The arrival of spring is good news, but for some residents of Southwest Illinois, warm weather comes with a downside. Pollen can cause allergy sufferers a lot of aggravation at this time of year, so use these simple tips for keeping pollen out of the house this spring and early summer:
- Don’t track it in. Always take of your shoes when you come inside, and brush off your clothing before you open the front door.
- Dust and vacuum often. A clean house is less likely to harbor irritating pollen, so clean up regularly to improve air quality. A damp cloth or electrostatically charged duster is best for grabbing particles and holding onto them. After vacuuming, always empty the bag outside.
- Use your windows wisely. The cool breeze of an open window feels great, but keeping windows shut helps keep pollen out. Pay attention to the pollen count, and keep your house shut as tight as you can on days when the count is high.
- Don’t let your pets bring pollen inside. If you have pets that come in and out, be sure to wipe their paws off and brush the pollen out their fur before you let them back in. It’s best to do this outside, but if you do it inside, always vacuum the area afterwards.
- Shower after going outside. Pollen can easily attach itself to your hair. A good shower after being outside, especially if you’ve been working in the garden or yard, helps get rid of hangers-on.
- Choose a smarter landscape. Landscaping plants with large, heavy pollen are less likely to cause irritation. Good choices include azaleas, fir trees, hibiscus, magnolia, yucca and boxwood.
- Upgrade your air filters. If you use disposable fiberglass filters in your A/C, consider making the switch to pleated filters or HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters. They do a much better job trapping pollen and other small particles from your household air.
For more information on keeping pollen out of the house, and for all your indoor air quality needs, please contact us at Ernst Heating and Cooling. We’ve been proudly serving Hamel, Collinsville and other southwest Illinois communities since 1951.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Hamel, Alton, Glen Carbon, Highland, Greenville, Bethalto, Edwardsville and Troy, Illinois about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, visit our blog.
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