If you have lived in Austin through a winter, you know the drill. Sometime in December the mountain cedar starts releasing pollen, and by January there is a yellow film on every car, windowsill, and coffee table in town. I clean through cedar season every year, and these are the things that actually make a difference inside the house.
Stop it at the door
Most of the pollen in your house walked in. Shoes off at the door is the single biggest thing you can do, and a good doormat outside plus a washable rug inside catches most of the rest. If you have a dog that goes outside, keep an old towel by the door and wipe paws and coat before they come in. Dogs are pollen sponges.
Change your air filter more often than you think
Your HVAC filter is doing more work in January than it does all summer. During cedar season I tell clients to change it every month, not every three. A pleated filter rated MERV 11 to 13 catches pollen; the cheap blue fiberglass ones do not. Keep the fan running on “on” instead of “auto” on bad days so the air keeps cycling through the filter even when the heat is not running.
Dust damp, not dry
A dry duster or a feather duster just moves pollen into the air so it can land somewhere else. Use a slightly damp microfiber cloth and wipe in one direction. Rinse it often. Work top to bottom: ceiling fan blades, then shelves, then tables, then baseboards, then floors. If you vacuum first and dust second, you are doing it twice.
Vacuum with a HEPA filter, and go slow
A vacuum without a sealed HEPA filter blows fine pollen straight back out the exhaust. If yours does not have one, it is worth the upgrade for anyone in the house with allergies. Go slowly on carpet, overlapping each pass, and do not forget under the bed and the couch cushions.
Wash bedding weekly, in hot water
You spend a third of your life with your face on your pillow. During cedar season, wash sheets and pillowcases every week in the hottest water the fabric allows, and shower before bed if you have been outside. It sounds like a lot, but it is the difference between waking up stuffy and waking up fine.
Keep the windows closed on high-count days
Austin gives us a few beautiful 70-degree days in January and it is tempting to open everything up. Check the pollen count first. Cedar peaks in the morning, so if you must air out the house, do it in the late afternoon.
None of this requires special products. It is mostly about doing the ordinary things a little more often for about eight weeks. If you would rather not, that is what I am here for.