Do you suffer from bad pollen allergies and fear the warmer months of spring and summer when the pollen count suddenly rises? Use these tips to get rid of pollen in your house and cut down on your allergy medication.
1. Cleaning pollen out of your house
Pollen in your house is a big problem, because it can be difficult to remove entirely and your HVAC system may circulate the same pollen particles through the air over and over again. Pollen particles are often so small that normal household filters cannot always trap them. If you have realized too late that pollen is being tracked into your house, it is time for a major spring cleaning:
- Be thorough: Pollen can settle anywhere, and the best way to remove it is to thoroughly vacuum your entire house. In spring when pollen is a problem, vacuum once or twice a week to remove pollen as more frequently.
- Target the right areas: Understand how pollen gets into your house. Family members, friends and pets who spend a lot of time outdoors are important vector points - as are their fur and clothes. Contain sources and try to clean up pollen as quickly as possible.
- Use the latest filters and technology: There are vacuum cleaners and air filtration systems designed to help filter out pollen and other small allergens. Cleaning pollen may be easier if you use these technologies to help out.
2. Control pollen entry points
In addition to people, pollen enters your house when outside air gets inside: Simple right? Open doors and open windows are the big culprits. If you are in the habit of leaving windows open for fresh air, you may want to close up in the pollen months. If your weatherstripping - the felt around your windows and doors - is bare, you may want to replace it to stop leaks, too. Make sure your attic insulation and air vents are also properly installed.
If you love your open windows, try to open at night and close early in the morning. Mornings are one of the worst times for pollen, so try to have the house closed up by the time the sun is shining.
3. Use a pollen index
Yes, pollen indexes exist! These are local reports about the pollen count in the air and they often include both real-time data and forecasts for the expected pollen count throughout that day. Take a look at your sources for local weather information for a pollen index or pollen count - the data is often bundled together. The pollen library may also be helpful.
4. Take practical precautions
When cleaning pollen from your house during the worst days, you may want to wear a mask - cleaning stirs up a lot of latent pollen into the air again. Likewise, when going outside something as simple as sunglasses can help keep pollen from blowing in your eyes as often. A little planning can go a long way!
