After a few false starts, spring has officially sprung. That means longer days and more sunshine, warmer weather, and more time spent outdoors. But if you’re one of the approximate 28 million people in Europe who suffer from allergies, this time of year might also mean congestion, watery and itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, irritated skin, and general discomfort.

According to Natasha Allergy Research Foundation (NARF), one in four people in the UK suffers from hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis). That equals about 16 million people. Apart from the symptoms associated with their allergy, these individuals are four times more likely to suffer from other conditions such as asthma, eczema and a food allergy. Even worse, 57% of adults and 88% of children experience allergy-related sleep problems, leading to increased fatigue and reduced mental clarity.

Being outside at this time of year is often an uncomfortable and unpleasant experience for sufferers, but unfortunately few find relief when safely indoors. While we often think of our homes as our safe havens, the air quality inside our homes can be more harmful than it is outdoors.

Without even realising it, our day-to-day activities all contribute to the quality of the air we breathe while at home. Activities like cooking, cleaning, owning pets, or even burning scented candles can emit various invisible and potentially harmful particles into the air that irritate those with allergies and are also linked to other serious respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis.

So how can you find relief at home this allergy season? Here are our top tips.

 

1. Defend Against Dust

Dust. Every home has it. But what is it? The somewhat disgusting but true answer is that dust is made up of microparticles such as dirt, skin flakes, pet dander, clothing fibres, hair, pollen, and other generally unpleasant particles. Not exactly something you want in your lungs, right?

Regular cleaning will help to rid your environment of any existing dust build ups and prevent future accumulations from taking place. Allergy sufferers may want to try using a cream-based cleanser rather than sprays or aerosols, as the latter emit particles which can be irritating if inhaled.

 

 

2. Clear Cluttered Surfaces

While those knickknacks on your shelves may be nice to look at, they are also unfortunately a magnet for dirt, dust, and other particles. Cluttering bookshelves, cabinets, and tables with decorative items or things you don’t use often makes it easier for dust to settle and go unnoticed. Unfortunately, the moment you disrupt these particles, they become a part of the air you breathe.

It’s much easier to monitor dust build up on an uncluttered surface, and to clear it away. We offer a range of stylish storage solutions in our Leitz Cosy, My Box, and Click & Store ranges that look and function beautifully throughout your home. Organising your non-essential items into neat solutions can go a long way to helping you stay on top of your household cleaning during allergy season.

 

3. Think About Your Textiles

When you do venture outdoors, particles and allergens can latch onto the fibres of your clothing and travel back home with you. These new entrants and the other particles already found indoors can easily become trapped in your home’s soft surfaces such as furniture, carpeting, cushions, and duvets.

Regularly washing curtains, cushion covers, bedding, children’s soft toys, towels, rugs, and other textiles will help to rid them of any trapped dirt, dust, or particle accumulations. If strong fragrances tend to trigger you or your child’s symptoms, consider using a hypoallergenic or fragrance-free detergent to get the same benefits without the irritation.

 

4. Bring in Some Fresh Air

While it may seem counterintuitive, opening your windows for a little while each day can actually be a good thing, even during allergy season. Fresh air has been scientifically shown to boost energy levels and bring about positive benefits for brain and lung function, and it can actually help to improve your home’s air quality by helping to push out any stale air or unwanted particles trapped indoors. 

If you’re an allergy sufferer, you will need to time this right. You won’t have to keep the window open long in order to refresh the space, but opening it may of course trigger a flare up of your symptoms. It’s wise to consult a pollen forecast from a trusted source such as the Met Office to help with this. Stick to opening the window on days with low levels forecast, and keep the window firmly shut on days predicted to have high pollen counts.

 

5. Use an Air Purifier

While the above steps can help to alleviate some symptoms, vigilant cleaning and a bit of fresh air are not going to be enough to truly rid allergens and other harmful particles from the air in your home. An air purifier can help to eliminate what the other methods leave behind and provide a long-term solution to combatting indoor allergens.

Leitz’s TruSens range of air purifiers are perfect for use throughout the home. The range comes in three sizes to fit rooms ranging from small nurseries to large open plan living spaces. The slim design blends in seamlessly with any décor, and the purifiers’ quiet operation will go largely unnoticed in the background of your busy life. TruSens allows the user to ‘set it and forget it,’ as it continuously monitors air quality in the space and responds accordingly due to its SensorPod technology.

Rather than simply trapping pollutants, TruSens prevents pollutants from recirculating. Its in-built UltraViolet sterilisation technology destroys germs and viruses that build up on the filter and expels clean, purified air back into the room. For added allergy protection, we are launching a series of specialty filters to the range, including a new Allergy & Flu 3-in-1 HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Absorbing) Filter. This specialised filter captures 99% of airborne allergens, providing much-needed relief to sufferers of hay fever and other seasonal allergies. TruSens’s proficiency and benefits for indoor air quality have made it a popular choice for those battling allergies and other respiratory conditions, and have earned the range certification from the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF).

Any seasonal allergy sufferer knows that during the spring, precious relief can be hard to come by. Your home should be an oasis from your symptoms, not an aggressor of them. But by taking a few simple steps and introducing the right tech into your home, you’ll find that surviving allergy season can be a breeze.

Explore the TruSens range and determine which model is right for you here.