27 June 2023 , 13:38
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If you suffer from hay fever, it can sometimes mean that you don't want to open your windows even in the suffocating hot summer weather, as it means you'll let in pollen that will sit on your surfaces and make you sneeze for days.
But thankfully, one cleaning expert has come up with a homemade solution that could let you throw open your windows for a bit of fresh air, while keeping you safe from pollen that could trigger your allergies.
Mira Yordanova, owner of end-of-tenancy cleaning company Top Cleaning GB, said that the best thing to do is make a "dusting spray" out of water, vinegar, and olive oil, which will stop dust and pollen from settling on your surfaces.
You can make a pollen-repelling solution out of water, olive oil, and vinegar (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Speaking to MattressOnline, Mira said: "Consider mixing the following ingredients to create a homemade dusting spray that will keep your surfaces cleaner for longer:
- ½ cup of water (125ml)
- ¼ cup of vinegar (60ml)
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- A few drops of essential oil of your choosing to give your spray the perfect scent (remember to check if it's safe for pets!)
"Once sprayed, wipe the surface with a clean cloth. This dust-repellent spray will help keep dust and pollen away from your bedroom's surfaces for longer."
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The cleaning expert also recommended vacuuming your mattress and washing your bedsheets once a week in order to make sure you don't have any pollen stuck to your sheets when you want to go to sleep.
And while you've got your vacuum out, you should also be cleaning your floors once every two weeks, as pollen and dust can build up in carpets "very easily".
She added: "You should vacuum your mattress weekly to make sure that absolutely no trace of allergens is left to haunt your dreams. And don't forget to flip it to vacuum both sides. Those battling hay fever should also wash their bedding once a week, giving special attention to pillow covers during this time of the year.
"It's a good habit to vacuum at least twice a week, especially for rooms covered in carpets, where dust can deposit very easily. But make sure you're cleaning the WHOLE bedroom, not just the floors."
And when it comes to dusting, always make sure you're using a damp cloth instead of a dry one, as a dry one will just cause the dust and pollen to float around the room and eventually settle on a different surface.
Mira also recommended investing in anti-allergy pillows and mattress protectors, and in bad news for pet lovers, she said sleeping with your furry friend could make your hay fever worse - as pollen can stick to their fur.
She said: "A pet can be your best friend, but not during hay fever season. Living with a pet will make it a lot more difficult for you to take control of the pollen infiltration in your home, as it will often stick to their fur. For this reason, try to hang out with your pets outside the bedroom and avoid sleeping with them to alleviate your hay fever symptoms."