Sleeping at night when the weather is warm is always a bit of a battle, but when hay fever is thrown into the mix as well it makes matters even worse. Hay fever season kicks off in late March and lasts until September, so if you have a pollen allergy it's a long time to last with disrupted sleep. The season begins with the release of tree pollen, which is now already in the air, and this is then followed by grass pollen from mid-May to July.
Grass pollen is the most common type that people are allergic to so symptoms can often be worse at the height of the summer when temperatures are hottest. Weed pollen is the last to be released from around July to September. Pollen levels are very much dependent on weather conditions during spring and early summer, with lower temperatures meaning less pollen is produced. Spring rainfall is also a big influence, as a dry season will reduce the amount of pollen production.
The Met Office said the UK experienced its warmest meteorological spring and May in 2024 since records began in 1884, and this combined with even warmer temperatures at the end of last June has provided “ideal” conditions for pollen production.
So if you suffer from hay fever then chances are you may have experienced some symptoms already and these are often worse at night due to pollen accumulating during the day, or by being transferred to your bed from your skin, hair or clothing.
It can also be due to your body position as lying down can cause a build-up of mucus in your sinuses and nasal passages, making it more difficult to breathe and, in turn, drop off to sleep.
To help tackle this problem, experts suggest vacuuming your bedroom at least twice a week to remove any pollen that has accumulated and to do this using a ‘criss-cross’ pattern across the room.
By going across your room in this manner, it allows the vacuum to get deeper into the fibres of the carpet which rids your home of more pollen and ultimately helps you get a better night’s sleep.
Experts at MattressOnline explain: “It’s a good habit to vacuum at least twice a week, especially for rooms covered in carpets, where dust can deposit very easily. But make sure you’re cleaning the WHOLE bedroom, not just the floors. These are some of the areas that people tend to forget about:
“Using a criss-cross pattern while vacuuming your bedroom’s carpets will also help improve your sleep quality during hay fever season. Moving the vacuum in different directions will ensure you get deeper into the carpet's fibres to pick up more pollen.
“You should vacuum your mattress weekly to make sure that absolutely no trace of allergens are left to haunt your dreams. And don’t forget to flip it to clean both sides. Those battling hay fever should also wash their bedding once a week, giving special attention to pillow covers during this time of the year.”
