Anyone who suffers from allergies can tell you: they’re for real. And the allergens inside the house, like molds, house dust, dust mites, and pet dander can be just as intense as outdoor triggers like springtime pollen.

To help allergy-proof your home and reduce the symptoms of hay fever and allergic asthma, The Mayo Clinic recommends a weekly house cleaning routine that includes:

• Damp-mopping hard floors
• Removing dust from all surfaces including easy-to-forget ones like ceiling fans, windowsills, window frames, and the tops of doors

Another tip: Keep your house cooler (70⁰ F or below) and drier (relative humidity at 50% or below) to create indoor conditions less hospitable to dust mites and mold spores.

For other tips to reduce allergens, you might consider replacing moldy shower curtains, switching out horizontal blinds for more washable roller-type shades, and hiring a contractor to install a vented exhaust fan above your kitchen stove.