Every spring, millions of people suffer from the effects of pollen. That includes watery eyes, a runny nose, and sometimes a sore throat. Regardless, it’s not a pleasant experience. That’s why you want to do everything possible to prevent pollen from entering your home. Here are some ways to accomplish that goal.
Wash Bed Linens Frequently
Even if you’re a stickler for washing the bed linens every week, wash them more often during the pollen season. After all, it’s common for pollen to settle on sheets, pillows, and blankets. It’s even worse if you keep the bedroom window open. That means every time you climb into bed, you’re sleeping with the enemy.
Linen Protection
Take protection further by placing covers on your mattress and pillows designed to resist allergens. Although this makes a difference regardless of the type of mattress you have, it’s even more beneficial for one that’s hard to clean. Not only will this reduce pollen in your home, but it will also extend the life of your bed.
Leave Shoes in a Basket
Instead of walking into your house with shoes on, take them off immediately. For convenience, place a basket or tray near the front door. Also, don’t hesitate to ask guests to do the same. Remember, every time you walk outside; pollen collects on your shoes. This helps prevent you from bringing it inside.
Use Doormats
Place a good doormat outside both the front and back doors of your house. For one thing, you eliminate a great deal of pollen by wiping your shoes on the mats. For another, this removes dirt, mud, and other allergens from your shoes.
Vacuum With a HEPA Filter
It’s worth investing in a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter if your current vacuum cleaner doesn’t have one. As a “High-efficiency Particulate Arresting” appliance, you’ll notice a significant difference. Thanks to the design of quality vacuums with this type of filter, they trap up to 99.97 percent of particles as small as 0.3 microns.
Shower and Change Your Clothes
Especially if you work outdoors, take a shower and put on clean clothes as soon as you arrive home. That way, you avoid leaving pollen everywhere you go or on the various things you touch. Moreover, wash the clothes right away. If you can’t, at least place them in a hamper with a tight lid.
Dust Often
If you live in an area with a lot of pollen, you’ll likely notice more “dust” on your furniture. However, don’t wipe it off using just anything. Choose a microfiber cloth and a quality cleaning product. This cloth works amazingly to trap dust, dirt, pollen, and other contaminants.
Bathe the Pets
Animal fur is notorious for hiding pollen. So, if you have pets, bathe them at least once a week. If you have cats or other animals that don’t like water, you can always wipe their coats down using a damp microfiber cloth.
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Clean Everything
Due to the microscopic size of pollen, it hides in crooks and crevices. Along with standard cleaning, focus on areas that collect pollen. For instance, you should thoroughly clean ceiling fan blades, window blinds, and curtains.