How to pollen proof your house in 7 simple steps – as hay fever season hits ‘peak’
THE bad news for hay-fever sufferers is set ti continue
The Met office has warned of super-high pollen counts continuing over the next four days.
A week of sneezing itching and red eyes awaits millions - especially those living in England and Wales where levels will be 'very high'.
Hay fever sufferers in Scotland and Northern Ireland will also be hit with high levels in most regions from Wednesday until Friday.
Levels in England will be lowest in the North East, although they will still be high.
Around 10million Brits suffer from hay fever, according to the Met Office.
Read more on hay fever
The condition is caused by an allergy to pollen, which is more prominent in summer.
Even though pollen originates outdoors, it can often find its way inside - meaning no where is safe.
But there are some things you can do.
Mira Yordanova, owner of end-of-tenancy cleaning company, shared some of her top tips on how to keep your home a pollen-free zone.
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1. Dry your clothes indoors
There's nothing quite like the smell of clothes that have dried in the fresh air.
But leaving laundry outdoors means pollen and dust can collect on them, Mira told .
"Instead, dry them in a tumble dryer or hang them up inside," she said.
2. Vacuum your mattress and wash your bedsheets EVERY week
We all know we should be washing our bedding.
Were you aware that you should also be vacuuming your mattress?! Chances are, no.
According to Mira, you should wash your bedsheets and vacuum your mattress every week to make sure that absolutely no trace of allergens are left to haunt your dreams.
"And don’t forget to flip it to vacuum both sides," she added.
3. Wash your hair before going to bed
Spending time outside in the glorious sun can also come with the risk of pollen getting stuck to your hair and, as such, your pillowcase.
Mira said: "The best way to avoid opening your bedroom door to pollen is to wash that pollen from your hair with shampoo every evening."
4. Make your own dust-repellant spray
Instead of using store bought surface cleaner, Mira suggested mixing ingredients found in your kitchen to make your own.
Not only will you save cash but this dust-repellant spray will "help keep dust and pollen away from your bedroom’s surfaces for longer," she said.
● ½ cup of water (125ml)
● ¼ cup of vinegar (60ml)
● 2 tablespoons of olive oil
● A few drops of essential oil of your choosing to give your spray the perfect scent (remember to check if it’s safe for pets!)
5. Use a pair of tongs to clean your blinds
Pollen can deposit on the blinds in your bedroom, as they stand so close to the windows.
But cleaning blinds can be tricky, meaning we often let dust build up.
Mira suggested using tongs as a way of cleaning your blinds.
"Wrap them in a damp microfiber cloth sprayed with cleaning product and secure it in place with elastic bands or clips," she said.
"Next, grip the blinds lightly and slide the tongs down, to clean both sides of the blinds at once, making your dusting process less time-consuming and 100 per cent efficient!"
6. Mattress and pillow protectors are your best friends
Consider purchasing an anti-allergy mattress and pillow protector if you haven’t already, the expert said.
"And make sure to wash them every one or two weeks with the rest of your bedding.
"This will ensure that any residual pollen on the mattress and the pillows won’t be able to reach your bedsheets, improving your sleep quality significantly," she added.
7. Don’t sleep with your pet
A pet can be your best friend, but not during hay fever season.
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"Living with a pet will make it a lot more difficult for you to take control of the pollen infiltration in your home, as it will often stick to their fur.
"For this reason, try to hang out with your pets outside the bedroom and avoid sleeping with them to alleviate your hay fever symptoms," she explained.
What are the symptoms of hay fever?
HAY fever is a common allergic condition.
It affects up to one in five people at some point in their life.
You'll experience hay fever symptoms if you have an allergic reaction to pollen.
The symptoms of hay fever include:
- frequent sneezing
- runny or blocked nose
- itchy, red or watery eyes (allergic conjunctivitis)
- an itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
- cough, caused by postnasal drip (mucus dripping down the throat from the back of the nose)
Less commonly, you may also experience:
- the loss of your sense of smell (anosmia)
- facial pain (caused by blocked sinuses)
- headaches
- earache
- tiredness and fatigue
If you have asthma, your asthma symptoms may get worse when you have hay fever.
Source: NHS