solution of chlorine bleach and disinfectant to retard growth of mold, which is a major indoor allergen which flourishes in moist, dark, poorly ventilated areas.

Basement

Run a fan to reduce the moisture that makes the basement a favorite place for mold. For more protection, add a dehumidifier and clean the unit weekly. Cover the walls and storage areas with an oil-based paint which is more mildew resistant than water-based or latex paints.

When your nose is running, your eyes are watering, and your throat is scratchy, think of all the places you never thought of cleaning. Remember allergy symptoms can occur during the spring and the winter, so a little spring cleaning now might save you from some winter allergy symptoms as well.

Learn more about this author, C. Kay Rowley.
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