Hay fever (or Allergic Rhinitis) affects as many as 30% of adults and 40% of children in the UK, with sufferers afflicted with a runny nose, itchy eyes and throat, coughing, and sneezing.

Even more amazing, around 19% of sufferers have to take time off work or school each year because of the severity of their symptoms.

Depending on your particular pollen allergies, hay fever season may be well under way for you, or it could be right around the corner.

Spring – Tree Pollen

Late Spring to Early Summer – Grass Pollen

Early Spring to Late Autumn – Weed Pollen

“95% of hay fever sufferers are allergic to grass pollen but it is possible to be allergic to more than one kind of pollen.”

– Met Office

Sadly, there’s not a lot that we can do to help you while you’re outside enjoying the sunshine, but there may be a few things you can do to prevent hay fever from affecting you inside the home:

✨ Shower and change

As soon as you return home, change out of your clothes and shower to remove pollen from your body and stop from spreading it around the home. Ensure you wash your hair, too, as it can attract a lot of pollen which then rubs off on your pillow at night.

✨ No more feather duster

Feather dusters just stir up dust and release even more allergy particles into the air so avoid using them at this high pollen time. Instead, use a damp cloth to collect dust.

✨ Don’t dry clothes outside

Avoid drying clothes outside on high pollen days. Damp clothes catch pollen which you’ll then bring into the home and spread around. This is particularly important for bedding, there’s nothing worse than sleeping badly because you’ve been sneezing all night.

✨ Vacuum regularly

The longer dust and dirt remains in your carpet, the deeper it will settle into the fibres. Use a good vacuum with strong, consistent suction for best results.

Once or twice a year, try to have your carpets professionally cleaned to remove even more dirt and allergens. It’s a great idea to do this before and after allergy season as vacuuming can stir up a lot of allergens and initially make your symptoms worse.

✨ Wash the sheets

Wash all bed linen on a hot cycle at least every other week (more often in summer when the pollen count is high) and invest in anti-allergen pillow for extra protection.

✨ Dust the radiators

Although we’re hoping to put our heaters away for a few months, sometimes the cold weather has a comeback which means we have to go back to our heating for a few days. Check radiators (and any other air vents) regularly for gathering dust, particularly before you first turn them on after a long period of time. Use a vacuum cleaner (one with a blower function will work even better) to keep them clean.

✨ Go for blinds

Blinds accumulate less dust and pollen than curtains. So, they’re a wise choice for anyone who suffers badly with allergies.

However, if you’re particularly attached to your curtains make sure you wash them regularly.

✨ Keep the house shut

As hard as it is in the beautiful summer months, the best way to keep pollen out of the home is to keep doors and windows closed. Try only opening them at night when pollen is at its lowest. If you can’t resist the pull of fresh air, try using a dehumidifier to discourage allergens.

✨ Ditch the flowers

Flowers look beautiful in the house, and they certainly give you a sense of spring being here. However, flowers can trigger your allergies so perhaps make do with a window box instead of a vase.

✨ Banish Pets

Generally, pets are covered in fur which makes them pollen magnets. If possible, restrict their time indoors or, at the last, time spent on soft furnishing and carpet where they can transfer pollen. If this isn’t possible, try to wipe them down with a damp cloth before they enter the house and bathe them more regularly.

Did you know: dogs can also suffer from hay fever, so it’s beneficial to them if you can limit the affects indoors.