15 Spring Cleaning Tips to Reduce Pollen

No matter how often you clean your house, there will always be pollen, dust, and dirt.

And sometimes, these aren’t just minor annoyances; they can have a major impact on your health.

That’s why it’s important to limit the amount of dust and pollen in your home as much as possible.

Below, we’ve compiled 15 tricks for removing dust and pollen from your home.

 

1. Change Your Sheets on a Regular Basis

You spend a lot of time laying on your bed (a third of your day in fact). Making sure that your sheets are free of pollen and other dust particles is vitally important. Old, used sheets collect all sorts of dust and skin flakes.

The solution to this is to wash your sheets (and pillowcases) on a weekly basis.

Also, change into clean clothing before spending time on soft surfaces like beds and sofas, especially if you’ve been outside. You should also make sure that your sheets are made of natural fibers like cotton, linen, or even wool!

2. Use a Dehumidifier

A dehumidifier helps to reduce the levels of humidity in your house. This is one of the best ways to help control dust mites since they're sensitive to humidity.

Make sure to keep your dehumidifier tray clean and dry, and the air filters clear.

3. Use a Microfiber Cloth When Cleaning

Use a microfiber and go over all of the furniture and surfaces in your house.

Microfiber cloths have special fibers that are able to clean up even the smallest of dust particles.

This is a great solution for removing those pesky dust mites!

4. Vacuum Your House On a Regular Basis

This tip is a no-brainer!

Make sure to regularly vacuum your house. This will eliminate a good amount of the pollen, dust, and contaminants present in your house.

If you are looking for a vacuum cleaner, make sure to go with one with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter.

These premium vacuums help to remove 99.9% of the pollen, animal dander, and bacteria from the air. Use the hose attachment to clean spots where dust tends accumulate such as on vents, ceiling fan blades, and floorboards.

 

 

5. Mop Your Floors Frequently

Sweeping tends to stir dust up into to air, but giving your floor a good mopping afterward will pick up any of the dust that you missed.

The longer you leave dust, the harder it will be to remove it, so use a mop!

6. Beat The Dust Off Of Your Cushions & Rugs

Dust particles and other air contaminants can hide in cushions and rugs. When cleaning them, hang your rugs outside on a railing or clothesline, and place your cushions on a clean spot on your driveway or porch.

You can use a broom handle or a carpet beater to beat them. Continue to beat them until you can no longer see dust fly off when you hit them.

You may want to use a dust mask and protective glasses while you do this.

7. Regularly Groom Your Pets

Keep an eye on your pet’s fur. Regularly brush and comb them. When grooming your pet, make sure to do it outside, or at least on a hard surface (i.e. not on your carpet).

Thoroughly vacuum any soft surfaces your pet may shed on frequently. If you can, you should also give your petregular baths. This will remove the dust trapped in their fur.

Also, keep pets out of your bedroom! Pets bring in not only their own hair and dander, but dust and pollen particles can also hitch a ride in on their fur. Definitely not something you want on your pillow!

8. Use an Air Purifier

Go on the offense! Use an air purifier to trap all those nasty dust particles.

Make sure to place your air purifier close to areas where dust can blow in (next to windows and doors are great options).

Using an air purifier will help to prevent airborne contaminants from getting in and circulating around your house.

You can also use plants to purify your air, to  read more it, check out our article, 7 Air Purifying Plants For Your Home.

 

9. Clean Air Ducts & Vents

Dirty air vents contain dust particles.

Making sure they are clean is an important step for improving overall air quality and improving ventilation. Just know, it is probably best to have your air ducts professionally cleaned.

Professional cleaners have special tools that remove almost all of the bad air contaminants. You can’t get that level of cleanliness with a quick vacuum.

The good news is that you only need them cleaned every 3-5 years, unless you live in a very dry, dusty climate, in which case you will want to get them cleaned more frequently.  

 

10. Keep Your Child’s Toys Clean

If your child is sensitive to dust or pollen, then it’s a good idea to keep their toys clean and limit the amount of stuffed animals they have.

Buy washable toys made out of materials like wood, rubber, or plastic, and store them in an airtight box to help keep out dust.

You may also want to keep the toys of your child’s bedroom as an extra precaution.

 

11. Keep Your Windows Shut

Open windows on a dry day can lead to dust particles and pollen flying right into your living environment.

Opening them on a damp day can result in mold. Keep them closed and stop air contaminants from entering your home.

 

12. Remove Your Shoes When Inside

Make sure to remove your shoes when indoors. Leaving shoes on will track dirt and dust from outside into your home.

You should leave shoes on a hard surface near your door to avoid walking across any carpeting.

If you don’t have a tile or wood floor entryway, look into getting a rubber mat to place near the door.

Slippers are an excellent option for indoors!

 

13. Install Wood Flooring

Carpet holds a TON of dust.

In addition to that, each time you take a step on carpet, it releases dust into the air.

If you’re truly set on reducing the dust in your home, consider installing a wood floor, or another hard surface like stone, tile, or vinyl flooring. This will go a long way toward reducing the dust present in your home.

 

14. Get a Doormat

Prevent outside dirt and dust from invading your home by getting a doormat and leaving it outside your front door.

Make sure to wash your feet before coming inside your house.

Also, make sure to periodically clean your doormat, it too can collect dust and dirt.

 

15. Clean The Lint Out Of Your Dryer

Check the lint collector in your dryer and clean the dust from it.

This will not only help to keep your appliance running smoothly, it will also prevent dust from flying around every time you open the door.

Lint buildup can also be a fire hazard, so keep it clean!

So there you have it. Use these 15 tips and start breathing easier. If we missed anything, comment your favorite cleaning tips below!