12 Ways Doctors Allergy-Proof Their Home

Try these doctor-approved solutions to reduce your exposure to home allergens like dust and pet dander, from HEPA filters to nasal saline rinses.

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Allergy-proofing your home like a pro

When you have allergies, going outside during allergy season can be an ordeal. You may ask yourself “Did I take my allergy medicine?” “How’s the pollen count today?” “How do I avoid walking by the trees at the park?” The incessant sneezes and sniffles can be enough for you to choose to stay indoors for the day. But at home, you may actually be surrounded by more allergens.

Pollen, dust mites, and even cockroaches can lurk around every nook and cranny of your home. This can aggravate allergies and affect the indoor air quality, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. However, there are steps you can take to allergy-proof your home to reduce your contact with allergens.

We spoke with doctors who share their tips on how they allergy-proof their entire home.

cleaning air conditioner filter
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Use HEPA filters

These high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are found in most air purifiers and many vacuums. They’re top of the line when it comes to sucking up harmful particles in your home including pet dander, pollen, dust mites, and smoke on a microscopic level. Your best bet is to go with a central filter rather than a single room filter, as the latter has not been proven to be effective in improving allergy symptoms, according to Steven Davis, MD, ENT, allergy-and-sinus specialist and founder and director of Breathe Clear Institute in Torrance, California. The type of HEPA filter you buy will depend on your device. Be sure that the filter you buy fits the model you have. (Check out these HEPA filter vacuums for people with allergies.)

Woman is opening window to look at beautiful snowy landscape outside
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Keep the windows closed

It can be tempting to open the windows to let in some fresh air once the weather starts getting nice, but this is a quick and easy way to let outdoor pollens enter your home. That’s why Dr. Davis suggests keeping both windows and doors closed and making sure they are well sealed. “If possible, create a sealable entryway where you can hang your jackets and keep your shoes,” he says. “Three percent tannic acid spray helps neutralize pollens that may be stuck to carpets, doormats, or even drapes.” (This is what allergists do to keep their own allergies at bay.)

Close-up of dust on woman finger taken from wooden table
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Don’t forget to dust

It might not be your favorite weekend activity, but dust collects and settles into plenty of areas of your home and makes allergies far worse. Reina Patel, DO, a pediatrician at Children’s Health and assistant professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, recommends wiping down areas that you know collect dust at least one to two times weekly. “Also, remember that both blinds and curtains can collect dust so try to dust your blinds twice weekly as well and, if possible, also wash your curtains often.” (Don’t miss these surprising triggers of spring allergies that aren’t pollen.)

Close-up Of A Craftsman Cutting Carpet With Cutter
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Think twice about carpets

Carpets feel nice on your feet—and they look nice too—but there’s a reason so many doctors prefer hardwood flooring instead. Carpets can be a serious culprit for allergen build up. “If possible, try to remove the carpet,” suggests Dr. Patel. “Suitable replacements for carpet would be tile, hardwood, and laminate.” If removing your carpet isn’t an option, low-pile carpeting is the lesser of two evils. Whichever carpet you have, try your best to wash them often, especially during the peak of allergy season.

(Here’s some of the worst allergy advice doctors have heard.)

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Vacuum at least once a week

Doctors agree that regular vacuuming is key to keeping allergens at bay. But not all vacuums are created equal. “Some are not as helpful for removing allergens, such as dust mites, so select a high-efficiency model,” says Dr. Davis. “Ordinary vacuum bags allow powder and allergens to leak out into the air while special allergy bags don’t allow the powder to escape.” Don’t have time to vacuum, especially during high pollen season? Invest in a Roomba, which works automatically and has a high-efficiency filter that collects 99 percent of dust, mites, and allergens. By the time you get home from work, your place will be spotless. (Here are some weird things you can be allergic to.)

African american father and daughter spending time together with a dog on a bed.
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Keep pets out of the bedroom

Pet lovers know this can be hard, but if it’s at the risk of your own health, sometimes you have to keep Fido or Fluffy away from the areas of your home in which you spend the most time. If you own a dog, keep it away from all bedrooms and try to train it not to jump on the couch or places where humans will be sitting for long periods. If you own a cat, Dr. Davis recommends keeping it exclusively either outdoors or indoors so it does not bring allergens such as pollen into your home from outside. “If you’re lucky and your cat tolerates it, bathing your feline can help you with your allergies for a day or so,” she says. “But remember that there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic cat and tomcats are the most allergenic.” Check out the best air purifiers for pets to help control dander.

