Allergies, Carpets, And Cleaning, Part 2: Pollen

“Hay hay hay—that’s what I say!” (our spelling) The Rolling Stones, “Satisfaction”

Ahhh-CHOO!  That sound, along with the mouth-stretching, nose-wrinkling, eye-squinching grimace of a sneeze, has been for many of us the sound of summer growing up. Hay fever. Ugh. House dust allergy can get us at any time of year, especially in rooms that have been closed up for a while and where carpets and furniture haven’t been vacuumed or otherwise cleaned lately. But in the spring and summer, when the air in our homes is generally fresher and less dusty, hay fever is the allergy that tends to nail us the hardest. Which makes it an especially good time to get your carpets cleaned and and non-toxically treated by Mother Nature (us, not the mythical figure) and our three step allergy treatment. Here’s why.

Where’s The Hay?

Hay fever gets its name from the fact that since more or less forever, a lot of people have gotten their major itchy-runny-wheezy episode in “haying season”—basically, the later part of summer. To save you the bother of looking it up, “hay” is cut grass, alfalfa, and other leafy, stemmy stuff dried out and used to feed cattle when they can’t be out grazing. Grass pollens are one of the major triggers for allergic rhinitis, and when grasses are mowed, the pollen gets into the air. And from the outdoor air, along with dust, pollen gets into your carpets, furniture, and bedding.

Pollen: Pretty Pollution?

Alas, pollens are part of plant sex, so they’re here to stay. We tend to think of pollen as that pretty, fragrant dust that bees and butterflies carry from flower to flower—but most pollens that set off the nasal Niagara come from trees and weeds as well as grasses. All these plants make small, light, dry pollen grains that are easily blown by the wind or, once on the ground, stirred up by foot traffic. And yes, all of those pesky pollens can end up in your carpets and furniture if you live anywhere near the plants that produce them.

Hay Fever Fightback

On the bright side,  as you know if you have a pollen allergy, the effects are seasonal, lasting for the weeks out of the year that the plant is pollinating. During those times, try to keep your windows and doors closed as much as possible, have everyone take off their shoes at the door, and get a good new filter for your A/C.

Yes—we get it—none of that may be realistic in your case. If you’re subject to hay fever, you’ll know if there’s pollen in your carpet or fabric-covered furniture because you’ll start sneezing when you sit or lie down on it. Sigh… If this sounds like your situation, vacuum your carpets regularly with a modern machine that has a HEPA filter, and get them cleaned by a professional all-natural carpet cleaner (ahem!) as soon as the particular pollen pollution period that does your nose in is over, so you don’t have to endure it a day longer than necessary. Just give us a call and we’ll come de-pollinate you!

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