Beating spring and early summer allergies may seem like a losing battle, but never fear, we’re here to help you fight another day! While avoidance may not be the solution to all of life’s dramas and conflicts, running for shelter can certainly help minimize your allergy symptoms. Read on for 10 smart ways to defeat pollen and enjoy the rest of this gorgeous spring season.
Wash that Pollen Right out of Your Hair
As much as allergy sufferers may want to hide from allergens, they’re pretty unavoidable. And in fact, this time of year you may be wondering if you have allergies, a cold, or a sinus infection! While that’s a valid question, it’s smart to establish some anti-pollen practices. One of the best ways to keep your symptoms at bay is to shower every night, just prior to going t0 bed. Microscopic pollen particles love to cling to your skin and hair, so be sure to spend a few minutes in the shower, rinsing any residual pollen down the drain.
Keep Your Pets Clean
Loveable as though they may be, indoor/outdoor pets are allergy machines. Dander issues aside, pets are seemingly made for tracking dirt, dust, pollen, and other assorted spores through the house. Although it may be easier to enforce showers on the human occupants of your home, bathing your indoor/outdoor animals regularly will dramatically reduce seasonal allergy symptoms.
Kick the Dog
Out of your bed, that is. We’re not advocating for animal cruelty here, we love all furry friends! Even if you give your pup a shower pretty regularly, odds are they’re carrying around more pollen than you are.
Rid Your Bedding of Allergens
Now that you’ve taken a nice, cleansing shower and tucked Fido into his deluxe crate, make sure that your bed is where you want to lay your head. If you find that your allergies are worse at night or upon waking, odds are you need to spend some quality time with your washing machine and dryer. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to rid your bed of dust mites and pollen. Wash your bedding -- sheets, pillowcases, mattress pads, quilts, dust ruffles, and shams -- using hot water and dry everything on high. We recommend washing your bedding at least once a week.
Obviously, you can’t toss your mattress in the dryer, so instead, invest in a high-quality mattress cover. Mattress covers encapsulate your entire mattress and protect you from dust mites and other allergy triggers.
Pull a Cinderella and Do the Laundry!
While you’re in the laundry room, singeing your sheets, toss in a load of laundry as well. While it may be tempting to wear that “around the house” T-shirt all weekend, keep your clothing clean (and your housemates happy) by throwing it in the wash. Pollen can, and will, attach itself to clothing in a matter of minutes, so if you’ve been outside, wash your clothing.
Replace Your Furnace Filter
Not only is routine furnace filter replacement good for the long-term health and well-being of your home’s heating and air conditioning systems, but finding the right furnace filter for your allergies (and replacing it frequently) can dramatically minimize the allergens floating throughout the air. Reduce energy consumption, increase the lifespan of your HVAC equipment, and minimize allergies, now that’s an all-around win!
Keep Your Doors and Windows Closed
As tempting as it is on these gorgeous spring and early summer days to throw open the windows and air out the house, if you suffer from allergies, this is pretty much the last thing you should be doing. By all means, get outside and enjoy the day! But think of your home as your oasis and keep the pollen at bay. At the very least, keep an eye on Nashville’s pollen count and air accordingly.
Turn off Your Fans
In an effort to be kind to the environment and to reduce the wear and tear on your air conditioning unit, flicking the switch on your fans may seem like an elegant solution. In reality, though, you’re just stirring all sorts of allergens up. If you must get some airflow going, use the fan setting on your furnace to help filter the air as it circulates.
Give Your Home a Clean Sweep
Before you pull the broom out of the closet, let’s be clear: by “clean sweep” we mean a thorough vacuuming with a HEPA-equipped vacuum. A broom and a dustpan do nothing more than stir things up and into your nose.
Find the Right Over-the-counter Allergy Medication
Don’t wait until you’re absolutely miserable before reaching for the allergy medicine. OTC medications are incredibly effective and affordable. Medications that were once available only by prescription -- like Allegra, Claritin, and Zyrtec -- are even available as the generics Fexofenadine, loratadine, and cetirizine. If these prove ineffective, or if your allergies hit your nose more than anything else, then nasal steroids like Flonase (generically Fluticasone) may do the trick.
For many seasonal allergy sufferers, however, prevention and OTC medications simply aren’t enough. If you’ve made it through this list and you’re still sniffling and sneezing, it may be time to call in the reinforcements. Contact OAT to schedule an appointment.
