As enjoyable as it is watching summer flowers come into bloom, for allergy sufferers it can be the start of hiding itchy eyes behind sunglasses and closing windows to stop pollen coming into the home.

With about 1 in 5 people in the UK suffering from hay fever and other airborne allergies, Allergy Awareness Week is set to help raise awareness of the issues allergy sufferers face and how to take control whilst you're out and about, and at home.

This years' awareness week runs from Monday 25th April to Sunday 1st May, just as the dreaded hay fever season starts to take hold.

With this in mind, Nick Paul, marketing manager at Dimplex, gives his top tips to help bring the effects of allergies in the home to a halt this summer.

1) Reduce sources of indoor air pollution and allergens

Regularly cleaning your home and washing linen and fabrics which can house dust is key, but don't forget to turn on the extractor fan when cooking to help reduce grease and steam in the air, where they are likely to linger.

2) Clean the air in your home

As opening windows in the warmer months may seem off-putting to hay fever sufferers, air purifiers are a great way to filter the air in your home. For a simple air cleaner to catch large dust particles, the Dimplex DXPUR80 is ideal.

And Dimplex's DXAPV3 Viro3 Air Purifier is at the forefront of the war against allergens like dust and pollen. The active carbon HEPA filter is specially designed to capture ultra-fine dust particles and pollen, whilst the Viro3 plasma generator technology neutralises harmful impurities in the air - to help keep the air in your home clean and you breathing easier.

3) Keep your pets clean

During the winter, pets are likely to spend more time outdoors, where pollen and other allergy triggers can stick to their fur coats. This means an increase in the pollen and dander floating around your home and in the air. Make sure you bathe and groom your pets regularly and wash their bedding in hot water to avoid additional irritants indoors.

4) Control the build-up of excess moisture in your home

Mould and mildew thrive in humid areas, so it's important to keep the moisture and humidity level in your home below 50 per cent. Crucially, mould is also another known culprit to the strife of the allergy suffer. Using a dehumidifier can help control the moisture build up at home; reducing the humidity of a room and bringing it back to a safe and comfortable level.

Dimplex's Ultra Compact Dehumidifier is a small but powerful dehumidifier providing up to 10 litres extraction in 24 hours. And as this model is on average 10cm smaller than most other dehumidifiers, with an auto shut-off setting once the room has reached its optimum level, it is a neat and stylish solution for any home.

HERO PRODUCTS

Pur-80 Air Purifier from Dimplex

Keep dust at bay this summer with the Pur-80 Air Purifier from Dimplex. With its dinky design in striking lime green and cool white, the Pur-80 fits unobtrusively into any home.

Ideal for use day or night, it offers the choice of two speed settings. The active carbon filter is specially designed to capture large dust particles and pollen to help keep the air in your home clean.

The Pur-80 operates using a two speed fan, displaying a neon indicator when in use. And, using only 40W power consumption, it's an efficient and economical choice for your home.

Dimensions: H: 250mm; W: 240mm; D: 110mm

Price: £29.99 from Argos

For further information, please visit www.dimplex.co.uk or call 0844 879 3588.

Photo caption: The Pur-80 Air Purifier from Dimplex

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The Forté Dehumidifier from Dimplex

The demands of modern life mean that our homes are constantly laden with excess moisture.  Too much moisture not only causes damage to our properties in the form of damp and mould, it also affects our health. Purchasing a dehumidifier will help reduce the humidity of a room, bringing it back to a safe and comfortable level.

The Dimplex Forté collection includes six powerful dehumidifiers providing 10, 16 or 20 litre extraction in 24 hours. The desired humidity can be set via a rotary control, and an auto shut-off setting turns the product off once it's reached the optimum level. An indicator light notifies the user when the tank is full or, alternatively, the continuous drain option enables the dehumidifier to run continuously by simply attaching a hose to the drainage outlet.

The Forté collection comes in a simple but stylish design in white-grey/ black or black/silver colour options to ensure it fits seamlessly into a home setting. It can be moved from room to room with ease, thanks to its integrated carry handles and easy glide castors.

The Dimplex Forté FTE16 model was awarded a Which? Best Buy (November 2015), scoring an impressive overall score of 76% and awarded 5 stars for both water extraction ability and energy efficiency at 21°C.

Available from Argos – prices starting from £129 to £179 rrp.

For further information, please visit www.dimplex.co.uk or call 0844 879 3588.

Photo caption: The Forté Dehumidifier from Dimplex

ENDS