Spring is upon us, which means longer days and warmer nights! Unfortunately, it also brings along seasonal allergies that can keep you from enjoying the nice weather. Thankfully, there are a few simple steps you can take to alleviate the effects of common allergens.
Wash your hands and clothes often
If you’ve been outside on a high pollen day, make sure to wash your hands throughout the day. On top of that, when you get home, remove your clothes when you come inside and shower right away to rinse off any pollen that landed on your skin or hair.
Avoid outside chores
Outdoors activities like mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, or other gardening work can release extra pollen and allergens into the air around you. Try your best to avoid these tasks or wear a pollen mask to prevent the allergens from affecting you as heavily. Pollen levels are highest in the morning, so it may be beneficial to do these activities later in the day if they’re necessary.
Change your air filter regularly
Changing your air filter every 1 to 3 months will dramatically reduce the amount of allergens floating around your home, like pollen, pet dander, and dust mites. Ideally, you should choose an air filter with a rating of MERV 10 or higher to prevent the circulation of allergens. We know that staying up-to-date on your air filter is easy to forget--air filter subscription services are great for reminding you to change your filters at the frequency that you decide. You simply set up a designated frequency of 1 to 3 months, and the filter will automatically ship to you.
Clean your house regularly
Don’t give dust and pollen the chance to settle in your home! Make sure to dust surfaces and vacuum throughout the week in order to avoid allergen buildup. This will also help to keep your air filter cleaner for longer so that it can continue to remove dust and pollen from the air efficiently.
Take allergy medicine
Sometimes, all of the extra steps don’t help as much as you’d hope. When all else fails, try taking a daily over-the-counter allergy pill to alleviate your symptoms. Even if you don’t have any when you first wake up, it may be best to take one and avoid any sneezing and discomfort down the road.