Allergies now affect one in four of us and the problem is getting worse… each year this figure increases by 5% and as many as half of all those affected are children*.

It's more noticeable at this time of year when pollen counts are soaring, triggering symptoms of the UK's most common allergy, hayfever. If you suffer from hayfever, you can try to reduce symptoms such as itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing by staying indoors when the pollen count is high. Unfortunately, our homes are a haven for several other common allergens, including house dust mites, moulds and the dander from pet cats and dogs.

Banish these pesky allergens from your home this summer by following ourtop ten sneeze free tips:

1. Vacuum carpets, floors and soft furnishings regularly.Carpets and hard floors should be vacuumed daily if possible, and soft furnishings twice a week.
   
   
2. Always use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. These filters have a high level of filtration to trap even the smallest dust particles, so they're not released back into the air.
   
   
3. Use a vacuum cleaner with powerful multi cyclonic suction,as these won't lose suction as you clean, ensuring that every part of your carpet is as dust-free as the rest.
   
   
4. Use an upright vacuum cleaner on carpetsas the rotating brushbar beats out more trapped dust. If you have a bad back or mobility problems, choose a super lightweight upright.
   
   
5. For hard floors, use a vacuum cleaner with WindTunneltechnology, as these are more effective at trapping dust, preventing it from scattering back onto the floor.
   
   
6. Wash your carpets regularly– at least every three months - to remove oily or embedded dirt that vacuuming alone can't remove. Think your home is already spotless? Think again… our skin is covered in a layer of sebum oil that is designed to attract dirt, dust and allergens, so they don't enter our body. This oil rubs off onto carpets and furnishings whenever you touch them and continues to attract dirt and allergens until you wash them. Once they've been washed, your carpets will look brighter, smell fresher and it'll put the spring back into the pile too.
   
   
7. Use an upright carpet washerwith powerful suction and spinning brushes that clean carpet fibres on all sides to achieve the deepest, most thorough clean.
   
   
8. Wash stairs, car seats and soft furnishingsto eliminate allergens from every part of your home. Choose a carpet washer with a flexible hose and wash tool to make this easier.
   
   
9. Use a hard floor washerto clean your sealed hard floors rather than a mop and bucket. The separate clean and dirty water tanks mean you're never reusing dirty water, so you know your floor is hygienic and allergen free.
   
   
10. Shorton storage space?Then try a multi function carpet washer that also washes hard floors and/or vacuums carpets and floors.

Enjoy your sneeze free summer!

* Source: British Allergy Foundation -