Tips for allergy sufferers to suffer no more

For allergy sufferers, it all comes down to improving air quality and cutting down on dust and dust mites, pet dander, mold, mildew and pollen. Whether you’re cleaning in spring – or any season – Dr. Clifford Bassett, an allergist in Manhattan, says these chores should be on your top 10 list:

1. Clean air conditioners, change filters.

2. Clean exhaust filters in fans.

3. Use a vacuum with a HEPA-filter so allergens are not spewed back into the air. Otherwise, use a multilayer vacuum bag filter.

4. Store sweaters and woolens in airtight plastic bags to prevent buildup of mold and dust mites. Don’t use camphor mothballs, which irritate nasal and sinus passages.

5. Launder pet bedding.

6. Place stuffed animals in a plastic bag and keep them in the freezer for four or five hours a week to reduce dust mites and other allergens.

7. Look for mildew on shower curtains. Clean with a diluted bleach solution, making sure the room is well ventilated.