Closeup of white pillow on the bed in the bedroom
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Use special mattress and pillow covers

“One of the best ways to help with a dust mite allergy is to separate yourself from the mites by using special impermeable mattress and pillow covers,” says Dr. Davis. “Dust mites thrive, not only in your mattress and pillows but also in drapes, carpet, stuffed animals and upholstery, so avoid having these items in your bedroom if at all possible.” National Allergy sells pillow covers that offer allergy protection and act as a barrier against bed bugs. Meanwhile, Utopia Bedding Premium offers waterproof mattress encasements that protect against bed bugs, dust mites, and fluids and liquids.

When it comes time to wash your bedding, he recommends doing so once a week at a minimum temperature of 131 degrees Fahrenheit. “Even freezing your sheets is effective at reducing your dust mite exposure significantly,” he adds. (You can safely stop believing these 11 allergy myths.)

Split air conditioner on a white wall.
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Place dehumidifiers in most rooms

Dr. Davis explains that mold thrives in moist environments such as plants, basements, bathrooms, air conditioning, refrigerator coils, and even stuffed furniture. That’s why a dehumidifier can come in handy. It can help make high-risk areas less appealing to mold. “Install humidity gauges to help keep track of how dry you are keeping the rooms in your home,” Dr. Davis suggests. “Your goal is a humidity level of less than 50 percent.” Additionally, keep small, unvented spaces lit because molds prefer dark areas. (Don’t miss this other tips for preventing and getting rid of mold.)

Smiling Man Adjusting Thermostat On Home Heating System
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Keep an eye on the temperature

Making sure your thermostat stays at a reasonable temp will do more than save money on your heating bill: The hotter your house, the more humid it is likely to be, and this is where dust mites like to thrive. “When the temperature is higher than 72 degrees Fahrenheit, dust mites create nests in sofas, carpets, bedding, and any woven material,” says Tania Elliott, MD, chief medical officer of EHE Health, a health care provider with an emphasis on preventative care. “Keep humidity levels to a minimum by using an air conditioner in humid environments or simply opening the windows in dryer environments.”

Young woman eating healthy breakfast in bed
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Don’t leave food lying around

Perhaps you’ve heard about a very ugly bug called a cockroach. Even if you don’t live in an urban environment, which is most often associated with cockroaches, a pest problem may still be on your hands. Cockroach droppings and the skins they cast off can trigger allergy symptoms. Dr. Elliot recommends never leaving food out on kitchen counters and avoid eating in the bedroom or on the couch whenever possible. If you do have a pest problem, bait-traps can be useful.

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Cut the clutter

Doctors might not be immune to messiness, but those who know how to ward off allergies know not to let clutter pile up. The more clutter, the more opportunity for dust and mold to collect itself. That’s why doctors recommend open areas in rooms that have humidifiers and purifiers present. This is especially important in bedrooms, where people spend the majority of their time at home.

Person enjoying a communal shower in a large cubicle sitting under a large flat shower head letting the water run over their body, close up high angle view from behind
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Shower at the end of the day

If you’re the kind of person who prefers to shower in the morning, you may want to consider switching your routine up during allergy season. Coming home after a long day of being exposed to outdoor allergens only brings them into your home. This is especially true if you re-wear certain clothing items and store your shoes in your closet as opposed to an entryway. To minimize the exposure of allergens in your home, consider showering, or at least rinsing off, at night. (These kinds of allergies are on the rise.)

Treatment and prevention of the common cold. The girl washes out the nose with saline
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Be ready with the nasal saline rinse

If you are unexpectedly exposed to a high concentration of allergens, Dr. Davis recommends using sinus rinses, such as Simply Saline Sterile Saline Nasal Mist, Allergy & Sinus Relief, to help minimize your symptoms and get relief. These over-the-counter extra strength sprays help alleviate congestion without harming the nasal tissue. In turn, this will help you to breathe easier in and out of your home.

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Jenn Sinrich
Jenn is a writer, editor, content strategist, and ghostwriter with more than a decade of experience with health, wellness, beauty, and lifestyle content. In the publishing space, she’s held editorial roles for Everyday Health, Baby Magazine, and DietSpotlight.com, and as a content strategist, she’s worked with brands such as Fresh and CentreSpring MD. Jenn’s work has also been featured in Self, Women’s Health, Reader’s Digest, Total Beauty, Fit Pregnancy, Marie Claire, Brides, and The Healthy.