Welcome Mat

• It sounds simple, but consider putting out a welcome mat to prevent irritants from entering your house. Dust and sand as well as other potential allergen-carriers such as pollen, mold, dust mites, pesticides and wood smoke residue get dragged into your home and office by piggy-backing on people's shoes. A welcome mat encourages people to wipe their shoes. The best option, of course, is for people to leave their shoes at the door.
  
  

Air Filter

• Since the dust and sand that causes your allergies in the first place tend to reach you through the air, cleaning the air around you regularly is a no-brainer. In fact, you may find that your allergies disappear almost completely soon after setting up an HEPA air filter. HEPA stands for "high-efficiency particulate air," and HEPA filters can remove up to 98 percent of all allergens in the area they cover. To obtain a filter of the appropriate size, look at its clean-air delivery rate (CADR); if the number is at least two-thirds of the room's square footage, the filter will likely do the trick. Many vacuum cleaners also have HEPA filters.
  
  

Stinging Nettle

• Stinging nettle, available at any herbal or natural-products store, is one natural remedy for combating sand and dust allergies. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, stinging nettle is a natural anti-inflammatory. This perennial plant with small green flowers has long been used for its tonic, astringent and diuretic properties. When it comes to allergies, the plant's leaves and roots can help clean out the irritating toxins. Stinging nettle can be ingested as a tincture, in pill form or even as a tea.
  
  

Eucalyptus

• Another herbal remedy you may wish to consider involves eucalyptus. In particular, this herb helps to battle swollen tissues, and when it comes to sand and dust allergies, those swollen tissues are typically found around the eyes. Eucalyptus is a natural astringent---meaning it shrinks swollen tissue. According to the American Botanical Council, the herb is also a natural inflammation reducer. Consider making a eucalyptus tea by dropping two or three tsp. of crushed eucalyptus leaves (available at any herbal or natural-products store) into a cup of boiling water, then holding your face over the steam as you slowly ingest the tea itself.
  
  

Bedding

• Dust mites, whose decomposing body parts and fecal matter are a major cause of allergies, love your bed--where you shed an average of two to three pounds of yummy skin each year. Consider encasing your bed's mattress and pillows with allergy bedding (available at most department stores). At the least, regularly wash your sheets and pillowcases (in hot water), and replace old mattresses. Use a HEPA vacuum (see above) to vacuum your mattresses regularly. If your allergies persist, you may want to completely remove carpeting from your bedroom.