This is a sponsored post from Trane Heating & Cooling.
Atchoo!!! It’s that time of year, and this allergy season, pollen counts are very high. That means many of us will suffer from itchy, watery eyes, scratchy throats, stuffy noses, and even fatigue. You’re probably thinking, “Tell me about it!” When we inhale pollen, our body treats it like a foreign invader and reacts with an immune response. That’s when we start sneezing like crazy, and our eyes begin to water like Niagara Falls. Some treatments for these allergy symptoms include over-the-counter antihistamines, steroid nasal sprays, and acupuncture. But the best treatment for seasonal pollen allergies is avoidance. And the air quality of your home plays a big role. Jay Ayers, indoor air quality product manager at Trane Heating and Cooling, offers us his ten best tips for reducing allergy symptoms when pollen season is in full swing.
1. Remove clothes and shoes immediately after entering
Although you may not physically see it on your clothes, pollen easily attaches to you and your pets when you are outside, so try to change clothes when you go back inside to ensure you don’t get the pollen onto your furniture or other parts of the house. Give your pets a wipe with pet wipes to remove pollen that remains on their fur.
2. Wash clothes and bedding once a week
While you may not be in bed wearing the same clothes you just wore outside, pollen does travel through the air, so wash bedding once a week to prevent pollutants from settling in your bed! Remember that the washing machine must reach 130 degrees Fahrenheit to kill pollutants, dust mites, and their eggs, so use a warm water cycle.
3. Use a tumble dryer, not on an outside line
Avoid line drying your clothes and bedding outside when the pollen count is high; it will negate the purpose of cleaning your clothes when you bring them indoors.
4. Keep doors and windows closed as much as possible
While we often want to open our windows to get some fresh air after being cooped up all winter, we also invite the pollens and allergens that come with spring. It is also helpful to install an air cleaning system that improves the air quality in your home, such as the Trane CleanEffects Whole-Home Air Filtration System. This patented system uses revolutionary technology to remove up to 99.98 percent of particulate matter from the air we breathe at home by reducing harmful bacteria and allergens such as pollen, dust, pet hair, tobacco smoke, and more,.
5. Take Allergy Medicine Before Going Outside
Most allergy medications work best when taken this way. This allows the medicine to stop your body from releasing histamine and other chemicals that cause symptoms.
6. Regular vacuuming and vacuuming
Making this your routine several times a week will certainly help with anything that’s tracked around your home or floated in when windows or doors were open.
7. Place certified bedding on all mattresses and pillows
Certified hypoallergenic and allergy-free bedding ensures that allergens do not penetrate. Make sure that the bedding you buy completely encases the entire bed and pillows so that no pollutants can enter the house.
8. Change Your Bedtime Routine
Switching shower time to the evening just before bedtime can reduce allergy symptoms. Allergens of the day that stick to hair and face are washed off and not transferred to your clean pillows and bedding.
9. Keep your garden in shape
If you keep your lawn and garden trimmed and pruned in the spring, the longer blades won’t be able to hold as much pollen from the trees and flowers.
10. Educate yourself, check the pollen count, and plan accordingly
It is always good to familiarize yourself with the weather. Know the best times of the day to be outside, ideally when the pollen count is lowest. It is usually at its worst in the morning!
Do you want to improve the air quality in your home and keep allergens out? Click on the links to learn more about Trane’s Perfect Fit Reusable Filter and Trane’s CleanEffects™ Air Filtration System.
