Four ways to prevent autumn allergies
Allergies can be the worst. Life is busy enough, without sneezing and sniffling to slow you down.
And with the new school year ramping up, you want the whole family to be in tip-top health.
But if you follow these four steps to help reduce pollen and dust around the home, you should be able to ease those pesky autumn allergies.
1. Shower before going to bed
Most people like to wake up with a shower. However, if you and your kids have been outside for more than an hour during the day, consider doing shower and bath time before you all go to sleep, as hair and skin are natural allergen attractors.
Going to bed without washing off the gathered pollen, dust, mould and dander could have everyone waking up with a sneeze instead of a stretch.
2. Be diligent about cleaning
If you're dealing with allergies, autumn is not the time to go an extra week before washing your sheets or dusting, as tempting as it is.
Here are some of the best ways to keep your home allergen free:
• Change your bedding weekly (we know it's a pain to fold those fitted sheets but you'll really notice the difference), and spray Febreze Fabric Refresher Allergen Reducer on any hard-to-wash, allergen-prone fabrics, such as pet beds, carpets, furniture, upholstery, bedding, toys or gym bags. This will reduce up to 95% of inanimate allergens that become airborne from fabrics, such as pollen, pet dander and dust mite matter.
• Every few days, give the floors a quick mop with a capful of Flash Multi-surface Concentrated Cleaner - allergens can easily infiltrate the house on the bottom of shoes, but Flash will cut through the dirt and grime first time, leaving your floor clean and sparkling.
• Dust surfaces regularly with a microfibre cloth to trap sneeze-inducing dust.
3. Be savvy about what you're snacking on
One of the most common causes of allergies is ragweed pollen. If you suffer from hay fever, there are certain fruits, vegetables and seeds that, if eaten regularly, could mimic the effects of the allergy and make you more allergic on days with high pollen counts.
These foods include bananas, melons, cucumbers, courgettes and sunflower seeds, so you'd be wise to avoid them when the seasonal allergies rear their heads.
4. Check your thermostat
If the temperature in your home is higher than 70°F (20°C) - and humidity levels are above 50% - your house is offering the ideal breeding ground for dust mites. So be sure to keep the conditions inside at or below these levels if dust is getting you down.
What are your savvy cleaning tips to combat allergies? If you have any helpful tips that work for you, log in or sign up and let us know in the comments section below