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Last Revised: 3/31/25
How is it that pollen always finds its way inside? Why is it that no matter what you do, allergy season still finds a way to settle into your couch, carpet, and your sinuses?
Here’s the deal: you can’t stop pollen from sneaking into your home completely, but you can stop it from building up and wreaking havoc on your air quality and your comfort. It comes down to being consistent with a few key habits and utilizing some help from your HVAC system.
At Mattioni, we’ve seen firsthand how pollen creeps into homes – and more importantly, how to stop it. In this article, you’ll learn the 10 proven ways to prevent pollen buildup indoors and finally breathe easier this season.
10 Ways to Keep Your Home Pollen-Free This Spring
1. Close Your Doors and Windows
While strategies to prevent pollen accumulation are essential, reducing how much makes its way indoors in the first place is the first step to keeping your home pollen-free.
The spring breeze may be lovely, but it comes with a cloud of pollen. Leaving windows or doors open, especially on high pollen count days, is like inviting in all the allergens in the neighborhood. Even leaving a window cracked is enough to let microscopic pollen in.
Instead, keep your windows and doors closed and rely on your HVAC systems to keep your home’s air fresh and inviting without unwanted allergens. If you can’t resist the fresh air after a long winter, one alternative option is to learn how pollen-resistant screens can help.
2. Change Your Air Filters (And Change Them Again)
Your HVAC system is your first line of defense against airborne allergens – but only if you’re keeping the filters clean. During pollen season, air filters should be changed at least once every 1-3 months. If you don’t always remember to swap in a clean air filter, you’re not alone – so be sure to set a reminder to complete this simple, yet effective, task.
If you live in an area with heavy pollen counts, replacing your air filter once per month is vital to preventing pollen accumulation in your home.
3. Use a HEPA Air Purifier
Speaking of HEPA filters, an air purifier can take things to the next level by actively filtering the air circulating through your home with the most advanced filters out there. The filter built into your HVAC system does a decent job catching larger particles, but installing a whole-home air purifier equipped with industry-leading HEPA filters into your home’s ductwork will keep your home clear of microscopic allergens and pollen not caught in standard filters.
Look for “ducted-in” air purifiers with multiple speed settings, which can circulate fresh air even when you’re not heating or cooling your home. During peak pollen season, run it continuously to eliminate any pollen that makes its way into your home.
How Much Do Indoor Air Quality Systems Cost?
4. Upgrade your Vacuum, and Use it Habitually
If your vacuum is over 10 years old, it may not be doing much more than rearranging the dust on your floor. Spring is the best time of year to invest in a vacuum with a built-in HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter for a more effective way to fight indoor pollen accumulation.
But even the best vacuum won’t help you unless you use it regularly. Cleaning your floors with a HEPA-filtered vacuum once a week (focusing on carpets, rugs, and upholstery where pollen tends to hang out the longest) can go a long way to keeping your home allergen-free.
5. Wash Your Bedding Regularly
Pollen sticks to your skin, hair, and clothes, and when you climb into bed at the end of the day, you’re bringing it right along with you. Washing your sheets, pillowcases, and blankets once a week will avoid the accumulation of pollen and other allergens in your bed.
Don’t wait for your sheets to get uncomfortable – be proactive and wash them ahead of time, at least once a week should do.
6. Change Your Clothes After Spending Time Outdoors
Changing your clothes as soon as you get home from a walk or running errands during peak pollen season is a great way to prevent pollen from getting to your bedding, or anywhere else in your house. You may not be able to tell sometimes, but you’re likely wearing a thin coat of pollen if you spend more than a few minutes outside near any trees or shrubs. After a longer walk or hike, you’ll probably be able to feel it much easier.
Changing your clothes (or even taking a shower) is an easy habit to get into that keeps pollen from transferring to your furniture, carpets, or bed – and it only takes a minute.
7. Dust All Surfaces, Curtains, and Ceiling Fans Once a Week
At this point, you should be sensing a theme: pollen loves to settle in places you don’t always think to clean. Places like curtains, bookshelves, baseboards, and ceiling fans are prime landing spots.
Before you vacuum, spend a few extra minutes dusting surfaces in your home with a microfiber cloth or damp rag. For the best results, dust top to bottom, finishing with baseboards before vacuuming carpets and sweeping hard floors. You may also want to learn how an air scrubber can attack and reduce pollen, dust, and other allergens directly at a molecular level.
8. Bathe Your Pets More Frequently
Just as it clings to our skin and hair, our pets’ fur is like Velcro for pollen. Bathing your pets more often in spring helps reduce the allergens they bring inside after a walk or romping around in the yard. If a full bath isn’t practical for you, at least wipe down their paws and fur with a damp cloth when they come in.
Loving your cats and dogs doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the comfort of your home. Curious about more thorough ways to keep your home clean of pet dander? Click here to learn about indoor air quality systems.
9. Install an FAV (Fresh Air Ventilator)
If you want fresh indoor air without letting pollen in your front door, a Fresh Air Ventilator (FAV) could be the indoor air quality system for you. FAVs bring in fresh outdoor air while filtering out allergens like pollen and dust.
It’s the ultimate springtime win-win: enjoy the beautiful weather without having a sneeze attack from opening a window. FAVs integrate with your existing HVAC system and work behind the scenes to keep your indoor air balanced, breathable, and pollen-free.
6 Benefits of Fresh Air Ventilators
10. Check the Local Pollen Count
Before you leave your home, take a quick peek at the local pollen count. It’s one of the easiest ways to stay ahead of allergens. By being proactive about checking how much pollen is currently in the air outside, you’ll keep the issue top of mind and be more likely to stick to other mindful habits – like changing your clothes and vacuuming.
Familiarize yourself with the pollen reports commonly included in weather forecasts (a little below the temperatures) or routinely check for specialized resources.
If you’ll be outside on a high pollen day, make sure to change your clothes as soon as you get home, and maybe even take a shower just to be safe. Staying aware of the pollen levels you’re exposed to can help you prevent it from getting into your home on the worst days.
Ready to Breathe Easier This Spring?
Now you know exactly how to reduce indoor pollen levels in your home and create a more comfortable living space during the spring season. Remember, pollen and other allergens will inevitably make their way indoors if you spend any amount of time outdoors, so be ready to address them with routine cleaning and the assistance of indoor air quality systems like air purifiers, air scrubbers, and fresh air ventilators.
We at Mattioni have been assisting homeowners with their indoor air quality needs for over 75 years, so we know just how serious pollen season can be. Getting into good habits (like checking local pollen levels, vacuuming, and keeping windows and doors closed) and utilizing HVAC systems at your disposal can help you beat pollen once and for all.
If you’re looking for professional assistance, the team of HVAC experts at Mattioni is here to answer all your questions. We’re homeowners just like you – we know that spring allergies can wreak havoc on your house.
Call us at (610) 400-8510 or book an appointment online to get started. Let’s protect your home so you can get outdoors and do the things you love.
