Sleeping well at night not only guarantees a better morning but better overall health as well. Unfortunately for the 50 million allergy sufferers in the United States, symptoms like nasal congestion, itchy eyes and postnasal drip can all make getting good rest extremely difficult.
One of the ways to help combat allergies from affecting your sleep is to make sure your bedroom is an allergen-free zone. Let’s look at a few ways you can allergy-proof your bedroom for a better night’s sleep.
Common Bedroom Allergens
Many indoor allergens can lurk in your bedroom and aggravate your symptoms, including:
- Dust mites
- Mold
- Pet dander
- Certain chemicals
- Cockroaches
Additionally, if you keep your bedroom windows open, outdoor allergens like pollen can get into the room and worsen your symptoms.
Ways To Rid Your Bedroom of Allergens
The best way to prevent allergy symptoms is to avoid or minimize exposure to your triggers. Try the following tips to reduce allergens in your bedroom:
- Wash your bedding. Regularly wash your sheets and other bedding in hot water and dry them in hot heat to help remove allergens. Use hyper-allergenic bedding as well.
- Consider your flooring. If possible, choose hard-surface flooring as opposed to rugs or carpeting, as dust mites and other allergens cling to carpeting. If you can’t avoid carpeting, make sure to vacuum your bedroom regularly, preferably with a vacuum that uses a HEPA filter.
- Avoid drapes. Similarly, drapes and upholstered furniture are two additional soft surfaces where allergens can thrive. Again, if these cannot be avoided, clean them regularly to help minimize allergens.
- Keep your windows closed. Though you might appreciate the fresh air, open windows bring in outdoor allergens that can make it harder to breathe and, therefore, harder to sleep at night.
- Use an air purifier. Having an air purifier in the bedroom can help remove allergens along with other irritating particulates and help you breathe easier as you rest at night.
- Take a shower before going to bed. This can help wash off any pollen or other allergens that have gotten onto your hair or the rest of your body, especially if you are spending time outside somewhere like Audubon Swamp Garden.
- Bathe your pets as well. Bathing your pets weekly can help control their allergy-causing pet dander. It’s also a good idea not to allow them into your bedroom if they trigger allergy symptoms.
- Get a dehumidifier. High humidity creates a breeding ground for mold and dust mites. A dehumidifier can bring levels down and make it harder for them to survive.
To learn more about allergy-proofing your bedroom or to make an appointment with one of our expert allergists, call Charleston ENT & Allergy today.