You could blame weeds , trees , and grasses if you start itching , sneezing , coughing , and wheezing this fall . But the usual suspects are n't the only triggers . A host of household items -- candles , chemicals , stuffed animals , and spices -- may be the real culprits . From blue jeans buttons to limes to teddybears , allergy triggers come in many ways , shapes and forms . `` Many homes are filled with irritants , and if there 's a high enough count of an irritant , you 'll react , '' says Christopher Randolph , M.D. , an allergy expert and professor of pediatric immunology at Yale University . Here , a rundown of 11 sneaky suspects -- and how to stop them from bothering you . Candles . You ca n't be allergic to essential oils -- which make candles smell like autumn leaves or dune grass -- but their odors can inflame your nasal cavities , according to James Wedner , M.D. , chief of allergy and immunology at the Washington University School of Medicine . `` People with nasal allergies have a natural increased sensitivity , so they 're likely to get a runny nose or watery eyes around candles , '' he says . `` To the person with the sensitive nose , it 's no different than cigarette smoke . '' What to do : If you 're very sensitive , avoid candles altogether . But if you love the smell and want to use them at home , buy candles that have few ingredients and feature just one scent , such as pumpkin . By a process of elimination you may be able to pinpoint which scent or ingredient bothers you . ( Smoke from candles can also be an irritant , though that usually comes from snuffing it out ; open a window or blow out the flame outside . ) If you have a bad reaction to a scented candle , getting some fresh air should make you feel better . Perfume . Fragrances can contain hundreds of chemicals that are mostly untested on humans , Wedner says . When those chemicals bond with the essential oils in perfumes and are then sprayed into the air , sensitive people may take offense . Sneezing , congestion , and headaches can be the result . What to do : Kindly ask your colleagues to go easy on their favorite fragrances , and bring a portable fan to keep your area as scent-free as possible . If the thought of not wearing a fragrance leaves you blue , stick with body creams and moisturizers that have light scents . These are less likely to irritate you . Soaps and detergents . You think it 's the chemicals in cleaning products that make you itch ? Surprise : `` The majority of skin sensitivities are caused not by the cleaning agent but by a perfume additive , '' Wedner says . `` And nearly every soap now has some sort of plant in it to make it fancy -- roses , elderberries , etc . The skin can respond with irritation , and give you a rash . '' Read more on how to identify a rash . What to do : Buy organic or specially marked soaps ; look for `` no additives , '' `` nonscented , '' or `` phthalate-free '' on the label . Phthalates are chemicals that help improve texture , but they 've been linked to allergic reactions ; products that contain them may have `` diethylphthalate '' or something similar on the label . Dove , Tide , and Ivory all offer low-irritant products , as do many organic brands . If fabric softener seems to be giving your skin fits , try using a sheet of aluminum foil in your dryer instead ; this trick will get rid of static cling . Or use a scent-free , no-additive version , like Seventh Generation Free & Clear Natural Fabric Softener . If you 're in a public laundromat , wash and dry towels first , which will soak up the residue left behind by previous users . Then be sure to use that same washer and dryer to clean and dry your clothes . Stuffed animals . Dust mites living in mattresses and pillows are a huge allergy trigger . Roughly 15 percent of the population is allergic to these microscopic bugs . Encasing mattresses and pillows with impen­etrable covers and cases is a useful step , but it 's not enough . The mites also love kids ' favorite furry toys . What to do : Wash , dry , then repeat ... and use very hot water . `` Toys should be washed at 140 degrees , which will ensure that the mites are killed , '' Randolph says . After they 're clean store them on a shelf , not on the bed . What to do with the nonwashable toys ? Every two to three weeks put them in a plastic bag in the freezer for a couple of hours , which will also kill the mites . Carpeting . You may love the feel of carpeting under your feet , but mites find it just as attractive . `` Even if you vacuum constantly , you 've still got mites , '' Wedner warns . What to do : Remove wall-to-wall carpeting -- who does n't like a beautiful wood floor ? -- and use small rugs that can be washed in hot water monthly . `` And keep the humidity below 50 percent '' with