I suffer year round allergies, but spring is when it is most pronounced. here are a few tips as to what you can do inside your home to alleviate some of your symptoms.

Treat underlying allergies

Individuals who suffer from year-round low-grade allergies – dust mites, for example – are often “knocked over the edge” in the spring, Dr. Greenwald says. Treating the underlying allergy could reduce your symptoms over all.

If your resources are tight, it's better to focus on where allergens collect on surfaces, rather than air quality, he says. He recommends dust mite-proof pillow encasings to keep the critters away (without proper encasings, about one-third of a pillow's weight is made up of dust mites and dust mite debris after six months).

“People will put $1,000 or $2,000 in air purification systems without putting in much money for their beds,” he says. “Do the environmental stuff. It does not require air cleaners or special vacuum cleaners.”

Decontaminate

Keeping windows and doors closed in the spring can keep pollen from entering your home to some extent, but your body can be a carrier, too, Dr. Greenwald warns.

“When you've been out running or gardening, when you come indoors, you need a decontamination chamber.”

Place a mat outside your door for  shoes. After extended periods outside, change your clothes and shower as soon as you can to curb the spread of particles onto your furniture. During peak season, it's better to take night showers instead of early morning ones so you don't coat your sheets with pollen.

To vacuum up pollen and dust mites, the only devices that will do a thorough job are central vacuums or ones with true HEPA filters, he says. To see if yours is up to snuff, check out asthmaandallergyfriendly.ca, a website produced by the Asthma Society of Canada that lists certified vacuums, bedding and air cleaning devices based on the accuracy of manufacturers' claims.

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