How To Keep Pollen Out Of Your Home

Apr 30th 2021

Spring is known for being one of the most pleasant times of the year, but for allergy sufferers, with April showers comes uncontrollable sneezing and itchy eyes. In the springtime, the tiny spores that wreak havoc on your nose are produced by trees, grasses, and other plant life to fertilize other plants. These clouds of yellow pollen fill the air and coat homes and cars. The professionals at Evergreen Lawn Care are here to help you make sure that your home doesn't become pollen's next victim.

For expert residential and commercial lawn maintenance services in Gainesville, contact our team today to request a free estimate!

Take Off Any Outerwear

When entering someone's home, you may have been told to take your shoes off and to leave them at the door. While everyone's home is a little bit different. It is helpful to have a space somewhere near the door to take off any outerwear before going all the way into the house. This could be something as simple as a rubber mat for your shoes or a coat rack for any sweaters or coats that were outdoors. Make a habit out of taking off any sweaters, shoes, coats, and anything else that could be coated in pollen.

Brush Your Pets Regularly

Your fur babies might seem like the perfect little angels, they are also perfect for bringing pollen into your home. As your pet comes in and out of your house or apartment, pollen clings to their furry and their paws. All the pollen on their paws tracks into your house much like how muddy shoes track in dirt. We recommend brushing your pet's fur outside and wiping down their paws before they can track that pollen through your living room.

Wash Your Hair Every Day

Growing up, you may have been told to wash your face every night before bed so that your face's oils don't soak into your pillow, well the same principle applies to your hair and pollen. Similar to your pet's fur, pollen can collect in your hair and transfer to your bedroom. Washing your hair every night will strip the pollen from your hair, reducing the likelihood of pollen getting onto your sheets.

Invest In Some House Plants

While it may seem redundant to buy house plants when trying to keep pollen out of your home, a study by NASA found that certain house plants can help to relieve some allergies by collecting pollen and pollutants in their leaves. While having them won't cure your allergies, they can be a step towards making the room feel a bit fresher. Though, if you do pursue this option, make sure that the soil isn't too damp, otherwise, it can turn into a breeding ground for mold and can trigger worse reactions.

Purchase A HEPA Air Filter

Not all air filters are created for the same purpose, so some filters are better than others at collecting pollen from the air. A High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter can remove 99.7% of airborne particulates, which includes pollen. These filters are even made for your car, individual air conditioning units, central cooling units, and personal masks.

Seal Your Home

The best way to keep pollen out of your home is to seal off your indoor spaces by keeping your doors and windows closed. This is very important during the early morning and evening hours. You can stay up to date with local pollen forecasts and you can even sign up for allergy alert emails. These go out early in the morning so that you can better manage your allergies throughout the day. If the pollen levels are deemed as low, it should be safe to open up your doors and windows, though some may still experience allergy symptoms.

Switch Your Cleaning Habits

As pollen season and allergy season creep closer, that means you might want to start cleaning your house more regularly. We recommend putting down the regular dry rage or feather duster and start wet dusting. Dry dusting can shift all the resting dust and kick it into the air. After dusting it is always a good idea to follow up with vacuuming and mopping because any dust that has been kicked into the air will eventually settle on the floor.

Dry Your Clothes Indoor

Spring and Summer are known as the most pleasant season, and it may be tempting to save some time and money on a lovely day by drying your clothes outside. It could be even more tempting if you don't have an in-unit laundry machine. But, if you live in an area with a high pollen count, this could easily be a cause of all the pollen in your home. Try to only dry your clothes outside before and after the pollen season.

Park In A Garage

Unfortunately, not every apartment or house has access to a garage, but if you are lucky enough to have access to a parking garage or a covered lot, it can save your car from turning yellow from pollen and your nose from copious amounts of tissues. Cars can pick up pollen from driving around the city or from sitting in a parking lot near pollen-producing plants. If there is no garage or covered lot, we recommend rinsing your car with clean water every other day.