How to Protect Your Home from Autumn Seasonal Allergies

September is here, and with it, all of the excitement for the change in season. As the first day of Fall approaches, doorsteps transform into mini pumpkin patches and fall leaves adorn every surface. There is something undeniably beautiful about the change in scenery, as green trees fade to amber and fields shimmer golden in the autumn breeze! And who doesn’t love a big leaf pile in the front yard? 

That is until the first sneeze attack. Just when we think the spring and summer pollen is blowing away, we find out allergy season isn’t over yet. In fact, it’s just beginning… again. Contrary to popular belief, autumn brings with it a whole new set of major airborne allergens, waiting to wreak havoc on our sinuses. While flower and tree pollen counts start to drop, they are immediately replaced by the threat of ragweed pollen, dust mites, and mold spores. 

So what do we do when allergy season just never seems to end? Here are a few helpful tips to begin preparing our apartments in California for the change in allergy seasons.

Stock Your Medicine Cabinet

Step number one is to equip yourself with symptom relief treatments. Effective at home remedies may vary from person to person, however there are a few things that are helpful to have handy! Start dealing with those symptoms at the first sniffle by keeping your go-to medication bottle full. Always double check the expiration dates! For outdoor cleaning and yard work, a stash of N95 masks can provide a fortified protective barrier between you and airborne particles. And while nasal spray and sinus irrigations may not treat allergic reactions themselves, they can flush out any allergens you breathe in before they become a problem! Now that the cabinet is stocked, let’s discuss how to take preventative steps before the symptoms begin. 

Dust, Dust, and more Dust!

While deep cleaning tends to be seasonally associated with Spring, we suggest introducing a full house cleanse as the first of your Pumpkin Spice Latte Season traditions. Dust mites are culprit number 1 of the fall allergy big three. School is back in session, seasonal decorations are coming out of storage, furnaces are being reignited, and dust mites that had a chance to settle in for a long winter’s nap are now flying through the air! 

The first line of attack is simple: Dust! Pull out the microfiber cloth and dust all hard surfaces. Make sure to get those forgotten corners and the top of ceiling fan blades. Next is vacuuming. Carpet is an effective trap that builds up dust fast. This often gets overlooked as it can’t be seen as easily as on a hard floor. Throughout Fall, increase your vacuum schedule to proactively decrease dust in your home. Next, avoid using the fan! Fans can kick up dust from the ground or the counters and send those dust mites right up into the air to be promptly breathed in. We recommend using air conditioning over fans late in the year. That being said, make sure to clean out filters in your AC unit and vents. Heating and cooling systems make our homes more comfortable, but if they irritate our allergies they may just do more harm than good. 

Break the Mold

Culprit Number 2 is the dreaded mold! As temperatures gradually decline and gloomy fall weather rolls in, mold begins to creep into unexpected places. Dead leaves pile up, creating host sites for mold growth. Due to Southern California’s coastal proximity, humidity levels tend to be higher in late summer and early fall meaning more condensation on the windows and quicker indoor moisture build up during these months. The gradual increase in moisture levels inside means your home can become an environment that fosters mold growth. 

The two best tools for fighting mold are bleach and vinegar. Bleach is often the “go-to” mold killer solution and can be very effective on hard surfaces, such as countertops and bathtubs. However, vinegar is even more effective than bleach and can be preferable as an organic alternative to the harsh chemicals in bleach. Vinegar is especially helpful for absorbent surfaces, as bleach only kills mold on the surface, meaning mold can still lurk deeper in the material, waiting to grow back. Vinegar also tends to be less damaging where bleach can leave permanent stains. Beware, however, as vinegar erodes certain materials so be sure to do your research before using either solution! 

A common tool for allergy symptoms is the humidifier. For many allergy sufferers, humidifiers can provide momentary relief from sinus pressure and are used year round. However, many people don’t realize that increased humidity can also create mold friendly environments which trigger the allergy symptoms in the first place. As we move into the late seasons, consider using a dehumidifier instead to prevent mold building up in the excess moisture. 

Much like with vacuuming, mold and mildew lurk in forgotten corners like carpet near the windows and behind large solid furniture. Be sure to clean behind these items frequently in Fall and Winter! 

If it’s not one pollen, It’s another

We all know too well the threat that pollen allergies pose in Spring and Summer, when wildflower super blooms explode. Surprisingly, pollen is actually the worst allergen of Fall as well! Ragweed and other similar species bloom late in the year and release pollen nationwide. Giant Ragweed can be found growing along highways throughout Central and Southern California, specifically in the west. Ragweed is dotted with sprigs of small spherical flowers that release large amounts of dusty, yellow pollen, traveling the wind throughout the state. 

Much like other airborne particles, pollen can be prevented from entering the sinuses by using a barrier, such as a disposable mask, outside. Because pollen gets picked up by the wind, it can travel just about anywhere! One helpful step in preventing it from entering the house is to remove your shoes. Once you return from errands and outings, change clothes and shower to prevent pollen from transferring to your bed, couch, and other home surfaces. Check your area’s pollen count regularly before venturing outside for the day and, when possible, save going out for days when the air is clearer! 

Be sure to wash your bedding more frequently, with hot water, to wash off any pollen that might inevitably make its way indoors. This goes for preventing dust and mold as well.

Clear the Air

It can be very frustrating to deal with seasonal allergies, especially since our environment is largely out of our control. Luckily, your home is one place where there are steps you can take! 

One of the best ways to manage allergies in all seasons is to regulate the air quality indoors. Air purifiers with clean and well maintained filters help to pull dust, pollen, and spores from the room and trap them, releasing the clean air back into circulation. After cleaning your HVAC system, turn it on with your air purifier to keep comfortable, clear air flowing freely! Keep in mind that elevated humidity levels can cause mold growth inside the filter, so it is generally not recommended to use humidifiers and air purifiers together. 

Hope for Allergy Sufferers Everywhere

For seasonal allergy sufferers, it can be incredibly discouraging for each season to bring a new set of irritants to combat. There is still hope for relief, however. By following the general guidelines listed above, you can take action to keep your home clean and allergen free! If you suffer from allergies, it is always recommended to consult your doctor, and use preventative tips such as those given here in addition to professionally recommended treatments and prescriptions.

With these measures in place, we can get back to enjoying the coziest of seasons and making apartment living more comfortable!