Pollen is really wreaking havoc on our allergies. We’ve been discussing ways to keep the bothersome dust at bay, like changing your clothes, showering at night, and keeping outdoor pets out of your bed as well. But if you really want to clear the air in your home, Consumer Reports says an air purifier may help.
While you may point the finger at pollen, Consumer Reports says there could be a number of products inside your home also fueling your allergy symptoms. Pollutants can come from cleaning agents, pesticides, aerosols, even burning candles and incense. All of it can irritate your throat, nose, and eyes or in some cases cause more serious medical issues.
Air purifier tests
In its laboratory tests, Consumer Reports injects contaminants into a controlled chamber to see how well an air purifier reduces the number of particles in the air. The faster an air purifier can remove those particles, the better the score.
CONSUMER REPORTS: Best Air Purifiers of 2024
One that is recommended is the Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max -- on sale right now for about $280 on Amazon. This air purifier comes with a filter indicator, dirt sensor, and while a bit noisy, Consumer Reports says on its highest speed, it’s terrific at removing dust, pollen, and smoke.
For your air purifier to be most effective, Consumer Reports says you should close and seal windows and doors, and use the air purifier in a room that doesn’t have a fireplace or anything else that vents to the outside.
Local lab
A lab at Edward Waters University is giving us even more data to work with when it comes to tracking pollen in Jacksonville.
Dr. Brian Seymour and his assistant, Jordan Oliver, a senior at Edward Waters University, are on a mission to find out what kind of pollen is flying in the air. They look at microscopic images of tiny particles.
Watch the video below for more: