• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
sand and snow logo 2023

Sand and Snow

Travel | Food | Beauty | Disney

  • About Sand and Snow
  • Travel
  • Food & Drinks
  • Disney
  • Talk & Tech
  • Beauty
  • Privacy

Allergy Season Begins August 15 – Here are 8 Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home

August 11, 2023 by Karyn Locke

1 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Sadly, fall allergy season officially kicks off on August 15th. With it brings sneezing, sniffling, coughing, wheezing, and a trip to the store to stock up on supplies. But there is a way to cut down on your allergy flare ups, especially in the home. Here are 8 pesky hidden allergens in the home and how to combat them.

Here are 8 Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home - sneezing

8 Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home

Page Contents

Toggle
  • 8 Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home
  • Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home – Toys
  • Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home – Ceiling Fans
  • Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home – Carpets
  • Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home – Furnace Ducts and Filters
  • Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home – Mattresses
  • Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home – Wood Fireplaces
  • Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home – Roaches
  • Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home – Laundry

For my family, two out of the three of us at home suffer from seasonal and common allergies. Thanks to doing plenty of online research, I’ve learned about the most common places allergens can hide and how to get rid of them before the severeness kicks in.

Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home – Toys

Here are 8 Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home - stuffed animals

There’s nothing like a fluffy, squishy toy to grab and cuddle, especially when you’re a child. Strike that, it’s fun no matter how old you are. When it comes to allergens in the home, however, plushies are one of the top places to find them. They’re a magnet for dust, dust mites, and everything else that floats in the air and lands on them. To combat this, wash toys that are constant companions weekly and those that sit on a shelf monthly by hand or in a washing machine.

To make sure all goes well with the washing process, if you’re not sure how to wash stuffed animals or what type of cycle to run them on because the tag is missing, always use the delicate or hand wash to be safe.

Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home – Ceiling Fans

Here are 8 Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home - ceiling fan

Many of us love the aesthetic of adding ceiling fans into our home but never use them. If that’s how you do it (I’m guilty as well), dust can collect on the blades and lighting fixture. When you so decide to turn. them on, all of that dust goes flying into the air.

Play it safe by cleaning ceiling fans every month or two. Additionally, when it’s time to switch blades directions in spring and fall, clean them as well. You can use a Swiffer with extendable pole, a dampened Magic Eraser, or a microfiber cloth soaked in dish soap.

Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home – Carpets

Here are 8 Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home - carpet

Depending on where you live (I’m in the Pittsburgh area), carpets can be in the center of your room or wall-to-wall. Sadly, carpets are a haven for dust, dust mites, pet dander, and pollen making them difficult to care for if you suffer from allergies.

To keep your carpet allergens at a minimum, make sure your vacuuming weekly and use a vacuum with a HEPA air filter. Additionally, to keep your carpets smelling fresh, consider steam cleaning them a few times a year. And if you must have floor coverings and suffer from allergens, washable floor rugs are your best bet.

Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home – Furnace Ducts and Filters

Each time your furnace kicks on in the fall and winter, you’re circulating the air in your home – and whatever is in your furnace filters and duct work. To keep the dust and mites at bay, replacing and cleaning your furnace’s air filters is a must. Check your filter once a month and if it looks grey with dust, replace it. It’s recommended that furnace filters be replaced every three months, at minimum.

As for the duct work, a good cleaning every three to five years from a licensed company should do the trick. The company will be able to tell you the shape of your duct work as well to let you know that you’re good to go.

Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home – Mattresses

Here are 8 Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home - mattress

True fact: soft surfaces have more allergens than hard ones as there are more places for dust to hide. The same goes for your mattress. Dust mites can weasel their way into teeny places and, if you’re allergic, can wreak havoc on your upper respiratory system. The best type of mattress for allergy sufferers is a latex one, for reference.

To avoid the sniffles and sneezes in bed, wash your bedding weekly (I love a fresh set of sheets!), use an allergen-proof mattress cover, and vacuum your mattress every month.

Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home – Wood Fireplaces

Here are 8 Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home - wood fireplace

When it’s fireplace season in my house, add a few logs, light the fire, and I’m asleep before it even gets roaring. Many northern homes have wood fireplaces to assist with the heating bills, but they do cause an allergen kick up. There are people allergic to wood smoke, but if you have a mold allergy and there’s mold on your fireplace logs and you light them – instant allergies. Also, if the wood sits outside it can collect pollen – another big allergy trigger.

To keep your allergies at a minimum, use only dry cordwood in your fireplace. You’ll want to make sure the wood has been seasoned and kep dry for at least a year, too.

Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home – Roaches

Here are 8 Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home - roaches

No one likes, or wants, roaches in their home. But, they can exist even in the cleanest of dwellings. Shedding body parts, saliva, and fecal matter can all trigger an allergen response.

To keep the foul creatures at bay, keep the humidity level of your house low, keep your home clean, and target the spots where they tend to gather.

Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home – Laundry

Here are 8 Pesky Hidden Allergens in the Home - laundry

Unless properly laundered, things like pet dander and pollen can remain on clothes, even when washed and dried. Additionally, you may even be allergic to the laundry detergent itself (my husband is and we had to switch several times until I found one he can tolerate.)

There is a way to remove both, though: use an anti-allergen laundry detergent. Keep to the directions on the package and use with hot or cold water. And if you’re washing delicate clothing, give them a hand wash instead.

Filed Under: Talk Tagged With: hidden allergens in the home

Primary Sidebar

Thanks for popping by the site! Sand and Snow is dedicated to provided travel tips, fun recipes, reviews, and plenty of theme park planning tools. Email klocke@sandandorsnow.com with questions and comments.

Connect with Us

  • Amazon
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Disney Park Planning

things you can only do on a disney cruise - Disney Treasure Arrival

Magical Experiences You Can Only Do on a Disney Cruise

February 5, 2025 By Karyn Locke

Request a Disney World Room or Resort Area - Exterior of Disney's Polynesian Village Resort

How to Request a Disney World Room or Resort Area: Easy Tips and Tricks to Get the Ideal View

November 25, 2024 By Karyn Locke

Things We Wish Disney World Never Got Rid of - Wishes fireworks

12 Things We Wish Disney World Never Got Rid of — and One We’re Happy They Did

October 15, 2024 By Karyn Locke

Looking for places to get alcohol in Walt Disney World - Oga's Cantina

A Guide to Liquor in the Most Magical Place on Earth: Places to Get Alcohol in Walt Disney World

October 6, 2024 By Karyn Locke

Footer

About Our Affiliate Links

Sand and Snow uses affiliate links in its posts and articles and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Program that provides earned advertising fees at no additional cost to the reader.

Recent

  • 5 Great Side Hustles for Travelers
  • 3 Easy Tips to Make Your Vacation Less Stressful & More Enjoyable
  • 6 Big Benefits of Buying a Newly Built Home
  • How Gaming Can Help You in the Workplace: 8 Ways
  • How to Take Your Time as a Culinary Tourist

Search

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We Value your Privacy
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT