News & Advice

Spring and summer bring with them the promise of warmer days spent outdoors, but for the 26% of UK adults suffering from hay fever, the reality is often far less idyllic. 

Coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, a stuffy nose and even sleepless nights can really spoil the warmer weather experience, but there are things you can do to pollen-proof your home.

Here’s our top 10 tips to help you breathe a little easier, from gadgets and housework optimising to pillows and pets.

1. Vacuum twice a week (or at least once!)

Pollen settles on carpets and rugs, so vacuuming can make a big difference in relieving symptoms of pollen or dust-related allergies. It’s generally advised to vacuum your floors and soft furnishings at least once a week, ideally twice.

Allergy UK recommends using a high-filtration vacuum cleaner, especially one with a HEPA filter. But not all vacuum cleaners are equally effective at keeping the allergens locked inside the filter.

Bagged vacuum cleaners are usually less messy to empty than bagless vacs, since you’re not directly exposed to dust during the process. If you are using a bagless vacuum, you may be better off emptying it into a bin outside the house.

If your allergies are severe or usually triggered by vacuuming, consider wearing an KN95 filter mask (like the ones we wore here at Physiofusion during Covid) while cleaning. You could also consider swapping your carpets for wooden floors.

Vacuum filters trap dirt and allergens like pollen, preventing it from being blasted back into the air. But if a vacuum has a poor filter, you might notice more sneezing or a runny nose during or after vacuuming.

2. Change clothes when you get home

To avoid spreading pollen deposits all over your home, wipe your shoes on the doormat as you enter and then take them off before you go inside. If you have a porch, leave them in there.

Pollen can also cling to your hair and clothing, especially when the pollen count is high, so it’s a good idea to shower and change your clothes as soon as you get home.

Putting the clothes in a closed laundry bin, rather than an open one – and ideally not in the bedroom – is preferable. If your allergies are severe, allergy charities suggest putting your dirty clothes into a plastic bag until they’re ready to be washed to prevent any pollen escaping into the air.

3. Consider an air purifier

Air purifiers can help improve air quality by trapping airborne particles and circulating the clean air back out.

Good air purifiers will filter out both dust and pollen particles, and so may help alleviate symptoms of hay fever and other allergies while you’re indoors.

One air purifier won’t cover the entire house, so consider which rooms are the most important to use one in (for example, the bedroom for a comfortable sleep).

You should also choose the correct size for the space you plan to use it in.

4. Wash bedding weekly

Pollen can stick to bedding, triggering your allergies when you’re trying to sleep, so you should wash it weekly. It’s best not to dry bedding outside (more on this below), especially on high pollen days.

Washing your bedding at 60°C or hotter can help keep dust and pollen at bay. Many modern machines also offer allergy care cycles.

If you have kids, wash their soft toys in fragrance-free washing powder suitable for sensitive skin at 60°C or hotter too. Dust mites thrive in warmer conditions, so you could also try putting teddies

5. Dry washing indoors

Spring and summer months are ideal for drying our washing outside, but you should probably steer clear if you’re an allergy sufferer.

When the pollen count is high, tiny pollen particles can settle on your laundry, triggering hay fever symptoms when you bring the dry laundry inside, wear the clothes or sleep in the bed sheets.

Luckily, there are plenty of alternative options for drying your clothes indoors:

• Air-dry them on a drying rack
• Use a tumble dryer
• Try a heated clothes airer

6. Try an anti-allergy pillow

Traditional bedding can trap allergens like pollen, dust mites and pet dander, so you could try a pillow that’s specifically designed to help ease allergies.

There are two types: anti-allergy and hypoallergenic pillows.

• Anti-allergy pillows: Use fillings treated specifically with chemicals to combat dust mites and other allergens.
• Hypoallergenic pillows: Don’t use fillings made of a known potential allergen, such as down or latex.

You’ll need to make sure the pillow can be easily cleaned or machine-washed to help remove allergens.

And I couldn’t let this point go by without reminding you the pillow needs to be supportive and comfortable for your neck! Lets make sure we protect this too as well and your sinus’s and lungs.

7. Keep pets out of the bedroom

They may be our best friends, but if you’re suffering from allergies, your pets can make them worse….nless you have a hairless cat.

Pollen can cling to their fur when they’re outside, so it’s a good idea to give them regular baths to wash it off and to vacuum your home regularly. Alternatively, brush your cat/dogs’s coat when it comes in to help prevent them spreading allergens around the house.

To help contain the spread of airborne allergens in pet hair, try to keep them off your sofas or chairs, and keep them out of your bedroom – or at least off the bed – at night.

8. Consider using a steam cleaner

Steam cleaners are designed to deep clean your carpets, upholstery and even your mattress. The high temperature of the steam can help eliminate dust mites, which can trigger symptoms similar to hay fever, as well as pollen particles.

Steam cleaners are also a good way to clean other ‘pollen sticky surfaces’ like curtains, cushions and upholstery that won’t go in the washing machine.

9. Declutter frequently

Don’t let clutter build up, as this is where dust and pollen can settle.

This is especially important in your bedroom, as allergy triggers can disrupt your sleep. It may sound counterintuitive for a room that’s supposed to be cosy, but allergy sufferers should keep upholstery, curtains and clutter to a minimum in this room.

10. Keep the windows closed

Prevention is better than cure, so you’d be wise to keep windows and doors closed during the day to help keep pollen out in the first place.

This obviously isn’t ideal when it’s hot outside, but you could consider getting a portable air conditioner to keep the temperature in your home comfortable.

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