Did you know that indoor air quality can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air?
Mind blowing, right?! If your child struggles with allergies, we want to make environmental modifications to lessen their exposure as much as possible.
Of course, we can’t cut down all the trees or dig up all the grasses. And in my experience, most people would sooner get rid of their child than their cat or dog they’ve had longer than their kid. (I’m joking, of course!)
While most of us think of allergies as something we get from being outdoors seasonally, there is also something called perennial allergies (those that are indoor and the exposure is year-round) that we want to address as well.
Where Are Allergens Hiding
INDOORS (year-round exposure):
🐶 Animal dander (cats & dogs)
🕷 Dust mites
🪳 Cockroaches
🌫 Mold
OUTDOORS (seasonal exposure):
🌳 Trees
🌾 Grasses & weeds
🍂 Mold spores (yes, they can be outdoors too!)
My Top Tool for Improving Indoor Air Quality
We have many simple, science-backed ways to decrease your family’s exposure to their allergens, which will help their system go through allergy season hopefully with fewer symptoms.
Our primary indoor tool is the Austin Air Filter – HealthMate Junior Plus Unit. Since indoor air quality is something we can control, one of the best ways to reduce allergen exposure inside is by using a HEPA air filter. These air filters help remove allergens like dust, dander, mold spores, and VOCs from the air your family breathes every day.
Allergy Avoidance Tips
- Animal Allergies
- Allergens come from:
- Dander (flecks of skin, not hair)
- Saliva
- Urine
- Keep animals out of the bedroom (may take 6 months to remove dander)
- Keep animals off furniture
- Confine animals to a room with an easy-to-clean floor (no carpet, wipeable furniture)
- Wash pets weekly with warm water & soap
- If rehoming a pet:
- Professionally clean carpets & upholstery
- Wash walls (cat allergens are sticky
- Allergens come from:
- HEPA Air Filters
- May help in bedrooms if keeping a pet or if there’s a smoker in the house
- Animal allergens stay airborne longer than dust mites
- Recommended: Austin Air Filter HealthMate Junior Plus Unit
- Dust Mites
- Vacuum with a HEPA filter 1–2x per week
- Dust with a damp cloth 1–2x per week
- Wash sheets & blankets in hot water (130°F) weekly
- Keeping water heaters at 120°F still kills most dust mites
- Encase mattresses, pillows, and box springs in allergen-proof
- coverings
- Outdoor Allergens (Pollen/Grass/Trees)
- Keep windows shut and use the air conditioner
- Shower as soon as possible after being outside and exposed to allergens
- Molds (Indoor & Outdoor)
- Inspect damp areas (bathrooms, crawl spaces, behind wallpaper)
- Use a dehumidifier if your home or basement is damp
- Avoid barns, uncut fields, mowing lawns, raking leaves, summer cottages, and old sleeping bags
- HEPA filters help reduce mold toxins in the air
- Recommended: Austin Air Filter – HealthMate Junior Plus Unit
- Cockroaches
- Main allergens: saliva, feces, shed skins
- Complete professional extermination followed by a thorough house cleaning
Additional Resources to Allergy-Proof Your Home
📽️ Watch my YouTube video: Reduce Allergies at Home Naturally: Doctor-Approved Tips!
Check out my favorite products to reduce allergies at home on my Amazon store:
- HEPA vacuum
- Botanical disinfectant–wipes and liquid (kills mold spores!)
- Organic mattress protector pad (for cribs and regular beds)
If this blog post resonated with you and you would like to speak with our Patient Care Coordinator for more guidance on your next steps (health coaching, supplements, online course, or becoming a member of our practice), please schedule a 15-minute informational call.
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