It is finally spring in North Carolina. With the start of spring comes so many beautiful things. The birds are chirping, the weather has warmed up, the sun sets later, and flowers are starting to bloom. The other thing that arrives in North Carolina with the start of spring is pollen. There are numerous types of pollen but the yellow dust that coats your driveway and patio furniture is pine pollen. While there is nothing you can do to prevent the pollen from falling, you can do some things to keep your home as pollen-free as possible.

Let’s start with ways to protect the interior of your home.

Remove your shoes. One of the first things you can do is always remove your shoes at the door as soon as you enter your home. This will prevent you from tracking pollen inside and moving it around your house.

Vacuum frequently. Despite your best efforts at keeping pollen from entering your home, it will still happen. Vacuuming your floors, drapes, and pillows more often during pollen season can help get rid of pollen that you may not notice.

Keep your windows shut. On beautiful spring days, it is tempting to crack open a window or two to enjoy a breeze and the nice weather, but you should avoid the temptation during pollen season. It may seem obvious but leaving any window open will allow for more pollen in your home than you would want.

Try a dehumidifier. Humidifiers work great in the dry winter but as soon as spring hits, so does the increase in humidity. Humidifiers can create an environment that fosters mold growth and is a breeding ground for dust mites. Keep a dehumidifier nearby to help you when your allergy symptoms flare-up.

Change your air filters. We all know that we are supposed to change our air filters frequently, but it is easy to let time go by and forget. Once pollen season starts it is important to go ahead and change all your filters. Clean air filters contribute to better air quality which contributes to fewer allergy flareups.

For the exterior of your home, such as a screened-in porch or patio, there are also things you can do to get through pollen season with relative ease.

Protect your cushions and furniture. As soon as the first signs of pollen start to appear, it’s time to protect your cushions and furniture. One option is to place your cushions, and any other fabric you wish to keep safe, in totes or large garbage bags to protect them. You can also lay plastic over your furniture. This way when pollen season is over you don’t have to worry about washing or cleaning your pillows. Another option is to Scotchguard your cushions and furniture which will protect them from staining and makes them easier to clean.

Keep your ceiling fan on low. If your porch has a ceiling fan, keep it running on low. This will help prevent the pollen from settling on your porch and furniture.

Hang vinyl curtains on your screened-in porch. Vinyl curtains, or even painter’s drop cloths, can be hung around the perimeter of your porch and act as a barrier to prevent the pollen from reaching your space. Vinyl curtains and painter’s drop cloths can both easily be cleaned at the end of pollen season.

Even though pollen is an undesirable part of spring, it usually only lasts for 3-4 weeks. Once it is past its peak the rest of spring is here with its warm and fragrant embrace. Once you get past the pollen season, we hope you get outside to find your new Harbinger home and start enjoying the warmer days of spring. Contact us today to learn more about our new homes throughout Raleigh, Zebulon, Wake Forest, Wendell, and Clayton.