It's impossible to completely avoid pollen allergens, but with a few techniques you can reduce your exposure to these irritants and help keep your allergy symptoms under control.

The first thing you need to do is get tested, so you known exactly which type of pollen you are actually allergic too. You'll need to know which seasons are bad for your particular allergen pollen, so you have to identify them first.

Don't expect one single plan to avoid pollen. You'll have to adopt a few different strategies to control your allergy and to relieve your symptoms. By following several of these suggestions diligently, you can even eliminate the need for medication or drug-based treatments for your seasonal pollen allergies.

This is a detailed list of things you can do to help reduce the pollen load in your home and immediate environment.

Home Air Quality

- Have an air purifier that uses a HEPA filter
- Run an air conditioner during the high pollen-count season
- Avoid window fans
- Try to only open up the windows after a recent rain
- Check your furnace filter and make sure its replaced often

Personal Hygiene

- Wash your hands and face after being outside
- Even change your clothes if you can
- Wash your hair in the evening to prevent pollen from getting into your pillows and bedding
- Don't just focus on the people in your home - wipe down pets with a damp cloth when they come in from outside to remove any pollen in their fur

General Cleaning

- Get a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter built-in, and vacuum frequently. A vacuum with no HEPA filter will simply blow the pollen right back into the room through the exhaust.
- Avoid having wall-to-wall carpet in your home, especially in your bedroom - use a damp cloth to dust, or you'll just be spreading the fine pollen around
- While cleaning, wear a face mask

Laundry

- Use area rugs where possible, and wash them often
- Cover upholstered furniture with throws that can be washed
- Don't use an outside clothes-line to dry your laundry

The Bedroom

- Keeping your bedroom free of allergens is important because you spend so many hours there. Make extra effort to keep pollen out
- Have an air purifier just for the bedroom
- Keep the windows closed and the door shut
- As mentioned above, rinse your hair before going to bed to keep pollen out of your bedding
- Use bedding designed to keep out allergens
- Wash sheets and blankets on a regular basis