How to Keep Spring Allergens Out of Your Home

Tree, bloom and grass pollens are very volatile and can travel miles through the air, on insects, and on birds. It is impossible to attain 0% exposure, but you can reduce the opportunities of inhalation to alleviate symptoms and reduce triggers.

Know the Pollen Count 

Some days are worse than others. Weather apps and channels display a daily pollen count forecast that helps get organized and keep informed of peaks.

Stay indoors as much as possible, particularly at the height of pollen activity, typically between 5 am and 10 am. 

Minimize Entry Points in Your House

Pollen particles are microscopic and shutting doors and windows may not be sufficient to keep them from entering and settling on all surfaces. Cracks and deteriorated caulk around openings provide that many access points. Much like you proceed to weatherproof glass doors and windows to optimize energy consumption, especially in summer and winter, take a tour and carefully check seals are in mint conditions. A window or patio door that is slightly out of balance is enough to create an air gap. 

Control Indoor Air Quality

Fresh air is healthy. Air-filled with seasonal allergens is not. To keep a comfortable flow and avoid stale air, turn your air conditioner on recirculate so it doesn’t use thee outside air.

Air cleaners equipped with a certified asthma and allergy-friendly® filter are also a good option to improve air quality. 

Eliminate Chances of Pollen Transfer

If you’ve had no choice but to spend an extended period of time outdoors, taking the dog for a long walk or at high pollen counts, wash your clothes right when you return home. Wash the pollen off the dog’s hair with a damp cloth (and a hose rinse once a week. Do not use soap too often as it stripped the fur from its natural oil and can expose your four-legged friend to diseases). Lastly, if you feel you’ve been over-exposed, take a shower, since pollen sticks to the skin as well as to anything else.

10 Best Practices to Keep Allergens out Year-round

Spring to fall – when pollen levels change and increase - is a challenging period for people with allergies. But perennial allergies are also quite common in the US, and the 6th leading cause of chronic illness.

Year-round allergens include dust mites, mold spores, pet dander and like their pollen cousins stick to everything, nest in rugs and carpeting, and freely travel in the air. 

While pollen allergies force people to stay inside and shut doors and windows, you should look to maximize fresh air circulation for the rest of the year. Other best practices suggestions include:

1. Frequent dusting with a damp cloth, so as to trap allergens rather than disturb them.
2. Vacuum at least once a week, especially carpets and upholstered furniture. Ideally, opt for a high-quality vacuum cleaner, fitted with a HEPA filter.
3. Augment airflow to reduce humidity, which promotes the proliferation of mold spores. Open doors and windows (off-season) or invest in a dehumidifier.
4. Hunt damp areas around the house. If you suspect you have mold infestation call a remediation service. 
5. Beware of potted plants: they collect dust on their leaves and mold spores in the soil. Dust them like you would furniture and cover the dirt with gravel (or decorative rocks).
6. The bedrooms are areas to which you should pay particular attention, as a good night’s sleep is often the best medicine: ample aeration, no pets allowed, hypoallergenic pillow and mattress covers.
7. Sofa pillows, throws, curtains, blinds, fan blades, top of cabinets, knick-knacks are dust collectors, so make sure they make the periodic list for thorough washing/cleaning.
8. Allergen-free pets don’t exist, though certain breeds shed less allergenic skin cells and hair. Brush them outside. Vacuum their bed regularly and wash their toys (allergenic proteins may be found in pets’ saliva).
9. Steam cleaning is a good way to keep house chores to a reasonable level. Nobody wants to spend precious free time scrubbing and mopping. Schedule a professional service twice a year or more; it works wonder on bare floors, wall to wall carpeting and cushioned furniture. Be cautious if you want to have oriental rugs steamed, it takes skills and specific products to not damage the rug pile.
10. Install frameless glass patio doors

How Cover Glass’s Frameless Glass Doors Are Allergen-friendly

Patio doors are the main entrance points for allergens. Cover Glass installs a frameless glass door system that can actually protect you from exterior pollutants better than any other system.

• Wall-to-wall glass panels are fully sealed when closed. Materials used to guarantee less maintenance and little to no wear-and-tear.
• No frame means no nooks and crannies to collect dust and mold, to which we add the bonus of being easy to clean.
• Cover Glass weatherproofs its windows and doors so fully that no water can penetrate, even during heavy downpours. A unique drainage system eliminates risks of water accumulation.
• When hay fever season abates, you can open panels fully or partially, some or all of them, creating a custom design of airflow corridors.

When spring hits, you can feel safe inside your house but still enjoy the beauty of the season (no visual barriers to make you feel trapped).

When it’s safe to open the house to fresh air again, you benefit from the maximum of air and obstacle-free indoor-outdoor living.