Did you know that your laundry habits might be causing your allergies? Laundry isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when people think of allergies, but it is a common culprit. If you’re not careful, your laundry can pack a potent one-two punch with dust mites and irritating chemicals. The resulting itchy skin, rashes, hives, and eczema are enough to make anyone miserable. Luckily, you don’t have to make huge changes to your routine; simply employing some new cleaning strategies will bring relief from your allergy symptoms.

Dust Mites

These tiny mites aren’t visible to the naked eye, but they are a leading cause of allergies in the home. It’s estimated that every mattress contains 100,000 to 10 million dust mites. They can also bring on asthma attacks, especially in young children and the elderly.

To get rid of these microscopic pests, bed linens should be washed in hot water. The mites can survive temperatures up to 56ºC/133ºF, and they will cling to fabrics washed in water of that temperature. Wash every sheet, blanket, and pillowcase one a week in hot water. Needless to say, the sheets need to be made from a resilient fabric that can withstand high temperatures. Cotton is a good choice.

You can also use chemicals such as benzyl benzoate to kill dust mites in your laundry. This solution is considered safe for short-term use, but nobody knows how it affects a person’s health when used for long periods of time. Extra rinse cycles can help wash away residual chemicals. If you have a skin condition, you might have better luck using benzyl benzoate on fabrics you don’t touch on a daily basis.

Skin Conditions

If you suffer from allergies, eczema, or other painful skin conditions, you should be extra careful when doing the laundry. Some detergents and fabric softeners contain chemicals that irritate sensitive skin. These should be tested on one or two pieces of laundry at first, just to see if they will cause an allergic reaction. If they do, rinse out the washing machine thoroughly with hot water and move on to the next product.

Folks with serious allergies should try detergents that don’t contain perfumes or dyes. These are frequently marketed for babies and toddlers, but they work just as well for grown-up laundry. Some people find that biological washing products, which contain enzymes, worsen their skin conditions. Enzymes are natural substances that help break down molecules, such as stains. If your skin condition worsens after using a biological washing product, either do a double rinse cycle before drying your clothes, or switch to another type of detergent.

Stain removal can be a challenge to people with skin conditions, simply because most stain removers rely on harsh chemicals. For a natural approach, try mixing up your own stain remover from vinegar, club soda, baking soda, or corn starch. The results might surprise you.

Fabric softeners are another source of skin irritation. Luckily, there are hypoallergenic alternatives. Instead of regular fabric softener, try a quarter cup of baking soda. Vinegar and Borax, also used in quarter-cup measurements, make clothes soft without worsening the symptoms of eczema. To go totally chemical-free, use laundry balls instead of a detergent or fabric softener.

Sometimes our bodies decide that they just don’t like something. When this happens, they let us know in a variety of ways. When we come into contact with an irritating substance, our bodies sometimes complain by itching, sneezing, coughing, and breaking out in rash. This lovely collection of symptoms is called ‘allergies’.

The above-mentioned symptoms aren’t the only signs of allergies. Sufferers frequently experience irritated, watery eyes and runny noses. Others, particularly children, might get dark circles under their eyes.

Think you might have allergies? If you do, you’re not alone. Over 50 million people suffer from allergies in the U.S. alone. With so many symptomatic individuals running around, it’s no surprise that a number of treatments have sprung up.

If your allergies are persistent, talk to your doctor about prescription or over-the-counter medications. They’ll be able to recommend the best drug for you. Popular anti-allergy medications include nasal sprays and antihistamines. Nasal sprays, such as Flonase and Nasonex, contain mild corticosteroids to fight inflammation. Antihistamines fight the body’s production of reactionary chemicals called histamines. Histamines cause allergy symptoms. An antihistamine, like Claritin or Benadryl, can be used in place of or in addition to nasal sprays. Some antihistamines cause drowsiness, so be sure to consult with your doctor to see which one is right for you.

Would you rather avoid drugs and treat your allergies the natural way? Natural treatments are great for mild to moderate allergies. Here are a few ways that you can cut down on your exposure to allergens each day.

First, educate yourself about allergies. If you have food allergies, make sure that you know how to read food labels and decipher their information. Improve the air quality in your home or office with a dehumidifier or air filtration system. Avoid prolonged trips outside and close doors and windows during high pollen days and in the mornings. Don’t keep pets that trigger allergies. Many allergy sufferers find it helpful to wash all their sleeping linens thoroughly each week.

Allergies tend to be hereditary. But before you blame Mom and Dad for your sniffles, take a look at the things you encounter every day that trigger your allergies. Do you have dust and mold around your house? Do you come into contact with animals that make you allergic? There are many factors that you can eliminate from your daily life to reduce your allergy symptoms. Take the necessary steps to ensure that you’ll enjoy an allergy-free existence – no matter the season!