Preventing your pollen allergy symptoms from being triggered as often in your home is possible with the help of several allergy control products. As with the other types of allergies, there are two parts to controlling your pollen allergies: cleaning and prevention.
Before you can prevent your pollen allergy symptoms from acting up in the future, you need to clean the existing pollen out of your home. All the prevention strategies in the world won't help if the pollen grains are already inside. To get started, follow the cleaning guidelines below.
Cleaning
Since pollen is one of the components of household dust, the first thing you should do is thoroughly dust your home. DO NOT dry dust your home...aka dust with just a dry cloth. All this does is relocate allergens rather than remove them. Use a dusting solution, electrostatic cloths, or a HEPA vacuum to dust instead.
Always wear a pollen mask...also called an allergy mask or dust mask...when doing any allergy cleaning. You will kick up a lot of allergens when you clean. Of course, it's always best if the allergy sufferer doesn't do the cleaning.
Once your dusting has been completed, wash any curtains, drapes, or rugs you may have in your home. It's best to not have these...as cloth products will accumulate allergens...but I know it's tough to part with them. Just make sure they are washed with a natural laundry detergent in 130 degree water on a weekly basis.
Finally, vacuum all carpeting in your home with a HEPA vacuum cleaner only. This type keeps pollen and other allergens from recirculating as you vacuum. Any upholstered furniture that remains in your house should be vacuumed as well. Again, it's best not to have carpet or upholstered furniture in the house if at all possible. However, should you follow these guidelines; you will find your pollen allergy symptoms won't bother you near as much.
Prevention
Once you've done the best job you can cleaning up all the pollen in your home, the next step is preventing it from getting inside again. Keep in mind that using these cleaning and prevention methods isn't a one time deal. It is a constant process if you want to reduce your pollen allergy symptoms.
Use these prevention methods to help keep pollen at bay....
• Keep your windows closed at all times. If it gets too warm, use the air conditioning to keep your home cool. Air conditioning...whether it be window units or central air...help filter out allergens and deep the humidity down.
• If you don't have air conditioning and must keep windows open to stay cool, use a window filter in each window to keep pollen out. Be sure to use allergy filters in your HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system and keep up with replacing them!
• Ensure that all your windows and doors are airtight and not letting any outside air in. You may need to put up or replace some weather stripping....or do some caulking.
• Keep the area(s) around the door(s)to your home clean and free of clutter...aka places where allergens can collect. Also, keep a rubber mat in front of your doors so visitors can wipe their shoes before entering. Once they have entered ask them kindly to remove their shoes...shoes bring pollen and other allergens in the house.
• If possible, stay inside on days with a high pollen count. It may seem obvious but this is the best way to control your pollen allergy symptoms. If you must go out, wear an allergy mask or use allergen screen gel. When you come back in, take a shower and put on clean clothes. Wash the clothes you had on while you were outside with natural laundry detergent.
• When doing laundry, never hang your clothes outside to dry. While drying in the warm sun, you clothes are catching pollen grains that you will bring in with your clothes when they are dry. Until washed again in an allergy natural laundry detergent, those clothes subject you to pollen. You can also spread the pollen throughout your house when you wear those clothes.
• Use a HEPA air purifier in your home...especially in your bedroom. It will really help to filter out the pollen (and other allergens) from the air. This is important as you spend most of your life there.
• If you have a pet, wipe it down once a week with pet wipes. Pollen attaches to their coat while outside...and they bring it back in with them and disperse it around your home. Pet wipes also help control other allergens like dander and dust mites. Wipes will help control these allergens in your pets hair between baths.
Following these cleaning and prevention guidelines will help you find relief this allergy season and all of them to come.
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