Hay Fever Sufferers Look to Experts for Spring Cleaning Hacks to Ease Symptoms

The dreaded pollen season is upon us once again, and with it, the symptoms of hay fever that can disrupt our daily lives. For those who suffer from this common allergy, finding ways to ease their symptoms is crucial. In light of this, experts from MattressOnline have come together to share their top spring cleaning hacks to help hay fever sufferers regain a good night’s sleep.

Understanding Hay Fever

Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, is an allergic reaction to pollen, causing symptoms like sneezing, runny or blocked nose, itching, and watery eyes. According to Professor Helen A Brough, Professor of Paediatric Allergy, this occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies pollen as harmful, triggering inflammation in the nose and eyes.

• Grass pollen is the most common trigger, while tree pollens cause symptoms from February to May, and weeds affect sufferers from April to September.
• Mould spores peak around September and October, but may affect people throughout the year.

Spring Cleaning Hacks for Hay Fever Sufferers

To help alleviate hay fever symptoms, experts recommend the following spring cleaning hacks:

Make Your Own Dust-Repellent Spray

Consider mixing the following ingredients to create a cheap, homemade dusting spray that will keep your surfaces cleaner for longer:

Mix all the ingredients together, and you’ll have a 35p dust-repellent spray that will help keep dust and pollen away from your bedroom’s surfaces for longer. Simply spray it onto the surface and wipe it off with a clean cloth.

Pick a Damp Cloth Over a Dry One

When dusting, it’s essential to choose a damp cloth over a dry one. The dry one will allow the pollen and dust that you’ve just removed from the surface to float around the bedroom and deposit somewhere else. Instead, if you’re using a damp cloth, the pollen will stick to it, and you will truly have got rid of it for good.

Mattress and Pillow Protectors Are Your Best Friends

Consider purchasing an anti-allergy mattress and pillow protector if you haven’t already, and make sure to wash them every one or two weeks with the rest of your bedding. This will ensure that any residual pollen on the mattress and pillows won’t be able to reach your bedsheets, improving your sleep quality significantly.

Don’t Sleep with Your Pet

A pet can be your best friend, but not during hay fever season. Living with a pet will make it a lot more difficult for you to take control of the pollen infiltration in your home, as it will often stick to their fur. For this reason, try to hang out with your pets outside the bedroom and avoid sleeping with them to alleviate your hay fever symptoms.

Vacuum Twice a Week and Use This Trick

It’s a good habit to vacuum at least twice a week, especially for rooms covered in carpets, where dust can deposit very easily. But make sure you’re cleaning the whole bedroom, not just the floors. Using a criss-cross pattern while vacuuming your bedroom’s carpets will also help improve your sleep quality during hay fever season.

Dont Dry Clothes on an Outside Washing Line

Some of your washing habits might need changing when dealing with hay fever symptoms. For example, avoid drying your clothes and bedsheets outside in the fresh air after doing your laundry, where pollen and dust can collect. Instead, dry them in a tumble dryer or hang them up inside.

Wash Your Hair Before Going to Bed

Spending time outside in the glorious sun can also come with the risk of pollen getting stuck to your hair and, as such, your pillowcase. The best way to avoid opening your bedroom door to pollen is to wash that pollen from your hair with shampoo every evening. This simple habit can help reduce your exposure to pollen and alleviate your hay fever symptoms.

Expert Recommendations

According to Professor Helen A Brough, the key to managing hay fever symptoms is to take a comprehensive approach. “It’s not just about cleaning your home, but also about making changes to your daily habits and lifestyle,” she emphasizes. The experts at MattressOnline agree, and their top spring cleaning hacks are designed to help hay fever sufferers regain a good night’s sleep and alleviate their symptoms. By implementing these simple changes, you can take control of your allergy and enjoy a more comfortable and restful sleep.