Is pollen tickling your sinuses, ruining your clothes and dampening your pet’s springtime vibes? Many of us look forward to the warmth and sunshine that spring and summer brings, but for those with allergies, pets and favourite t-shirts, it can also bring a lot of stress.
Pollen from trees, flowers, and weeds can cause sneezing, stain your white t-shirts and ruin your night's sleep. But don’t despair - there are ways to pollen-proof your life. Experts from Safestyle, 247 Blinds, Christy and Animal Friends have come together to share top tips on how to keep pollen from spoiling your spring.
Keep doors and windows closed
As the weather heats up, it’s tempting to throw open the doors and window to bask in the sunshine. But this can be problematic for hay fever sufferers – as pollen can blow in and land all over the house.
Adam Pawson, marketing director at Safestyle, said: "Keeping windows and doors closed is one of the easiest and most effective ways to minimise the amount of pollen entering your home. "If you do need to open windows, try to do this overnight when the pollen levels are much lower and close them again once you wake up."
Up the frequency of light cleaning
Another way to help reduce allergies in the home is to simply keep on top of cleaning, paying particular attention to those areas and materials that pollen likes to cling onto.
Helen O’Connor, product manager at 247 Blinds and 247 Curtains, said: “In between deeper cleaning sessions, it’s important to stay on top of cleaning your curtains to avoid any build up of dust, dirt and pollen. Take your dusting brush and lightly run along the curtains, left to right. Try to do this on a weekly basis as part of your cleaning routine.
“Vacuuming your curtains should be the second element of your weekly cleaning routine for all lined curtains. Always use the small brush attachment designed for upholstery to avoid causing any damage. Start by closing the curtains fully, hovering over with the vacuum top to bottom before repeating the process on the inside too.
“Not only will this help keep your curtains looking fresh and clean, but will also help minimise symptoms of hayfever or other allergies by thoroughly picking up dust and pollen. To finish, if you have a lint roller to hand, these do a brilliant job at picking up stubborn pollen and dust.”
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As for blinds, you should follow a similar process, as Helen explains.
“Ideally, you should clean your blinds once a month to get rid of any dust or pollen that may be lingering on the surface. If you have roller blinds or roman blinds, just give them a soft dusting and gentle vacuum once a month.
“Venetian blinds or plantation shutters can have a more thorough clean. Wipe down each slat using a damp cloth and some washing up liquid, then finish up with a quick dusting to ensure they’re pollen-free.”
Washing your bedding is essential for any time of the year, but during the spring months, it’s even more so. Washing your bedding once a week will help reduce trapped pollen sticking to your linens, as well as sweat from the increasingly warmer nights.
Wash bedding on a hot wash cycle, weekly
Lucy Ackroyd, head of design at Christy, said: “Choose cool bed linen made with blended anti-allergy hollow fibre and microfibre to minimise the build-up of dust mites. To eliminate allergens, put your bed sheets on a hot wash at least once a week. If you suffer from heavy night-sweats due to hay fever or allergies, change your bedding at least twice a week to keep your fabric feeling clean and fresh.”
Don’t forget your mattress protector
Lucy also stresses the importance of washing your mattress protector to prevent the build-up of pollen: “Generally, you should wash your mattress protector every other month - however, there are exceptions to this rule. People who suffer from seasonal allergies should wash their mattress protectors more regularly, around once a month, to prevent any reactions. Thankfully, you can buy anti-allergy mattress protectors that do a better job of protecting against dust. It’s also important to regularly wash your clothes and change your outfit after a long day of lounging outside - you don’t want that pollen coming home with you!”
Brush your pet’s hair daily
If your house is also home to a furry friend or two, you may find that your symptoms fail to reduce even when inside.
Catrin George, from pet insurance provider Animal Friends Insurance, said: “With dogs frequently going outside, they are prone to bringing in pollen which sticks to their fur. This means giving your dogs a thorough daily, or even twice daily, brush key in helping you deal with symptoms of hay fever.
“It’s also not commonly known that dogs themselves can also suffer from seasonal allergies and actually share some symptoms with us, including sneezing and watery eyes. So brushing your dog regularly will not only help yourself, but also can help reduce the impact of pollen on our pets too.”
