Ragweed season is in full swing – it’s worth paying attention to your textiles too

Ragweed, a rapidly growing, almost ineradicable weed, is causing an increasing problem every year. The World Allergy Organization has been monitoring trends related to allergenic plants for more than 70 years, and according to their reports, the difficulty is not only caused by the fact that allergenic plants are ripening earlier due to climate change, but also by the fact that the weed is becoming stronger. The reason for this is that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been increasing sharply since the mid-20th century, which increases photosynthesis, so ragweed grows larger and releases more pollen into the air than ever before.

And these pollens like to stick to everything: our hair, skin, clothes and home textiles. According to LG experts, this is why it is worth paying attention not only to thorough and regular cleaning and airing in the evening or early morning during this period, but also to the pollen grains stuck to our skin and textiles. Fortunately, by following a few rules, we can do a lot to get through this period with as little discomfort as possible.

Dressing and hygiene

As soon as we get home, we should change clothes immediately and put our worn clothes directly into a closed laundry basket or the washing machine – we should never bring them into the bedroom. Then we should wash our hands thoroughly, rinse our face with lukewarm water and clear our nasal passages. Hair is particularly good at absorbing pollen, so we should wash it as often as possible during ragweed season. In case of high pollen concentrations, it can also be useful to wear a hat outdoors. And before going to bed, we should definitely shower to remove pollen stuck to the skin.

Increased cleaning of textiles

During ragweed season, a large amount of pollen can accumulate in our homes, which is introduced into the air in the apartment by us and by ventilation. And home textiles are the perfect surface for pollen grains to adhere to, so they can cause symptoms even after the season. That’s why we should wash our bedding more often and put our pillowcases in the washing machine at least once a week. Today, there are appliances that can use the power of steam to combat microscopic dirt extremely effectively: LG washing machines with Steam™ technology, for example, can remove 99.9% of allergens hiding in home textiles, clothes and plush toys.[3] If possible, use anti-allergenic bed linens and mattress protectors. We should also pay attention to cleaning curtains and carpets, or even consider removing them during ragweed season.