How the Atlanta area's two pollen seasons reach inside a Newnan house, from the yellow spring layer to fall ragweed and leaf mold, and the cleaning habits that keep the indoor load down.
Anyone who has parked a dark car outside in a Georgia spring knows the pollen here is not subtle. What is less obvious is that the yellow layer you can see is not the main problem for allergy sufferers. Atlanta Allergy and Asthma points out that the smaller, nearly invisible pollens from hardwoods such as oak and hickory cause the most significant symptoms.
That pollen comes indoors on clothes, hair, pets and air, and it settles on the same surfaces as household dust. This guide explains the local seasons and the cleaning routine that helps most in each.
Spring is dominated by trees. The visible yellow coating shows up alongside oak and hickory pollen, which is harder to see but stronger as an allergen. Allergists at Atlanta Allergy and Asthma say the pollen season is getting longer, starting sooner and producing higher counts than it did in the past.
Fall belongs to weeds. Ragweed releases pollen from August to November and peaks around mid September. Mold activity runs higher in warm, humid months, and fallen leaves that sit and compost can keep mold spores around well into late fall.
Atlanta Allergy and Asthma operates the only pollen counting station in the Atlanta area certified by the National Allergy Bureau. Its daily figure is the number of pollen grains in a cubic meter of air over the previous 24 hours. A high count is the signal to keep windows shut, run the air conditioning on recirculate and save outdoor chores for a lower day.
Rain helps. The Newnan 7 WNW station averages about 80 days a year with at least a tenth of an inch of precipitation, and a steady rain washes pollen out of the air. The day after a rain is a good time to air out the house briefly and do a thorough dusting.
Pollen settles wherever air slows down or surfaces are slightly damp. In a typical south metro home, with its tall windows and many doors to the yard, these are the places to watch.
Through the heaviest weeks, frequency beats intensity. A Recurring House Clean dusts reachable baseboards and blind slats every visit, vacuums floors and upholstery and wipes the surfaces that catch the most pollen. Some households move from bi-weekly to weekly visits for the peak and back again afterward.
Wait until the heavy layer has passed for a One-Time Deep Clean. That visit hand washes baseboards, wet-wipes blinds, cleans out window tracks and wipes fans and vents in place, which is the work that removes the last of the season's buildup. Done too early, it is coated again in a day.
Shoes off at the door keeps pollen and red clay from the Piedmont soil on the mat instead of the carpet. Change clothes and wash hands after yard work. Wipe dogs down with a damp towel before they come in, and wash pet bedding weekly in spring. Change the HVAC filter at the start and end of the pollen season; with the cooling season running for months, the system moves a lot of air.
In fall, rake or blow leaves away from doors and window wells so they do not compost against the house, and keep bathroom fans running after showers in the humid months.
The questions Newnan homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
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