your central air system or a dehumidifier , Randolph says . `` Dust mites thrive in humidity . '' Read more on how to allergy-proof your house . Spices . They add nuance and zing to a variety of dishes , but there 's no getting around spices ' origin : pungent plants . For some people , eating the spices made from these plants leads to a just little sniffling . For others , it may cause itching , swelling , and even burning of the lips . What to do : Avoid the spices more likely to cause trouble : coriander , poppy seeds , pepper , dill , paprika , cumin , and saffron -- which , in broad strokes , means Indian and Middle Eastern food . If you 're not sure which spices bother you , record what you 've been exposed to each time you have symptoms and look for the common denominator . Need help planning an allergen-free Halloween ? Read on for some tips . Christmas trees . A word to the wise before the holidays : Mold grows fast on Christmas trees . `` When you put that tree in a bucket of water , invisible mold grows almost immediately , '' Wedner says . `` Most people are allergic to or irritated by mold spores . '' What to do : Try a fake tree . Ca n't live without a real one ? Ask when it was cut down before you buy it ; trees that were cut weeks in advance are already ripe with mold . Then , starve it of water and keep it for as short a period as possible . Mold grows on houseplants , too , so keep them on the dry side . Wall paint . The solvents and synthetic resins used in paint often lead to itchy eyes and headaches . Oil-based paints are a particular problem because they can continue releasing chemicals even after they dry . What to do : Keep windows open as often as possible and allow fresh air to circulate for four weeks after painting , no matter what kind of paint you use . `` Once it has dried -- and I mean really dried , weeks later -- the odor goes away , and you wo n't have a problem , '' Wedner says . If possible , use latex paint , which emits less gas than oil-based kinds due to its water base . By the way , there is n't any real latex in latex paint , so if you 're allergic to latex gloves the same wo n't apply to the paint . What about paint with low levels of VOCs ( volatile organic compounds ) ? They spew fewer chemicals into the air and are less smelly than regular paints . But that does n't mean they wo n't bother you . To find these paints , look for the `` Green Seal '' certification mark on the label . Alcohol . An actual allergy to alcohol is quite rare , but being allergic to the grains and additives used in liquor is not : wheat or the preservative sulfur dioxide could cause a rash or a stuffy nose . New York City allergist Wellington Tichenor , MD , founder of the information site Sinuses.com , also blames grains like corn , bar­ley , and rye , as well as fruit flavorings . Wine and beer may create problems , too . What to do : Stick with grain-free liquors like potato vodka , rum ( made from sugar ) , and tequila ( the agave plant ) . Skip all flavored liquers . And if sulfite preservatives in wine bother you , red wine tends to have fewer preservatives than white . Also , look for wine labeled `` sulfite-free '' ( it wo n't stay fresh for long ) . And remember that anything with carbonation ( like a wine cooler ) increases the likelihood of an allergic reaction , Tichenor adds . Blue jeans buttons . The buttons on your jeans are probably made with the metal nickel -- a rash trigger for up to 20 percent of women . A nickel rash near your waistline is usually itchy , red , and sometimes blistery . What to do : Take your pants to a tailor and have her replace the nickel buttons with plastic ones ( another metal might also cause irritation ) . A second option : Coat the button with clear nail polish , a remedy found to be effective in a recent St. Louis University study . Just be aware that nail polish itself may lead to a rash if you 're sensitive to it . Lemons and limes . Limonene , a zesty compound in lime and other citrus fruits , gives many people watery eyes and a burning sensation in the nose , Wedner says . It might even irritate your skin , whether you touch it or eat or drink products containing limonene . What to do : If you get a rash , treat it with topical hydrocortisone creams used for bug bites and poison ivy . Skip the lemon or lime wedge with your drink or salad , and look out for lime in salad dressings , desserts , and marinades ( it 's used in numerous dishes ) . Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright Health Magazine 2009 .
Household items such as candles , wall paint , carpet may cause allergy symptoms . Dust mites live in bedding and stuffed animals , irritating 15 percent of Americans . Mold can grow on Christmas trees , household plants causing allergic reaction .