5 Ways to Stop the Sneezing Torture of Allergy Season

It’s starting to get warmer out and trees are beginning to turn green again. Unfortunately, this also means it’s peak allergy season. Let the days of non-stop sneezing, watery eyes, and itchy throat begin!

We’ve all experienced that first sign of allergy season. You open your front door to a noticeable layer of pollen on everything from your car to porch chairs. It’s enough to make us sneeze for days.

We might not be able to completely get rid of allergies, but we can slow them down. Here are tips from reputable sources that can help you reduce allergens at home.

1. Vacuum Every 4 Days

WebMD suggests vacuuming once or twice every week. Obviously, it’s good practice to frequently vacuum your carpeting so that dust and pollen don’t linger in your home. But, using the right vacuum filter can actually make a world of difference.

Make sure your vacuum is equipped with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter! These filters are built with fine mesh trapping harmful particles like pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and tobacco smoke.

You can find HEPA filters in home improvement stores like Walmart, Lowes, or Home Depot as well as online.

2. Allergy Proof Your Bedroom

Whether it’s taking a snooze or binging your favorite show, you spend a ton of time in your bedroom. Nothing is more miserable than getting cozy in bed and having to get up again because your nose is running. How frustrating is that!

Everyday Health recommends you wash your bed sheets and pillow cases at least once a week. The key is to wash in hot water and hot dry.

Now, you may be tempted to save energy by letting those sheets dry outside, but that’s only going to make things worse. Pollen and dander will stick to those sheets and your effort of washing them will go out the window.

3. Keep Your Shoes at the Door

There’s a reason parents always said to take your shoes off at the door. When you’re out and going about your day, you essentially become a walking chauffeur for pollen, dirt, and other irritants.

This Old House says always keep a doormat on the inside of your door as well as making sure shoes remain there can help reduce the potential for irritants to be tracked throughout your home.

After a day spent outdoors, the best thing you can do is wipe your shoes on a mat before entering your home, immediately take off your shoes, change your clothing and make sure those outdoor clothes go straight to the laundry room or hamper.

4. Mold Free Bathrooms are the Happiest

Seeing mold begin to form in a bathroom is one sure sign you need to get cleaning. Mold forms from built-up humidity left by showering. This is why it’s so important to keep your ventilation fan on during and after showering.

To keep mold from forming, wipe down your tub, sink, and around your toilet at least once a week. Don’t forget about under your sink, too! Usually what’s under your sink collects a ton of dust because it’s not a place we interact with.

Health.com also recommends you ditch the vinyl shower curtains because they’re known to emit lung-irritating compounds. Your best bet is using nylon curtains that can be washed when needed.

5. To the Windows

We get it. It’s summertime and there’s just something right about keeping the windows open. We aren’t saying you’re forbidden from opening the windows, but there are times where you really should have them closed.

Have you ever kept the windows open during the night only to wake up with a stuffy nose? Oh, the dreaded allergy-filled morning! This happens because pollen counts are at their highest in the mornings and during night time.

We all know how dirty windows can get. There’s a layer of pollen on the outer side. There’s dust built up around the edges, and oh my goodness, is that a dead fly?

The one and probably most helpful thing you can do is regularly wipe down your windows, and at Franklin West apartments, we’ll take care of the outer side of the windows.

You can also make sure the curtains you use are machine washable. If you don’t have curtains, use microfiber cleaning cloths or disposable dust wipes when you’re dusting off the blinds.

5 Tip Round-Up

  1. Vacuum twice a week using a HEPA filter for maximum cleaning
  2. Wash your bedding once a week with hot water and machine dry
  3. Avoid tracking dirt and pollen through your home by removing your shoes at the door
  4. Keep mold and mildew from growing in your bathroom by running your ventilation system during and after showering.
  5. Make sure your windows stay closed during the night and mornings.  
view of pittsburgh skyline

Jam on Walnut is Pittsburgh’s Best Outdoor Concert!

Pittsburgh’s best outdoor concert, Jam on Walnut, is back with 6 events this summer!

Start the afternoon browsing the many local shops and head over to Walnut Street for the biggest block party. Come out for live music from local Pittsburgh bands, food trucks like Rogue BBQ, and a good time in Pittsburgh. We can’t think of anything better.

