City Cast Boise logo

Prepare Your Boise Home For Allergy Season

Posted on March 11, 2024   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Natalia Aldana

Natalia Aldana

Grab your buckets and mops, it’s spring cleaning time. (Peter Dazeley/Getty Images)

Grab your buckets and mops, it’s spring cleaning time. (Peter Dazeley/Getty Images)

Allergy season can make us feel like we have no control. Out of the blue, you’re suddenly sneezing, and wheezing, and your eyes are so itchy that you feel helpless to Mother Nature’s whims. While you can’t control the seasons, you can control and reduce allergens in your home.

What Are Allergens?

Allergens are the antigens that trigger your body’s immune responses to fight off the perceived threats. Allergens often come in the form of pollen, dust mites, and mold spores. They can enter your home through open windows and on the clothes you wore outside.

But never fear, Hey Boise is here with you your room-by-room guide to setting up your allergen-free home:

🛌 Bedroom

  • Wash sheets, pillowcases, and blankets at least once a week, especially if your doggie who loves to play outside cuddles with you nightly (guilty!).
  • Consider purchasing pillow and mattress covers that are hypoallergenic or dust mite-proof.
  • Vacuum rugs regularly, particularly with a machine that uses HEPA filters.

🚽 Bathroom

  • Ventilation is key for your self-care space. An exhaust fan will help reduce moisture buildup.
  • Wash shower curtains and bathroom mats often. Spray and scrub surfaces weekly.

🍽️ Kitchen

  • When was the last time you cleaned your fridge? Yeah, same. Scrub out the mold hiding in cracks and crevices, and replace moldy rubber seals around doors.
  • If possible, install an exhaust fan over your stove to remove cooking fumes.

🛋️ Living Room

  • Refresh your AC and heater filters.
  • Consider placing air purifiers throughout the house. You can find affordable purifiers at your local store — or make your own air purifier.
  • Avoid using wood-burning fireplaces as the smoke and gas can worsen respiratory allergies.

🏡 Everywhere Else

📣 What tips do you have for allergy season? Email us!

see more:public health

Share article

Hey Boise

Thank you Boise, we’ve loved the conversation we’ve been having with you for the past three years. City Cast Boise and Hey Boise have suspended operations. Our last newsletter and podcast episode was Oct. 24, 2025.

Boise Life Hacks

See All
Boise Life HacksSeptember 9, 2025

A Guide to Running for the Beginners (and the Haters)

Boise runners know what a treasure our Foothills trails and Greenbelt are, but people outside the running community might not know that w...

One of the best perks of running (and being outdoors in any way): you get to tangibly feel every stage of spring progressing! (Blake Hunter / City Cast Boise)
Boise Life HacksSeptember 8, 2025

Getting Outdoors in Boise and Beyond During Fall

When it comes to Idaho’s outdoors, Howl podcast host Heath Druzin told City Cast Boise that fall offers “...everything you can do in summ...

The view from Intermountain Bird Observatory's Lucky Mountain location, before the Valley Fire in October 2024. (Blake Hunter / City Cast Boise)
Boise Life HacksAugust 4, 2025

Help Your Lungs Endure Boise's Wildfire Smoke With a DIY Air Purifier

Air purifiers can be expensive, so here’s how you can make your own at home with a quick trip to the store for a few simple items.

With a few simple tools, you can make an air purifier to get through the worst of this smoke. (The Washington Post / Getty)
Boise Life HacksJuly 22, 2025

A Beginner’s Guide to Backpacking Near Boise (and Where to Find Cheaper Gear)

Before buying new, scope out used gear locally in stores (I like Outdoor Gear Exchange in Boise) or browse through Facebook Marketplace.

*Knock on wood* We still have mostly smoke-free skies right now, so hit the trails sooner than later! (Cavan Images / Getty)
Boise Life HacksJuly 3, 2025

Quiz: Where should you plan your next summer weekend trip?

While our 13 City Cast cities (Austin, Boise, Chicago, D.C., Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Madison, Nashville, Philly, Pittsburgh, Portland...

Which City Cast city will you visit this summer? From left to right: The skylines of Austin, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images; Jacoby Cochran/City Cast Chicago; Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Boise Life HacksJune 9, 2025

How to Prepare Your Boise Neighborhood for Wildfires

Things happen quickly during a wildfire. Collaborating with your neighbors can help everyone stay safe.

Fire burns through grass in the Boise foothills.
Boise Life HacksApril 28, 2025

What You Should Know When You're Getting a Bike

As the leaves budded out this spring, I knew it was time to get a new bike.

This is your sign to get a bike and get to experience our city differently! (Darwin Fan / Getty)
Boise Life HacksMarch 24, 2025

How to Buy From Local Boise Businesses and Spend Less With Amazon

Amazon is one of the most influential companies today, and it’s diverting critical commerce away from Idaho's economy.

Amazon is one of the most influential companies today, and it’s diverting critical commerce away from local economies. (Jean-Christophe Verhaegen / Getty)

The latest in Boise

AnnouncementsOctober 24, 2025

Goodbye from City Cast Boise and Hey Boise

City Cast Boise and Hey Boise have suspended operations.

illustration of skyline with the capitol building, trees, and hot air balloons with "we heart boise"
Boise's BestOctober 21, 2025

Essential Rules for Surviving Boise

In Boise, you need good footwear, a curiosity for breweries, and political resilience. Here are some of the essential rules for surviving...

Cheers to thriving in Boise — or getting closer to it! (Nicolas Micolani / Getty)
Local CivicsOctober 20, 2025

Meet the 2025 Boise City Council Candidates: Jimmy Hallyburton, District 6, Incumbent

Hallyburton faces perhaps the most challenging path to reelection, with former City Council member Lisa Sánchez running to unseat him, an...

Local CivicsOctober 20, 2025

Meet the 2025 Boise City Council Candidates: Lisa E. Sánchez, District 6, Challenger

Sánchez’s return to city hall would be remarkable, as her exit was marked with contention and a lawsuit. But that’s in the past: Her resu...

Local CivicsOctober 20, 2025

Meet the 2025 Boise City Council Candidates: Josh Ellstrom, District 2, Challenger

Ellstrom is a home physical therapist and political newcomer with his eye trained on political neutrality. He’s challenging West Bench in...

Local CivicsOctober 20, 2025

How Boise City Council Candidates Set Themselves Apart

Three council seats are up for election on Nov. 4. Early voting starts today, so here's what Boiseans need to know for the city council e...

Local CivicsOctober 20, 2025

Meet the 2025 Boise City Council Candidates: Colin Nash, District 2, Incumbent

Colin Nash is an incumbent but this is his first time seeking a council seat at the ballot box. In 2023, he was appointed to fill a seat...

Local CivicsOctober 20, 2025

Meet the 2025 Boise City Council Candidates: Jordan Morales, District 4, Incumbent

Morales is unchallenged in his bid for a second term representing District 4 and East Boise. Luckily, he was still kind enough to fill ou...