Opening and closing windows<\/b><\/p>\n Every home needs a breath of fresh air, and windows are our main defence against the outdoors.<\/p>\n She says knowing when to open them, and when to keep them shut is key to the air quality inside.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all want fresh air, but letting it in at the wrong time invites pesky pollen in too,\u201d warns Mills.<\/p>\n \u201cPollen counts tend to be highest in the early morning, and again in the early evening.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, during these peak times, try to keep your windows closed. It can help keep pollen from drifting in,\u201d she advises.<\/p>\n If you need to ventilate the house \u2013 and you should, to prevent condensation \u2013 do it in the mid to late afternoon when pollen counts often dip, suggests Mills.<\/p>\n \u201cAnother great time to open a window is right after a heavy rain shower,\u201d she adds. \u201cThe rain washes the pollen out of the air, making it safer to let a breeze in.\u201d<\/p>\n Dusting is your first defence<\/b><\/p>\n Chances are seasoned hay fever sufferers already have microfibre cloths to hand. \u201cDusting away the pollen is a key part of keeping sneezes away \u2013 but there is one place some forget,\u201d underlines Mills.<\/p>\n As she explains: \u201cCleaning the glass on your windows is standard, but if you have hay fever, the frames are just as important.<\/p>\n \u201cPollen, dust, and grime settle into the corners of your uPVC frames\u2026 and sit there until a breeze disturbs them.\u201d<\/p>\n Take five minutes to open your windows and wipe down the internal frames, she advises, paying close attention to the tracks and mechanisms where dirt builds up.<\/p>\n \u201cA simple wipe with a damp cloth gets the job done but if there\u2019s stubborn build-up, use a vacuum with a nozzle attachment to suck it out before wiping.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you have a steam cleaner, even better,\u201d says Mills. \u201cThe heat helps dissolve grease, dirt, and grime\u2026 and keeps bacteria away.\u201d<\/p>\n She continues: \u201cKeeping this area clean can prevent pollen from blowing into the room every time you open the window.\u201d<\/p>\n Cue curtains, carpets and upholstery<\/b><\/p>\n Unfortunately, soft furnishings are magnets for dust, pet dander and pollen, highlights Mills.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fabric fibres trap microscopic particles, holding onto them until you sit down \u2013 and sends them airborne again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou probably vacuum your carpets, but when was the last time you did the curtains?<\/p>\n \u201cEvery time you draw the curtains, you shake loose settled dust,\u201d she warns.<\/p>\n Fortunately, you don\u2019t need to take them down to wash them constantly. \u201cJust use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRun it over the fabric from top to bottom, as it helps to remove the surface layer of dust and pollen without the hassle of a washing machine cycle.\u201d<\/p>\n She suggests trying to do this once a week during high-pollen season, to keep levels manageable.<\/p>\n Pollen and sheets are natural bedfellows<\/b><\/p>\n While our bedrooms should be a safe sanctuary from allergens, they can transfer to bedding without you realising\u2026<\/p>\n As Mills puts it: \u201cWe spend a third of our lives in bed, so make sure yours isn\u2019t making you sneeze.<\/p>\n \u201cPollen sticks to hair and skin during the day, which means it ends up on your pillow at night.\u201d<\/p>\n Wash your bedding frequently, ideally once a week, she advises. \u201cA hot wash at 60C is best for killing dust mites, and removing sticky pollen residues.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you can, avoid drying your sheets on the line outside on high-pollen days \u2013 they act like a giant net for allergens,\u201d she warns.<\/p>\n And suggests using a clothes horse indoors, or tumble dryer instead.<\/p>\n Coming in from the outside<\/b><\/p>\n Sometimes cleaning and decluttering isn\u2019t enough, notes Mills, and creating pollen-proof barriers can help\u2026 especially if you live in a high-pollen area with grassy spaces, or lots of trees.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you come in from outside, you bring the season with you,\u201d highlights Mills. \u201cPollen clings to coats, shoes, and bags, so don\u2019t walk these allergens through the home.\u201d<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t have an entryway, she suggests setting up a \u2018drop zone\u2019 near the front door for shoes and coats.<\/p>\n \u201cTaking shoes off immediately stops you from tracking pollen into carpets and rugs.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if you\u2019ve been out for a long walk, or doing the gardening, get changed as soon as you come in \u2013 and put your clothes straight in the wash.\u201d<\/p>\n Protect pets from pollen<\/b><\/p>\n Pets love sniffing around outside, and chances are you might be toying with keeping them out of certain rooms, suggests Mills.<\/p>\n But if the idea of restricting your four-legged friends from particular rooms to avoid spreading pollen isn\u2019t feasible, she suggests wiping their paws and brushing their fur in the same \u2018drop zone.\u2019<\/p>\n At the end of the day, she says it\u2019s all about stopping the pollen filtering further down the line\u2026 and minimising the triggers that set hay fever symptoms off in the first place.<\/p>\n \u201cGet these simple basics right, and you\u2019ll be free to enjoy spring as it should be \u2013 fresh air, sunshine, and far less sneezing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With allergy season coming into full swing, it\u2019s that time of year when a hanky is your 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