10 ways to reduce allergy symptoms

Because we spend more than 90 percent of our time indoors, we need to pay special attention to the quality of our indoor air since it is essential for our well-being and our health – especially where allergy sufferers are concerned. After all, your home should be somewhere you can retreat to and in the bedroom or children’s room in particular, you want nothing more than healthy clean air.
Read our 10 tips for counteracting the symptoms of pollen, house dust mite and animal hair allergies.

1. Humidify the indoor air – An optimal humidity level of 40 to 60 per cent will help alleviate suffering by preventing your mucous membranes from becoming dry.

You can measure the humidity indoors using a hygrometer. If the level of humidity indoors is below 40 per cent, you should use humidifiers.

2. Breathe through your nose – Your nose acts as a filter system and over half of the house dust you breathe in through your nose will stick to your mucous membranes if they are moist. Besides using a humidifier, if your mucous membranes get too dry you can use natural sea salt spray too. Moisturising balms and rinses can also help get our olfactory organs back into top shape.

3. Vacuum every day – Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter and delegate the task to someone who is not an allergy sufferer, as a lot of dust can be stirred up when cleaning. Otherwise, allergy sufferers should wear a face covering over their mouth and nose while vacuuming.

4. Use an air purifier – This will help to trap undesirable particles and permanently improve the air quality. An air washer will also even guarantee the right level of humidity.

5. Clean surfaces regularly – Wipe all furniture thoroughly with a damp cloth and wash textiles. It is particularly important to change bed linen frequently.

6. Remove dust collectors – Provide as few surfaces where dust can collect as possible such as carpets, fur rugs, bedspreads, heavy curtains, upholstered sofas, open shelves and soft toys.

7. Keep pets away – As much as we love our furry household companions, it’s better to keep pets off beds and upholstered furniture. Animal hair sticks, particularly to furniture upholstered with fabric.

8. Keep mattresses fresh – Air your bedroom regularly and every few months, take the mattress off the bed, vacuum it and stand it up by an open window. Ideally, you should also have your mattress professionally cleaned. Wash washable covers regularly.

9. Drink plenty – You should drink at least 1.5 litres a day, otherwise your mucous membranes can dry out and lose their protective function.

10. Avoid cigarette smoke, chlorinated water and ozone – Keep away from allergy-promoting influencing factors as much as possible.

Clean, purified air thanks to air purifier and air washer

Even if you clean your home thoroughly on a regular basis, the amount of allergens in the indoor air can often still be too high. So it is worth thinking about using an air purifier which will help to trap unwanted particles and permanently improve the air quality at home or at the office. This type of device can remove not just pollen but also fine dust, animal hair, house dust mite excreta, viruses, bacteria and even unpleasant odours from the air.

Optimum room air humidity of between 40 and 60 percent will ensure that the amount of allergens whizzing around in the air is reduced considerably. The small particles attach themselves to water droplets in the air, making them heavy so that they ultimately fall to the ground. At ground level, they are less able to damage your airways than when they are at head height. They are virtually washed away – like the pollen outside when it rains. And that’s exactly what an air washer does indoors. Being both an air purifier and humidifier at the same time makes this type of device the ideal housemate for allergy sufferers, especially during the dry winter and spring months. Optimal humidity will also help prevent your mucous membranes from drying out. If mucous membranes are kept moist, they are able to provide better protection against allergens as well as viruses and bacteria. For a home you can feel good in and where you can also breathe freely and easily.

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