Well, yesterday, I had written a very nice, long post about wintertime allergies, but alas, technology was not kind to me at all yesterday. So here is take two.

_Over the last couple of weeks, it has become increasingly apparent that the calendar has clearly forgotten to tell the weather that winter doesn’t officially start for a couple more weeks. With all but six states in the U.S. having snow on the ground, it is a safe bet that there are a lot more people spending time indoors. During this time of year, it is actually common for people to experience worse allergy and asthma symptoms. Though most offending plants are dead or nearly dead, mold spore counts can be high from decaying fall foliage, cold weather-induced asthma ramps up, and lower humidity inside your home can mean more dust. Because most modern homes are very tightly sealed, indoor pollutants and allergens build, so for some, the more time you spend indoors, the worse your allergies seem to get. Keeping all of this in mind, here are some top-to-bottom winter allergy tips to get your home allergy ready for winter.

• • Furnace Filters – Starting in most people’s basements, the Furnace/HVAC filter is often the first line of defense against dust and other indoor allergens. Ductwork can be a hotbed for dust, pollen, and microbes, and firing up the furnace for the first time can flush all of this out into the air you breathe. Traditional furnace filters should be changed at least every three months. Generally, by this point, they’ve filtered all they can really hold and are likely seriously impeding airflow. If you have a permanent or semi-permanent filter, like a Permatron, now is a good time to rinse/wash it. Either way, cleaning or replacing your furnace filter is a good first step in reducing indoor allergens. Make sure as well to perform regular furnace repair or heating replacement with the help of a professional hvac contractor.

• • Laundry – Do you use any sort of anti-allergen detergents or laundry additives? It is a good idea to stock up. Things like wearing layers, having family visit/stay with you, and unpacking winter clothes or winter bedding can all contribute to a lot more laundry. And for those things that may have been in storage, like your winter comforter or favorite ‘ugly sweater,’ Washing them before your first use is always a good way to get rid of any dust or odor they may have picked up.

• • Fireplace or Burning Wood – Though I’m not sure how many people still grow up like I did, primarily heating your home with wood, wood burners, and fireplaces can quickly foul up the air in a house. From not properly managing the draft and flue to simply needing to have the chimney cleaned, there can be a variety of causes of this. A mask with carbon and air purifiers can help with some of this, particularly when you’re starting or stoking a fire.

• • Replacing Air Purifier Filters – The times when you need to replace your air purifier filters will vary. Some filters last years, like an Austin Air filter, while others may only last you a couple of months, like a 3M Filtrete filter. For air purifiers to keep your indoor air clean, overlooking filter replacement can present a serious roadblock. Check your user’s manual, or if it’s a model you’ve purchased from us, check out the site to see when you need to replace the filter. Keeping your HEPA filter current can really help in reducing allergens in your bedroom and throughout your home.

• • Pets – As you spend more time indoors, so do your pets. This can mean more hair, more dander, and more sneezing! Regular baths with an anti-allergen pet shampoo can help, but bathing too frequently can cause more problems. Humidity levels are generally lower during the winter, so more frequent baths can strip away the oils that your pet produces to keep its skin and fur healthy, as well as lead to things like doggie dandruff and a lot of itching and scratching. In between baths, things like pet wipes can really make a difference and are a quick and handy way to cleanse away loose pet hair and dander from your pet’s winter coat. And don’t forget to brush! Winter coats are often thicker, and this can mean more pet hair floating around your home.

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• • Bedding – Many of us put our winter clothing and bedding away when spring rolls around, and when you dig it out for winter, it can sometimes be dusty, have an odor, or best of all, have critters! For bedding and clothing that’s been stored away, washing it with anti-allergen laundry detergent before you use it can be very helpful. Comforters and blankets, in particular, can be hotbeds for dust mites, so once through the washer and dryer (with hot water and at high heat, respectively) can go a long way in keeping allergens out of your bed. Additionally, if you’re like me and enjoy having a foot warmer during winter (also known as my dog), an extra dust mite mattress or duvet cover simply thrown over your bedding can block the dander and the pet hair that your furry friends often carries.

• • Vacuum – If you have a replaceable HEPA filter when was the last time you checked it? Generally, about one year is all the use you get from a vacuum HEPA filter, and often if you are noticing odor when you are vacuuming, it can be because you need to replace the filter or the dust bag. Replacing these components at regular intervals can not only keep the surfaces and the air in your home cleaner (provided you have a sealed system and certified HEPA vacuum) but also reduce strain on the motor and keep this handy home appliance performing at its best.

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Now, there are more things you can do to reduce wintertime allergens, like using a home humidifier to keep the relative humidity comfortable (also helps to keep airborne dust levels down), but these are a good place to start. If you want to sum this up, wintertime is basically a really good time to check up on and maintain the things in your home that reduce indoor allergens. By keeping them in good working order, they can each do their job effectively and help to make your time indoors easier. We hope we helped you learn how to get rid of winter allergies!