5 Tips For Keeping Pollen Out Of Your Home
Everyone looks forward to the flower blooming season. The blast of colors and fragrances are largely ethereal, no doubt. We are even tempted to name this the best of the year. Unfortunately, like everything else, it comes with a little discomfort that can affect anyone: pollen allergies.
Pollens are tiny powdery materials blown from one flower to another for reproduction. As good as this sounds, pollen can be harmful to humans, pets, and even automobiles (via Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Pollen allergies can be difficult for many to deal with because they come with scratching and other irritations that can make you feel quite uncomfortable. A common suggestion, especially for those with a high allergy to pollen, is to stay out of the bloom, but this is not feasible as a long-term solution.
And while Mayo Clinic suggests you walk around with a mask on, what do you do when you get pollen in your home? The perfect way to remove pollen is to be invested in cleaning. But this would only be effective if you do it right. Today, we'll share all our hacks for keeping pollen out of your home.
1. Always clean your feet on mats
The very first rule of getting rid of pollen is to watch what comes into your house. Think of it like the old prevention is better than cure trope; if pollen doesn't get in the first place, you do not have to get rid of it. And so, a great way to start is by cleaning your shoe soles thoroughly on the doormat before entering and mandating visitors to do the same. The experts at The Blindster Blogger say that pollen sticks on shoes and can easily get in from the faintest of steps. To fix that, get a doormat, preferably rubber, because they are way easier to clean.
Another great trick is to separate outerwear from indoor wear, especially for kids. It is difficult to keep children inside the house, but you can always mandate that they wear two different footwear, one for inside the home and one for outside the home. In the same vein, you may want to consider taking off all jackets, hats, etc., and putting them in the laundry machine as soon as children come into the house (via Whole Body Health).
2. Wash curtains and beddings regularly
Another way to prevent pollen from spreading into your home is by regularly washing your curtains and window blinds. Did we hear a groan? Yes, we know that washing curtains can be a herculean task; however, they are the first pollen hit, says the experts at Fantastic Gardeners Blog. But there is a twist. After washing, avoid spreading your curtains outside to sun dry them. Doing so is simply you attracting the pollen back to the curtains. Instead, use your dryer to keep your washed curtains dry, just like Irish Examiner recommends.
This washing technique also applies to your beddings and outerwear. The presence of pollen on your bedding can intensify your allergy, which in some people might cause difficulty breathing while sleeping. We shudder just thinking about that inconvenience, so as an extra trick, try vacuuming your bedding every now and then to pull out pollen. During this process, Shark Cleaning Hacks recommends adding a dash of clear alcohol and water to the wash mix.
And if you can spare a couple of dollars, you could just purchase some new allergen-resistant bedding. According to Achoo! Blog, these are specifically designed to keep pollen and other allergens off your beddings, and they come at a price of only $20 to $60, per WebMD. For the ones who still struggle even with a regular wash or vacuum, this option works just fine!
3. Wash hair and skin thoroughly
You must have heard the rumors about hair and pollen being in a toxic relationship? Pollen hangs on to hair like the number five does to six. So, if you have to work in your garden, the best thing to do is to wear a gardener's hat, or better still, a shower cap before the gardener's hat. On the other hand, if you can dedicate a lot of time to thoroughly washing your hair every time, by all means, suit yourself, says The Asthma Center.
For dog or cat parents, we hate to break it to you, but your pet's fur is also a pollen magnet. So, your best bet is to keep them in the house all through the season, but as you might have guessed, that borders on impossible. Instead, after every play day, ensure you give them a proper bath, whether that be outside your main house or inside. This is especially important because Georgia Public Broadcasting says pets could also develop pollen allergy, and you don't want your lovely pet to be sick.
4. Invest in HEPA vacuum filters
Cleaning your home during the peak of pollen season isn't much of a choice. According to CAES Media Newswire, it is important to clean your floors at least once a week to prevent airborne complications as a result of allergens. But sometimes, your vacuum might not be cut out for the job. So, investing in a good HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuum filter is a must. According to Allergy & Asthma Network, high-efficiency particulate air filters are designed to force pollen grains and other tiny dirt through a fine mesh. These filters can filter and trap up to 99.97% of all airborne particles. They take pollen off your floors, out of sight, and even out of mind. HEPA filters can be installed in both car and home air conditioning systems as well and costs as low as $16 to $95, per House Method.
As an alternative, microfiber cloths always come in handy. With a damp microfiber cloth, properly dust the walls, windows, and other surface areas in the home. Work in a top to the bottom direction to get the pollen out, then throw the accumulated dirt away outside. After cleaning, keep all windows closed while you rely more on air conditioning devices to provide enough air in the room. Leaving the windows open, especially during the peak of pollen season, allows pollen to get into your home, says Live Science.
5. Always park in a garage
Our final tip for today is to keep your car in the garage. Your car is part of your home, so if pollen gets on the exterior of your car, it'll sometimes get inside as well. Since you come in contact with both the exterior and interior of your car, you will be exposed to pollen. To avoid this, keep the car out of the driveway. Instead, park in a garage and lock the doors every time.
Now you may think, hey, I'll just go to the carwash, but we assure you it can be a bit trickier to get rid of pollen. Pollen wouldn't just sit on the car seats, it could get into your ventilation system, and once that happens, that's a whole two-week problem! Beyond the ventilation issues, the experts at Torque Detail write that pollen could damage your care paint and leave obvious marks on the care exterior as well. Finally, this pollen season, Leith Chrysler Jeep suggests that you might want to ease up on the "fresh breeze" from your open windows and instead appreciate the air conditioning a little, especially in neighborhoods where everyone is a gardener. Lately, wash your car every week starting from the wheels, which are pollen magnets, says NAPA Blog. Pollen allergies or not, it's a wonderful season, and we hope these steps help you enjoy it better.