Fungal Warfare

Do you find yourself constantly complaining about your allergies? Turns out, they might not be the cause of your runny nose. It could be that you're being bombarded by fungi in your home and on your body. Use this guide to fight back and feel better.

Where: Your carpet

Beat it: Smell that? There could be a microscopic forest in the fibers under your feet. "Fungi come in through open windows and doors, and also cling to your clothing," says Tina Reponen, Ph.D., a professor of environmental health at the University of Cincinnati. Sprinkle baking soda, a natural fungicide, over the affected area. Wait a few hours, and vacuum while wearing an N95 respirator mask ($2, homedepot.com). If the moldy area is large, consider hiring a mold abatement service certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification or replacing the carpet.

Trouble in the air: Why are a increasing number of people in the Pacific Northwest coming down with an uncommon lung infection?

Where: Your basement

Beat it: Make sure you've identified and fixed whatever's causing moisture to accumulate. You're going to stir up a lot of spores, so don an N95 respirator mask, goggles, and rubber gloves. Now use mild laundry detergent mixed with warm water to sponge-clean hard surfaces, such as cement, metal, plastic, or wood. Wipe away any residue with a clean, damp sponge. Last step: Apply a borate-water solution, such as Termite Prufe ($10, doitbest.com), to wood surfaces and let all surfaces air dry; research by the National Center for Healthy Housing shows that borate can help prevent future fungal growth.

Where: Your bathroom

Beat it: Start by following the same detergent-based cleaning regimen as for the basement. Then, after every shower, shake water off the curtain (or towel dry the stall door), and leave the exhaust fan running for at least five minutes to prevent moisture accumulation, says Reponen. If you don't have an exhaust fan, repaint the bathroom walls with a mold-resistant clear coating, such as Zinsser Perma-Guard Mold & Mildew-Proof Interior Sealer (rustoleum.com). And as long as you're cleaning up your bathroom, you might as well clean out your medicine cabinet.

The Killer in the locker room: We're not talking about jock itch.

Where: Your scalp

Beat it: One common cause of dandruff is an overgrowth of Malassezia, a fungus that feeds on body oils and dead skin cells, producing the condition's telltale itching and scaling. Lather up daily with a shampoo that contains the antifungal ketoconazole, such as Nizoral A-D, an ingredient that may reduce oily scalp buildup more than the zinc pyrithione in other dandruff products, according to Belgian researchers.

Where: Your feet and groin

Beat it: Treat the fungus that fuels athlete's foot and jock itch by rubbing on an over-the-counter cream containing terbinafine, such as Lamisil AT. Apply twice a day for athlete's foot and once daily for jock itch. At the same time, make sure you launder your underwear and socks at your machine's hot setting. The water should be at least 140°F; anything cooler and spores may survive the cycle and transfer to clean clothes, according to a new German study.

Athlete's foot: Treatment and prevention.