Spring Showers Bring....Sniffles and Sneezes

The first buds of spring are beginning to pop out and along with the beauty of those delicate flowers and leaves, comes dreaded allergies. For those unlucky enough to suffer from seasonal allergies, there are a few things you can do to avoid bringing excessive allergens into your home:

·        Place a door mat outside your door and inside your door as well. This will provide double duty to catch debris on your shoes. After wiping your shoes on the mat, kick them off. Wearing shoes in the house will not only track in pollen but other nasty stuff as well.

·        Don’t hang your laundry on an outdoor clothes line if you suffer from allergies. As much as laundry dried outside smells awesome (and saves energy too), unfortunately it will collect whatever pollen is floating around in the air. Also, if you’ve been outside for an extended period of time, it’s a good idea to change your clothes or shake them out outside once you arrive home.

·         ets that go outside can track pollen back into your home. If possible brush and wipe their fur and paws before they come back inside.

·        If you plan on gardening or mowing your grass, avoid doing it between 5:00am and 10:00am. These hours of the day are peak pollen times.

·        High humidity provides an environment for mold to grow so installing vent fans in crawl spaces and attics is a great way to help alleviate humidity in your home and thus help eliminate potential mold growth.

·        During the hot and humid months of summer, close your windows and use air conditioning to keep cool. Also, avoid opening your windows or going outside after a heavy rain.

·        Too much water in your yard is also a great spot for mold to form. Make sure you don’t have any areas that have standing water or are excessively wet.

Spring is such a beautiful season but can be cruel to those suffering from allergies. Hope some of these tips will help keep your home a more comfortable place to retreat!