13 Ways to Survive the Spring Allergy Season

Today we're stepping away from the topic of food allergies. I don't know about you, but I'm starting to feel the pollen in the air. That means four months of tissues, eye drops, and having to pop my ears every time I go up stairs. Here are 15 ways to reduce the suffering.

1. Shower at night. Showering in the morning is good for smelling fresh, but throughout the day your body collects the pollen and other allergens in your environment. You then spend eight hours laying in the allergens! Make a point of at least rinsing off every night so that your sheets stay clean longer. Bonus: while you're in the shower, exfoliate. The more dead skin you get off in the shower, the less there will be around the house to feed the dust mites.
2. Change your clothes. Even if you're outside gardening or going for a walk, the pollen in the air will stick to your sweaty clothes. As soon as you get inside, change into clean clothes. Also, if you wear the same pajamas multiple nights, don't put them in the laundry basket or on the floor. This may seem obvious, but you need to put them away if you don't want them contaminated with pollen and dust mites.
3. Stay fragrance-free. A lot of people have minor reactions when there are too many chemicals, fragrances, and other irritants around them. You spend about a third of your day in your bedroom, so try to keep your bedroom a no-smell zone. Go somewhere else to spray perfume - your sinuses will thank you.
4. No more pets. I know you love Fluffy, but animal dander is one of the top environmental allergens and people who know they're allergic still choose to have pets! Some breeds, like poodles, are considered hypoallergenic, because they don't shed. But, the protein in the dander that causes allergic reactions is also in saliva and urine. Even if you aren't allergic to animals, their fur carries pollen and other allergens. Once you're dog and cat free, try a low-allergen pet, like a turtle. Until then, bathe your pets regularly and try to keep them away from your bed.
5. Freeze the stuffed animals. Even if you encase your pillows and mattress, you can't encase stuffed animals (and good luck trying to pry them away from your kids). Stuffed animals don't get washed as much as they should be, and they are the perfect environment for dust mites. Unfortunately, the only really good way to kill the dust mites is to freeze the stuffed animals. Then, you can wash the stuffed animals (and pillows) in hot water to remove the residual. Dry with a couple tennis balls to keep them fluffy.
6. Disinfect the hard toys. This isn't really allergy-related, but there's no point in eliminating allergens when there are germs everywhere! Mix water and tea tree oil then let the toys soak for a while. Please, just do it.
7. Replace upholstered furniture. Plastic, wood, vinyl, and even leather are less likely to host dust mites. Even just switching a few pieces of furniture (like your cushioned office chair) will help.
8. Get baking soda in bulk. Mix a few drops of essential oil with baking soda and sprinkle on your mattress, couch, and even carpet (then vacuum it up) to help get rid of dust mites and keep the house smelling fresh.
9. Close your windows. It's tempting to open all the windows to air out the house, but pollen season is not the time to do that. Instead, get an air purifier or blast the A/C for a day or two. Drying out the air will make the house feel fresher (and kill dust mites). Also, be sure to put filters in your vents.
10. Use snore strips. Even if you don't snore, snore strips will help you breathe at night so that you aren't as stuffy when you wake up. This is really helpful for people who report their allergies are worse in the mornings.
11. Clean your ears. Livestrong suggests putting a few drops of baby oil in each ear, letting it sit for a few minutes, and gently using a cotton ball to clean out the ear. This helps by breaking down blockages (like earwax - ew!) to get rid of the pressure or fullness. Bonus: check out this salt sock for ear infections.
12. Switch up your garden. If pollen is a problem in your yard, replace your flowers with low-pollen options. These include roses, chrysanthemums, tulips, cacti, hydrangeas, and hostas. Ficus and pine trees are also good for allergy-sufferers, but you need a large yard (invasive roots and a large size).
13. Clean the "forgotten spaces" in your house. How often do you vacuum the inside of your closet, wipe down the bottoms of drawers, and dust the shelves in your pantry? So many small spaces get forgotten when you clean, but the details are important when it comes to allergens.

Find more tips for environmental allergies on Pinterest.