Dusting is your first defence
Chances are seasoned hay fever sufferers already have microfibre cloths to hand. “Dusting away the pollen is a key part of keeping sneezes away – but there is one place some forget,” underlines Mills.
As she explains: “Cleaning the glass on your windows is standard, but if you have hay fever, the frames are just as important.
“Pollen, dust, and grime settle into the corners of your uPVC frames… and sit there until a breeze disturbs them.”
Take five minutes to open your windows and wipe down the internal frames, she advises, paying close attention to the tracks and mechanisms where dirt builds up.
“A simple wipe with a damp cloth gets the job done but if there’s stubborn build-up, use a vacuum with a nozzle attachment to suck it out before wiping.
“If you have a steam cleaner, even better,” says Mills. “The heat helps dissolve grease, dirt, and grime… and keeps bacteria away.”