Allergic to where you live?
Warmer weather can bring allergy misery for some of us. SAM WYLIE-HARRIS gets tips on easing the problems
WHETHER it’s dust, pet hair or household toxins, we’re surrounded by potential irritants. And as the spring sunshine means we’re throwing open the windows again – it’s not just fresh air you could be letting in, but pollen from the plants outdoors.
So, how do you improve air quality and filter out allergens?
Regular vacuuming
Carpets, sofas and soft furnishings are a magnet for debris and dust mites and a breeding ground for bacteria. Pet hair gets trapped between seating and cushions, not to mention what their paws bring in, all potentially increasing allergens in the home.
Some vacuum cleaners are designed to help with this, such as the award-winning Henry Allergy (£200, Argos) or a vacuum with a comprehensive filtration system, such as the Miele Boost CX1 Cat & Dog Powerline Cylinder Vacuum Cleaner (£359, Marks Electrical), which is fitted with a HEPA Air Clean filter to help get rid of fine dust particles and allergens.
Keep your blinds clean and bright
It’s easy to forget about curtains and blinds – but they can also harbour problems, so it’s important to keep blinds clean, and curtains should be cleaned at least every six months.
“Ideally, you should clean blinds once a month to get rid of dust or dirt,” says Helen O’Connor, product manager at 247 Blinds. “However, during these spring months, it’s especially important to remove pollen that may be lingering on the surface. If you have roller blinds or roman blinds, start with a soft dusting and gentle vacuum, using the brush attachment.
“For venetian blinds or plantation shutters wipe each slat using a damp cloth and washing up liquid, then finish with a dusting to ensure they’re pollen-free. If you have slatted blinds, turn these daily to reduce pollen building up on the surface.”
Consider your cleaning products
Harsh disinfectant wipes and cleaning solutions can irritate skin. Awardwinning brand TINCTURE has cleaning and home products that are 100% non-toxic, antibacterial, biodegradable natural, antiviral, and sustainably sourced.
“The natural ingredients we use, for instance eucalyptus and frankincense, are naturally antiviral and antibacterial and, most importantly, nontoxic,” says founder Angelika Davenport. “A little goes a long way.”
The All Purpose TINCTURE (from £4.99 for 475ml) can be used on all surfaces and has a springtime scent.
AClean sleeping environment
If sneezing, wheezing and itching disrupts your sleep, you may need to change your bedding. “House dust mites and fungal spores can trigger a variety of conditions and symptoms, such as asthma, eczema, itchy or runny eyes, sneezing, blocked or runny rose, tight chest and many more,” says Chris Tattersall, clean sleep environment expert and MD of Woolroom, whose wool bedding sets start from £142.18.
He says wool is naturally hypoallergenic, making it a helpful material choice for many people.
“What many people don’t realise, is the key to managing allergies within the bedroom is choosing a fibre that doesn’t trap or hold moisture whilst you sleep at night,” explains Chris. “Skin conditions such as eczema don’t like it when the skin starts to warm up and perspire, which causes irritation around those sensitive points of the skin. Wool works wonders absorbing excess moisture around the sleeper during the night, and then releasing naturally into the atmosphere during the day, maintaining a dry environment that deters house dust mites, dust mite allergens (called DERP1) and fungal spores.”
Purify the air
“Surprisingly, indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air, – particularly noticeable as we enter hay fever season, as pollen and other allergens become trapped in the home,” says Alexander Provins, EMEA director, of air purification solutions provider Blueair.
One of the most effective ways tackle this is to run a high-performing air purifier from April to June.
“The Blueair DustMagnet (from £349), captures and removes airborne dust before it settles,” explains Alexander. “In addition to dust, it effectively inactivates bacteria and viruses and removes 99.97% of allergens, pollen, mould, pet dander and microplastics as small as 0.1 microns from the air, thanks to Blueair’s HEPASilent technology.”