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Spring can be a difficult season
Many of our clients seek green, organic house cleaning because of allergies or compromised immune systems. Allergies are often described as an overreaction of the immune system to substances that generally do not affect other individuals.
Spring is a time of welcome sunshine, but also of pollen pollution in Marin County after all the heavy winter rains. Not a happy time for those with pollen allergies. Just when everyone else is hitting the walking and hiking trails, allergy sufferers are told to stay inside.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, “An allergy is when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance, called an allergen. It could be something you eat, inhale into your lungs, inject into your body or touch. This reaction could cause coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, a runny nose and a scratchy throat. In severe cases, it can cause rashes, hives, low blood pressure, breathing trouble, asthma attacks and even death.”
How do we avoid pollen?
So, no wonder we want to find ways to avoid the irritants that cause a reaction. A reaction to pollen is pretty common and includes hay fever and asthma. The most common outdoor/indoor allergy triggers include tree, grass and weed pollen, mold spores, dust mites, cat and dog dander.
Dr. Schuman Tam, an MD at Marin General Hospital and UCSF warns that the worst of the allergy season is still coming and shares some recommendations.
- Stay inside as much as possible during the high pollen season.
- If you are allergic to pollens – you are probably most symptomatic during spring when weather is good and not raining — closing windows in bedroom at night may help.
If the condition persists perennially (all year long), or the symptoms are worse inside your home, you may be allergic to dust, mold and/or pets living inside the home.
- Try special dust-proof encasement of your pillows and mattress. Wash blankets with hot water which can also help.
- To keep dust mites at a minimum, try maintaining indoor humidity below 50 percent. This can be achieved by using a dehumidifier.
- If you have cat or dog allergies, it will help to keep the pets out of the bedroom and using a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner will also help. If the specific allergens within the home are not clear, a skin test from your doctor can help to identify specific allergens.
Many cities and counties don’t have an actual pollen monitor, but to see estimated pollen levels in your community, the Weather Channel offers a helpful application called the “Allergy Tracker.”
If you have questions about keeping your home as free of allergens as possible, please contact us today.
