Outside
When you're outdoors, pollen is likely to be your main adversary, so:

• Close your car’s windows while driving. Put your car’s internal fan or air conditioning system on recirculate, rather than drawing in new air from the outside;
• Limit your outdoor activity between 5am and 10am, as pollen levels are at their highest during that time;
• Stick to holidays in areas with low pollen counts, such as the seaside;
• Delegate raking of leaves and mowing of lawns. Stay away from freshly cut grass.

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Bedroom
Bedrooms that contain carpets, soft furnishings and drapes will harbour irritants, so:

• Keep pets out of the bedroom;
• Replace drapes, with shades or curtains that can be washed frequently;
• Don't hang sheets or clothing outside to dry, as pollens can collect on them;
• Wash linen in very hot water and use your tumble drier’s hottest setting. This will kill mites;
• Vacuum carpets regularly. With carpets in the room, less dust will be floating around;
• Tiles or floor mats are easy to wash and must be kept clean;
• Install a filter over bedroom air vents to prevent animal dander, dust, and molds from being blown in from other parts of the house through the heating or air-conditioning ducts;
• Clean, cool dry air is best while sleeping. Keep central air-conditioning running at night or use window air-conditioning units. If air-conditioning is not available, keep windows closed at night to avoid exposure to pollens;
• Replace down pillows with buckwheat or foam ones;
• Enclose pillows, mattresses, and box springs in air-tight plastic or fabric casings to limit mite activity;
• Vacuum floors and clean surfaces weekly;
• Keep books and CDs in cabinets or drawers so that they don't collect dust;
• Replace synthetic pillows every two years.

Living room
Houseplants and mold, and pets and dander are what to watch out for here, as well as dust. Keep the number of houseplants to a minimum, as they promote mold growth.

• Wipe down all surfaces each week;
• Store firewood outside and eliminate straw and jute from the home;
• Avoid touching cut flowers;
• If your home is humid, use a dehumifidier to dry the air.

Pets
Few people are willing to part with their pets, no matter how much they suffer as a result of animal dander, so:

• Install an air filter in your home;
• Keep your pet outside as much as possible;
• Keep your pet out of the bedroom;
• Brush your pet outside of the home to remove loose hair and other allergens. Better yet, ask someone else to do so. The same applies to the cat’s litter tray;
• Clean or replace bedding or carpeting that is contaminated with animal dander.

Air-conditioning systems and air quality
Standing water is a magnet to allergens, and smoke is an irritant, so:

• Air-conditioners can help control humidity, so they can limit the growth of mites and moulds, as well as eliminating spores from the air;
• Avoid fireplaces, wood-burning stoves and tobacco smoke;
• Install a dehumidifier to keep air dry and reduce mould growth.

Read more:
Keeping your home clear of dust mites
Quality of Life survey

Allergy Society of South Africa (ALLSA)

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