WITH the sun shining this bank holiday weekend it can be very tempting to hang your laundry out to dry in the garden.
However, experts are warning people against drying their sheets outdoors as it could leave them feeling awful.
Dr Lindsay Browning, psychologist, neuroscientist and sleep expert at And So To Bed, has revealed that those who suffer with hayfever could be left feeling a whole lot worse.
She explains: “After washing your sheets and nightwear, be cautious about drying them on the line outside if you suffer from allergies.
“Although drying clothes and bedding naturally outside is better for the environment, pollen can be easily picked up by warm air and cling to your washing, so you may want to avoid outdoor drying when pollen counts are high.
“To combat this, be mindful of high pollen count times and hang your washing to dry in the middle of the day when there tends to be less pollen lower to the ground.
“It’s also important to choose the location wisely when it comes to drying your clothes and avoid hanging in areas where there are lots of trees, flowers or grass, as there will be higher levels of pollen there too.”
Dr Browning also provided other tips on how to keep hayfever at bay this bank holiday.
Keep your head elevated
Symptoms associated with an allergy are usually worse at night.
This is because when we lie down, the mucus cannot drain in the same way it would when gravity is helping, leading to disturbed breathing or a cough caused by a post-nasal drip.
For this reason, you should aim to keep your head slightly elevated at night if you are struggling with allergies.
You might want to try propping your head up with an extra pillow and shifting your sleeping position so you’re slightly more seated. This will bring gravity back into the mix, allowing excess mucus to drain and not pool and lessening the irritation.
Shower before bed
Taking a shower before bed will wash away any pollen that may have clung to your skin and hair from outside. Instead of transferring this onto your bed linen, make a habit of washing yourself before bed.
This is also a great tip for when we still start to experience warmer evenings again as a cool, not cold, shower will help to lower your body temperature making it easier to drift off to sleep.
Keep windows closed during the day
It might be tempting to open the window a fraction to let some fresh air in on a sunny spring day, however, if you’re a hay fever sufferer, you try to keep your windows and doors closed to prevent pollen from entering your home.
Having your windows open during the day will allow pollen particles to blow in and settle on your clothes, bedding and other soft furnishings within your room, making your symptoms much worse when it comes to bedtime.
Invest in an air purifier
Investing in an air purifier is useful for those with hay fever as it will remove pollen and dust particles from the air that trigger your symptoms.
This can be extremely beneficial for clearing your sinuses, which should allow you to fall asleep quicker and more comfortably as a result.