The weather is finally starting to turn and summer is just around the corner, with shorter nights and longer days in the sun.
However, it isn’t all alfresco dining and prosecco as summer can be a frustrating time for allergy sufferers. The extra pollen, mown grass seeds and dust can wreak havoc for those with asthma, hay fever or other indoor allergies which worsen in warm, humid weather. Follow these top tips, to make sure your home is ready for summer and help prevent those unwanted allergies from playing up:
TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONING
It may come as a surprise, but having the air conditioning on in your home will prevent pollen and the dust in the air from entering through the4 filter. It is best to have this on in the morning as that is when pollen counts are often at their highest. They can also lower the humidity in your home, which is always a bonus for allergy sufferers.
SCOUR THE BATHROOM
Bathrooms offer the perfect conditions for mildew which can have a serious impact on allergy sufferers. Mix a cup of bleach with 4-5 litres of water and give your bathroom a deep clean, remembering to wear protective gloves. Don’t forget to check places you wouldn’t normally look as well; beneath the sink, behind the toilet and under the bathmat.
WASH DUVETS AND PILLOWS
Almost half of people in the UK have never washed their pillows and duvets, despite the fact that up to a third of the weight of a two year-old pillow is made up of dead skin and dust-mite faeces. This can cause all sorts of problems and cause allergic reactions that prevent a good night’s sleep.
For allergy sufferers, try Snuggledown’s Wash & Dry Me Hollowfibre bedding, which is a synthetic alternative to natural bedding, made with a polyester cotton cover in a special stich pattern to hold in the fine hollowfibre filling. Being able to easily wash your duvet and pillows at home, makes it an ideal option for allergy sufferers. Wash at 40° and always have that clean, fresh bedding feel.
USE A LAVENDER DIFFUSER
Lavender has natural anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory properties, so using a few drops of oil in your diffuser will help you relax and prevent those nasty symptoms. Rubbing a few drops on your palms and taking some deep breaths can really help with blocked noses, sinuses and throat and chest congestion.