1. De-toxify your bedroom first.

Allergens may be found all over the house, but the bedroom is where we spend over half our lives. So that should be the first focus of your attention. Some things you can do to allergy-proof this room:

 

— Get rid of all overstuffed bedroom furniture. Cattle hair, goat hair, and burlap (which contains hemp and jute, two major irritants) are often found in the stuffing.

 

— Get rid of down covers, down pillows and anything made of wool. Anti-allergen covers are expensive and a nuisance. It's easier to make sure all bedding is synthetic.

 

— No matter how much you love them - it's best to keep pets (and their dander) out of the bedroom at all times.

2. Put rugs on walls, not floors.

Even "real" Orientals - filled with goat hair and camel hair - are fine when hung. But on the floor, where dust is "kicked up," they pose a problem.

3. Try to cough a lot in the morning.

You see, mucus settles in your bronchial tubes as you sleep. The more you can cough in the morning, the easier you'll breathe all day.

4. Watch your alcohol consumption.

Alcohol constricts the nasal passages and can make allergies even worse. In fact, many hangovers might be the result of alcohol-induced sinus blockage. If you must drink, choose grain-free liquors like potato vodka, rum (made from sugar), and tequila (from the agave plant). Skip all flavored liqueurs. If sulfite preservatives bother you, stick to red wine, which tends to have fewer preservatives than white. And there are sulfite-free wines available these days. (But keep an eye on them. They won't stay fresh for long.)

5. Wet the lawn before you mow it.

The job will be harder…but there'll be less mold and pollen flying around.

6. Allergic to newspapers?

It's not the bad news that they publish; it's the irritative solvents in the ink. Problems only occur with freshly printed papers and can be avoided simply by putting new newspapers into an oven set on very low heat for around 20 minutes or so. Or better yet: start reading your paper on line.

7. Are you sure it's pollen?

An allergy to pollen...may really be an allergy to something else. Steer manure, a popular spring lawn fertilizer, actually contains bits of cattle dander.

8. Choose brightly colored flowers for your garden.

Bright colors attract insects, which carry the heavy pollen from plant to plant. In most cases, flowers whose blossoms are easily visible and colorful are pollinated by insect and won't cause problems.

9. If your pet is allowed to roam outdoors, they may be picking up pollen.

So you may actually be allergic to the pollen they're bringing in, and not to your pet.

10. Watch out for rabbit fur in coats and jackets.

It can be full of dander.

11. Don't use attic fans in the spring.

They can suck pollen into the house.

12. As "green" as it seems

- never let sheets and clothes dry outdoors where they can pick up pollen. Always use an indoor dryer.

13. You know to keep car windows closed. But don't forget the vents as well.

14. As if you needed another reason to hate roaches.

There are allergens in their saliva and droppings. And studies have shown that exposure to cockroaches can trigger or worsen asthma. What to do: Clean under your stove, refrigerator, and toaster, where crumbs tend to gather. Don't leave dishes in the sink overnight. Keep all food sealed tight. And try to caulk all wall, window and floor cracks where roaches can enter.

15. Allergens show up in the most unlikely places.

A stuffed animal in the baby's room may contain allergens. A real Christmas tree starts to grow mold the moment it's cut and put in water. That lovely designer pillow maybe filled with camel hair.

16. Use latex paint instead of oil-based.

It has less solvents and synthetic resins, which lead to itchy eyes and headache. Keep windows open as you paint. And try to keep them open as often as possible over the next few weeks as well.

17. Watch out for spices.

Spices come from flowery plants. The spices most likely to cause trouble: coriander, poppy seeds, pepper, dill, paprika, cumin, and saffron—which, in broad strokes, mean Indian and Middle Eastern food.