Spring in Columbia, Maryland would be much easier to enjoy if going outside didn’t send you into a fit of sneezing and a day of itchy eyes. If you’re susceptible to spring allergies, then addressing those symptoms can help you make the most of the beautiful weather and fun activities that spring has to offer. The best way to beat allergies is to cut them off at the pass, to identify their source, and stop them there. By tackling common spring allergy sources, like pets, pollen, mold, and insects, you can breathe easy and enjoy a spring free of allergy issues.
Pets
Your pets may be part of the family, but when you have allergies, you won’t be able to give your pets as much love as they deserve. You may have heard of pet dander, but it’s more than just the dead skin flakes that many homeowners think it is. Dander becomes an allergy symptom as cats and dogs groom themselves, lathering the skin flakes in protein-rich saliva. That protein is what causes many of the allergies pet owners experience. During the spring, if your pets spend a lot of time outside, they’ll likely track more pollen into your home.
Washing your pets often will reduce dander effects and clean off pollen. As much as you may not want to, minimizing contact with your pet (especially by not allowing them to lick you) will also decrease allergic reactions. Keep pets out of bedrooms and off couches.
Pollen
Grass and tree pollen rides the air throughout the east coast. Fortunately, you won’t have to worry about the more prevalent ragweed pollen until later in the summer, but the pollen of spring will put a damper on any day, especially because it can so easily reach you. Even if you stay indoors, pollen can be tracked in on your pets or on the shoes of those who enter your home, which can be circulated throughout the entire house by your HVAC system.
While it may be difficult to completely keep pollen out of your home, welcome mats placed by your door will catch some of the particles tracked in by guests. When you’re outside, wear sunglasses to keep pollen out of your eyes. If you install an air purifier into your HVAC system, the efficient filters will catch more particles than a standard filter.
Mold
As humidity increases at the beginning of spring, the risk of mold growth also increases. Mold is especially likely to grow in the warm, dark corners of your home, like in the bathroom. Not only can mold cause allergies to flare up, but it can also damage infrastructure.
The best way to decrease mold and its associated allergies is to reduce humidity. Dehumidifiers draw moisture out of the air as it passes through your HVAC system. While you should still check areas of your home where mold is especially likely to grow, a dehumidifier will dramatically reduce the chance of the spores gaining ground.
Insect Bites and Stings
Just as pollen and mold problems become more common in the spring and summer, so do insect bites and stings. This allergy source may not be quite as pervasive as pollen and mold, but those allergic to insects often experience more severe reactions than they may with other allergens.
The safest way to avoid bug bites is to stay indoors, but even then, you would need to ensure that your home is properly sealed and that insects don’t sneak in through open doors and windows. When outdoors, where mosquitoes or other potentially problematic insects can reach you, wear bug repellent and/or long sleeves and pants to keep your skin covered.
Don’t let allergies keep you and your family from enjoying a well-deserved spring. Before you spend too much time attacking these allergy sources, visit a doctor to identify which allergies you are especially susceptible to. To have a dehumidifier, air purifier, or other indoor air quality products installed in your home, call Griffith Energy Services at 888-474-3391.
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