How to Reduce Fall Allergies for Easy Breathing

While spring allergies get all the acclaim, those with chronic sniffles and red eyes know that fall is no respite for the allergen-averse. In fact, not only can fall allergies be all but debilitating, but they are also getting worse. 

So, what are fall allergy sufferers to do?

Instead of succumbing to a season of sneezes, there are practical and simple steps to reduce fall allergies in your home. You might not be able to snuff out every sniffle, but by protecting your home from common fall allergies, you can start to breathe easy once again.

What Are the Sources of Fall Allergies?

Trees typically cause seasonal spring allergies. Ash, birch, elm, and oak may grow mighty but their pollen makes us mighty sneezy.

Fall, on the other hand, is a season of weed and mold. Ragweed, for instance, is perhaps the number one culprit behind fall allergies. But despite ragweed’s notoriety, we shouldn’t dismiss autumn’s other sneeze-inducing weeds:

• Burning bush
• Cocklebur
• Mugwort
• Russian thistle
• Sagebrush
• Tumbleweed

These weeds are most active as summer dies down and before winter revs up. The specific dates may change depending on where you live, but these fall allergens tend to have their largest effect between late August and mid-November.

Mold and mildew may exist slightly outside the fall allergen matrix, but their autumnal presence is also a key factor in seasonal allergies. Summer’s humidity gives mold and mildew earlier start dates, but as temperatures cool, they’ll continue thriving well into October.

Finally, some allergens may not be directly related to the season, but remain ever present during fall. Dust mites, pet dander, and cockroaches don’t cease in the fall; each can trigger an allergy attack. Similarly, volatile organic compounds from scented candles, perfumes, potpourri, and new furniture can also lead to an allergic reaction.

Where Are Fall Allergies the Worst?

We’ll walk through some ways to reduce fall allergens in your home in just a bit, but if your allergies are bad enough, you may ask whether it’s better to just find a new home in a new place far, far from ragweed.

Well, here’s the bad news: every state in the U.S., except for Alaska, has ragweed. So, unless you’re willing to trade fall allergies for extended periods of sunlessness, it’s better to mount your stand against autumnal allergies in your current residence.

That said, there are some places where seasonal allergies are especially pronounced. If you’re considering abandoning your home to escape fall allergies, avoid these cities:

• Wichita, Kansas
• Virginia Beach, Virginia
• Greenville, South Carolina
• Dallas, Texas
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Richmond, Virginia
• Des Moines, Iowa
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• Fayetteville, Arkansas

Conversely, cities in the southwest, west, and Great Lakes regions tend to offer the most relief:

• Akron, Ohio
• Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Madison, Wisconsin
• San Jose, California
• Cleveland, Ohio
• Phoenix, Arizona
• Sacramento, California
• Stockton, California
• Tucson, Arizona
• Bakersfield, California

(A couple of notes about the study we’re citing: First, it only looks at the 100 most populated cities in the United States. Second, it’s looking at all seasonal allergies, including pollen-related spring allergies.)

With the understanding that fall allergies are forever chasing us wherever we live, let’s take a look at ways to reduce fall allergies in our current abode. 

Improve The Air Quality Inside Your Home

Indoor air quality is essentially the measure of how clean the air we breathe inside our home is. Controlling the source of common indoor pollutants, which include allergens, is often the most effective way to improve indoor air quality. 

An example: mold and mildew thrive in damp, humid environments. Finding ways to reduce the excess moisture in the air can help prevent spores from establishing a foothold in your home. Using a dehumidifier will be easier and less costly than needing help from a mold remediation expert once the issue becomes all-encompassing. 

Improving the ventilation in your home can also help improve indoor air quality. However, there can be some risks here.

First, increasing ventilation through new or repaired ductwork can be expensive. Second, improving natural ventilation — such as by opening a window — allows outdoor allergens (like ragweed) to easily enter your home.

The final option here is to install an air purifier or filtration system. You can purchase small models to help out in a particular room or install them within your central air and heat system. That means you can start with less expensive options before moving on to larger, more costly systems.

Clean Your Home Often (And Strategically)

No one likes being told to clean more, but when it comes to fall allergies, that can often be the best strategy. With more regular cleaning, you can decrease how many allergens build up inside your home. That, in turn, hopefully reduces your reaction when exposed to these pesky fall allergies.

There’s definitely room to be strategic here. Vacuuming and dusting near entryways, where outdoor allergens are likely to enter, may be more effective than doing those tasks in a more centrally located room.

Additionally, washing your bed sheets more often can help reduce the accumulation of allergens in an area where you do a good portion of your breathing. Along the same lines, hopping in the shower and then washing your clothes after you come inside can reduce the amount of ragweed getting tracked inside your home.

Sanitize Surfaces Regularly

The cleaning described in the previous section will predominantly help with the issue of outdoor allergens breaching your home’s perimeter to nestle safely inside your living space. But what if the allergen is coming from inside your home?

In the case of mold and mildew, vacuuming won’t be as helpful as sanitizing and disinfecting. While you can control the moisture levels in your home, there will always be areas where moisture is harder to control. For instance, bathrooms and kitchens are rarely bone dry.

In these situations, use Wet & Forget Indoor. Wet & Forget Indoor inhibits the growth of mold and mildew. While not necessarily related to allergies, the spray will also kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses on hard, non-porous surfaces.*

Wet & Forget Indoor contains no bleach or irritating fumes. It’s safe to use on a wide range of indoor surfaces:

• Appliances and fixtures
• Bathtubs, sinks, and showers
• Cabinets, countertops, and tables
• Doors and handles
• Fabric and upholstery
• Garbage cans
• Gym bags and hampers
• Pet bedding
• Toys

To disinfect and inhibit mold and mildew, apply Wet & Forget Indoor undiluted to a hard, non-porous surface. The surface should remain visibly wet for 10 minutes. Then wipe dry or leave to air dry.

Repeat every seven days to prevent further mold and mildew growth. You can repeat more often if you spot new growth.

To sanitize soft surfaces, hold the bottle six to eight inches from the surface and spray until the fabric is wet. The fabric should remain visibly wet for five minutes, then allow it to air dry.

*As a disinfectant, Wet & Forget® Indoor Mold+ Mildew Disinfectant Cleaner kills: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, Serratia marcescens, *Human Coronavirus,*lnfluenza Virus Type A/ Hong Kong, *SARS Associated Coronavirus cause of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, *SARS-Related Coronavirus 2 SARS-CoV-2 cause of COVID-19, *Vaccinia (Pox Virus), *Norwalk Virus (Norovirus), *Rotavirus.”

Speak With Your Doctor

We should be clear that none of the above constitutes any level of medical advice — much to the disappointment of our mothers. If your seasonal fall allergies make it difficult for you to work or get through your day, speak to your doctor. They are best equipped to determine what you’re allergic to and how to alleviate your symptoms.

Snuff Out the Sniffles and Reduce Allergies This Fall

Fall allergies are a treat for no one. So, if you’re suffering through red-eyed days and sneezy nights, take steps to reduce the presence of allergens in your home.