Hay fever is a horrible concern to suffer from. For months on end, you can be sneezing, have runny eyes and generally feel rubbish for weeks or even months every year. Here are some great tips to help you prevent flair-ups in hay fever season. It is worth considering these before the hay fever season even starts to reduce the severity of your symptoms as soon as the pollen starts.
Vacuum or mop frequently
Dust easily gathers on carpeted floors and can also cause other allergies such as dust mite allergy. If you have pollen gathering in the carpet and are not hoovering there will be no reduction in your symptoms even if you do everything else you possibly can.
One alternative is to switch to wooden flooring or some kind of hard flooring. This would limit this significantly and need hoovering or moping less frequently as it doesn’t collect the pollen and dust as easily.
Mop flooring frequently using a splash of vinegar in your water to maximise the dust pick up.
If you are in the market for a new vacuum then try to buy one with a HEPA filter, this will help significantly.
Air filtration
An air filtration system for your home can make a big difference. they are not always cheap but the difference could be massive. Why not look into them and see if they are for you?
Clean bedding and soft furnishings regularly
A house with a lot of soft furnishings is not ideal during hay fever season. Too many surfaces like this can trap pollen and other allergens. Washing them regularly can help but do you need them all? Why not remove a few and see if it helps?
If you have a child with hay fever then soft toys can be an issue too. Wash them as frequently as you can during hay fever season to reduce symptoms.
Think about plants and pets
In the same way that you can bring pollen into the home on your hair, you need to remember animals will be bringing pollen in with them every time they have been outside too. Whilst I am not saying you need to get rid of your pets, you do need to consider their coats. Could they be groomed more frequently or could you wash them more often?
Plants in the house can be a source of pollen. One that frequently affects me is lilies. Have a search online about your houseplants and see if they could be causing your concerns.
Consider changing cleaning products
Do your cleaning products affect your allergies? Try to choose less chemicals and see if this makes any difference. Toxic cleaning products could also be affecting you and as such aggravating your hay fever season symptoms which maybe were at a low level all year because of these chemicals and the pollen during this time has just made it worse?
Reduce the clutter in the house
Is your house like mine and full of clutter? The less clutter you have the less space for your dust and pollen to settle, the less chance of it causing your symptoms. Anyway, what better reason to have a clear out?
While you are having a clear out make sure you dust properly. A feather duster is really the worst way you could do this, all it does is move the dust and pollen. The best way is to use a wet cloth as this picks up the dust and pollen rather than simply moving it.
A few extra tips
Washing sheets, bedding and cloths used for cleaning should be done in water at least 60°c to ensure no particles of pollen or allergens remain.
If you do buy any air filtration products or use a HEPA filter vacuum be sure to change or clean the filters regularly so they continue to work effectively.
Do you have any tips to share? Do comment them below.
