Spring Into Healthy Habits: How To Reduce Allergens

Mother and son cooking dinner together

Spring cleaning is an opportunity for a clean slate – ridding your home of junk and making more space for you and your family. But this time of year, indoor and outdoor allergens lurk around every corner. What can you do to reduce allergens such as those from pet dander, pollen and dust? Follow our simple steps below.

1. Play(date) the Field

Do you have children with allergies? To get symptom relief during allergy season, choose Children’s Claritin®. Children’s Claritin offers non-drowsy relief from sneezing, runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes through a variety of kid-friendly forms and flavors. Also, consider scheduling a play date at a friend’s house on cleaning day to keep your children away from harsh cleaning chemicals and the dust, pet dander and pollen that’ll be stirred up while you clean. 

2. Wipe On, Wipe Off

Once the kids are gone, and before you tackle that messy closet, start your cleaning by wiping down surfaces with a disinfectant such as Lysol® Lemon & Lime Wipes. Disinfecting surfaces can reduce the spread of 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, while also ridding them of fingerprints and unsightly smudges. Once they’re disinfected, you can start cleaning with deep cleaners around your home.

3. Burn Candles, Not Bridges

After hours of hard elbow grease, you may find the harsh chemical scents lingering in your household. The solution? Shopping for “green” cleaners with light, natural scents such as Simple Truth Organic™ All Purpose Cleaner. If the scents are overwhelming to you, try making your own cleaner with vinegar, baking soda and fresh lemon juice. Then, freshen your home with soy-based or beeswax-based candles or organic air fresheners.

4. Send Symptoms Packing

Make sure to protect yourself by taking proper measures to alleviate symptoms before, during and after cleaning – you might even want to wear a face mask to help keep dust and mold out of your nose and mouth. If you find yourself congested due to allergies, turn to Afrin®, the #1 doctor recommended decongestant nasal spray for nasal congestion that lasts up to 12 hours. Have eye discomfort or redness? Try Kroger Brand Eye Drops for relief at a value-based price.