Over 13million Brits urged to wipe their windowsills for 30 seconds every day this week

Scottish Sun

17-06-2025

Plus a handy first aid kit for the summer months
WIPE IT OUT Over 13million Brits urged to wipe their windowsills for 30 seconds every day this week
A SIZZLING heatwave is on the horizon for Brits this month, which will please most sun lovers.
And many people will love the chance to get out in their gardens and throw open their windows and patios doors.
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Brits are being urged to spare a mere 30 seconds to wipe down their windowsills this week after keeping them open
Credit: Getty
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Over 13 million people suffer from hay fever in the UK
But Brits are being urged to spare a mere 30 seconds to wipe down their windowsills this week after keeping them open.
With an estimated 13 million hay fever sufferers in the UK plagued with itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing or fatigue, it's vital to be mindful of indoor allergens.
It's a reaction to pollen, which triggers inflammation and increased mucus production – hence the watery eyes, coughing, nasal issues and scratchy throat, mouth and ears.
It can also aggravate lung conditions such as asthma, which affects 7.2million people in the UK, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which affects 1.2million.
While antihistamines and staying indoors are common remedies for combatting high pollen counts, individuals often overlook the impact of the pollen that settles inside their homes.
Tiny articles of pollen can stick to everything including your hair and clothes and once it gets inside your home it can settle on sofas, carpets, and bedding.
Home cleaning specialist and Daily Poppins founder Nigel Bearman said: "It's unrealistic to say 'don't open your windows' in the summer.
"But not wiping the sills afterwards is basically inviting pollen to settle and linger in your home."
Pollen can easily settle on smooth surfaces like window sills, frames, and blinds, particularly when windows remain open during peak pollen times.
Once in your home, these particles can be stirred back into the air by everyday actions such as opening or closing blinds, or simply walking past.
Change your car air filter and have your A/C checked if you suffer from hayfever
Regularly wiping these areas before pollen has the opportunity to disperse can prevent it from getting on bedding, sofas, and carpets.
Nigel advises: "Just use a damp microfibre cloth once a day. It takes 30 seconds, costs nothing, and can genuinely reduce your hay fever flare-ups indoors."
Dr Lindsay Browning, psychologist, neuroscientist and sleep expert at And So To Bed, provided other tips on how to keep hay fever at bay this summer.
Elsewhere, an allergy expert recently revealed the 8 things all hay fever sufferers need to do.
Hay fever first aid kit
Analyse your symptoms and find the best medication kit for you...
Antihistamines
Antihistamines (cetirizine or loratadine) work by blocking histamine in the body, which is released when the body detects something it thinks is harmful.
Histamine causes blood vessels to expand and the skin to swell, but in people with hay fever, also causes an allergic reaction. That's the watering eyes, blocked nose, rashes and so on.
Max Wiseberg, airborne allergens expert and creator of HayMax, says that many antihistamines are available on prescription, such as Telfast, which you can see your GP for or get through an online doctor, such as LloydsPharmacy.
Telfast, and other prescription-only antihistamine tablets, work in the same way as over-the-counter antihistamines, but are stronger and intended to help with more severe symptoms.
'Get your prescription in advance of the season so you have your medication in time to start taking it at the right time,' he says.
'Some are best taken at least one month before the hay fever season starts."
Nasal sprays
A nasal spray can be effective in controlling congestion and stuffiness.
Pharmacists can advise on nasal sprays (sodium cromoglicate, ipratropium bromide or decongestant), and eye drops, too.
Nasal sprays can also help with other symptoms of hay fever 'because the medicine is targeted directly to the nose, which is where the vast majority of allergens enter the body', Max says.
Independent pharmacist Rita Ghelani says: 'Try Xlear nasal spray, which contains xylitol, and has anti-bacterial properties and keeps the nasal lining moist.
'If symptoms are more severe, then try an anti-inflammatory nasal spray – sometimes referred to as a steroid nasal spray – which can take a few days to work.
'Start with one that contains beclomethasone, which is used twice a day, in the morning and at night.'
Rita also advises cleaning the nose with a saline nasal spray before a steroid spray, saying: 'It will remove sticky mucus from the nasal passage, thus improving the effectiveness of the medication.'
Eye drops
If itchy eyes are your primary concern, Rita says: 'Try using sodium cromoglicate eye drops.
"These make the eyes less sensitive to allergens such as pollen and reduce irritation.
"They need to be used four times a day to keep the levels of the active ingredient high enough to be effective.
"Keep using them even if symptoms improve.
'Using a good eye drop to lubricate the eyes may also help with dry eyes during the summer months.'
And Hay fever sufferers have been warned not to buy super-strong injections online as demand has soared for a banned drug.
Instead, here are four cheap tricks to beat hay fever season without breaking the bank.
And finally, the 6p supplement that will help prevent the agonising symptoms of hay fever.