At this time of year, opening the windows and feeling the air move through your home can feel vital in overcoming rising humidity and heat. But if you suffer from allergies, doing so usually brings pollen indoors. That's where the 'Rain Cooling' method comes in.
Air quality experts have revealed that you can use the 20 minutes after April showers to your advantage, to ventilate your home without exposing your indoor space to the sharp rise in pollen counts, or running up huge AC bills.
As rain pulls airborne pollen down to the ground, there's a short period after it has rained when you can safely cool your home without pushing up your pollen exposure. Pairing this 'rain cooling' technique with one of the best air purifiers will easily create a refreshing and comfortable space.
How to Use the 20-Minute Rain Cooling Method
'When it rains, airborne pollen particles are pulled down to the ground. Once pollen gets wet, it clumps together and can no longer be airborne,' shares Phil Adkins, president of Adkins & Sons.
To allow fresh air into your home without triggering allergies, open your windows for 20 minutes or so after light rain has fallen. This is when airborne pollen counts will be at their lowest.
Then, to catch any pollen particles that may have seeped in, run your air purifier for 30-60 minutes. If you don't have one, I recommend the Shark NeverChange MAX – I use it at home, and its HEPA filtration and large, 1,400 sq. ft. coverage make it ideal for clearing pollen and other spring pollutants from your home's air.
Ventilating your home does more than freshen up your space. It cools your home without relying on your AC, which, in turn, reduces your energy bills. Opening your windows after light rainfall is an effective, money-saving solution that doesn't bring allergens into your home.
The Science
The Rain Cooling technique is particularly important in April as higher temperatures and rounds of heavy rainfall result in high pollen counts for much of the US, according to AccuWeather.
But there's a caveat. If you're allergic to other pollen types, this technique could actually exacerbate symptoms.
'People who are allergic to different types of grasses should be cautious about this approach,' reports Rick Hoskins, air quality expert and CEO of FilterKing. 'Rain will actually cause allergens in the grass to disperse into the air, likely worsening their allergies.'
'Only open the windows when it’s raining if you’re 100% positive your allergies are caused by pollen. If you are allergic to grass or weeds, keep them shut and use your HVAC system,' he continues.
Eli Zimmer, CEO of Luxaire HVAC Services, elaborates, 'Rain also encourages the release of pollen from plants. The heavier it rains, the more that gets released, so following or even during a heavy rain storm, there can actually be an increase in pollen.'
'If you really struggle with allergies, I would highly recommend installing window screens that are specifically designed to filter out more allergens,' he recommends.
What to Shop
Regardless of the type of pollen you're allergic to, these solutions have either been vetted first-hand by our product testing team or recommended by air quality experts to reduce your allergy symptoms at home.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
I use the Shark NeverChange MAX at home, and it has drastically reduced my allergy flare-ups, owing to its multi-stage HEPA filtration and extensive coverage. It's so powerful that it can purify multiple rooms at once. Run it after opening windows to capture any pollen particles that may have entered your home. Read more in my Shark NeverChange MAX review.
More affordable and compact than the Shark purifier, the Coway Airmega Mighty has a similarly robust performance that can capture pollen particles in your home. Read more in our full Coway Airmega Mighty review.
If you're allergic to pollen, or would like to stop dust and pests from getting inside, installing a window screen is an affordable and simple solution.
If you prefer to air dry large items but worry about pollen getting on your laundry, using a retractable line like this means you can put in play on low-pollen days. Setup takes just a few minutes, and the line extends up to 13.9 ft maximum.
Long enough to clear dust and pollen from ceiling fans, lights, shelves, and anything that's usually out of reach, this microfiber head grabs onto dander and dust very well, so you can remove it quickly instead of sending it airborne.
Vacuum and mop simultaneously to save time and energy. This will reduce the volume of springtime air pollutants that settle on your floor, but float up whenever you move around your home.
Cleaning from top to bottom is a simple way of keeping pollutants under control during your spring cleaning, but having one of the best air purifiers at home will help year-round to keep your air quality high and bothersome pollutants low.
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