Jam on Walnut benefits the Humane Animal Rescue. The Western Humane Society and the Animal Rescue League joined forces back in 2017 to care for our beloved furry friends both domestic and wild.

Here are the dates to mark on your calendar:

May 25 – Justin Fabus

The first live concert event with Jam on Walnut will feature Justin Fabus. An emerging country artist, Justin released his latest album called, “Remedy.”

Get ready for his performance, check out his music here.

Justin said, “To me, country is all about songwriting. It’s hard-working. It’s blue-collar. That’s Pittsburgh in a nutshell. I write what I live. When I sing my songs, I feel them, and I mean them.”

June 22 – Dancing Queen

For the second concert, Dancing Queen will be headlining the stage! Get your disco shoes ready, this band will play the best music from the ’70s and ’80s.   

July 20 – The Delaneys

Who’s ready to rock? The Delaneys are taking the stage on Saturday, July 20th. If you’re a fan of Foo Fighters or Pearl Jam, you’ll love this group! They have been bringing rock and roll to the Burgh for the past 21 years.

Listen to their recently released album here.

August 17 – My So-Called 90s Band

Jam on Walnut will feature My So-Called 90s Band on Saturday, August 17th. This band covers the greatest ‘90s hits like Buddy Holiday by Weezer, No Diggity, and many more. This one is going to be a good time for sure!

Check out their live concerts here.

September 21 – No Bad JuJu

Come September, get pumped for one of Pittsburgh’s most popular musical group, No Bad JuJu! This band’s sound is a mixture of classic R&B, soul, rock, and pop.

Click here to listen to their current hits.

October 26 – Velveeta

To close out the summer festivities, Jam on Walnut will feature Velveeta on Saturday, October 26th. This band has been performing a mix of pop and rock through Pittsburgh and the east coast since 1995.

Check out Velveeta!

Photo from Think Shadyside Facebook page.

 

OpenStreetsPGH is Inviting You to the Biggest Outdoor Party of the Year!

Ready to explore the streets of Pittsburgh and join a global phenomenon? Open Streets Pittsburgh invites locals, visitors, and everyone in between to embrace the Burgh with outdoor activities and community engagement.

What is Open Street Pittsburgh

Cars be gone! For one day each month during summer, chosen streets will be closed to cars and open to Pittsburghers. Walk, run, bike, and bask in the sunshine of Pittsburgh’s neighborhood streets!

Presented by UPMC Health Plan and hosted by BikePGH, this free event brings Pittsburghers together to enjoy the city we all love.

As you’re enjoying the day, you’ll come across live performances, giant board games, fitness activities, local food and shops, and so much more like Zumba in Mellon Park, hip hop dance in Homewood or family food prep in East Liberty. See the detailed schedule from 9 am to 1 pm here.

How do you get to Open Street Pittsburgh? Whether it’s on foot or using rideshare, here are the ways you can get there.

Mark these dates down on your calendar now because this is experiencing Pittsburgh like never before.

?️Saturday, May 25, 2019 | Pittsburgh’s East End

Lace up those hiking shoes for a whopping 4.4-mile loop through Homewood, Larimer, East Liberty, Point Breeze, and Shadyside.

?️Sunday, June 30, 2019 | Downtown and Strip District

At the end of June, peddle your way through Market Square, Strip District, and Lawrenceville. 

?️Sunday, July 28, 2019 | Uptown and South Side

To finish out Open Streets, explore classic Pittsburgh and make your way through Uptown including the Birmingham Bridge and South Side.

Visit Open StreetsPGH for the full route details including traffic crossings and Hub stations.

Photo provided by BikePGH and Photographer Murphy Moschetta.

Get Involved in OpenStreetsPGH

There are several ways to get involved with Open Streets. Help out as a volunteer, get your business involved, or reserve a space for a fitness class or performance. Visit the official website to get all of the details on how to get involved.

It’s exploring the outdoors in Pittsburgh. What could possibly make a day better?

 

 

 

* Header photo provided by BikePGH and Photographer Murphy Moschetta.