(1 of 6) Allergy-Proof Your HomeIf you’re sneezing and have itchy, watery eyes this season, the cause might be right under your congested or runny nose. Outdoor pollens and plants cause plenty of allergies. But allergy triggers lurk all around your home too—from dander-covered Fido to the dust collecting on your coffee table and microscopic mites setting up shop in your mattress. So don’t suffer in silence. Take these smart steps to sneeze-proof and itch-proof your environment. —Rachel Grumman Minimize Mites Place dust-mite-proof covers on your pillows, mattress, and box spring to keep those critters out. Also, wash sheets, blankets, and pillows in hot 130-degree water and dry them on high, suggests the American Academy for Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). “It takes heat to kill dust mites,” says Eugene S. Hurwitz, M.D., an allergist at the Center for Allergy and Asthma of West Georgia in Atlanta.
