Are you suffering from Hayfever - try cleaning your computer!

Summer is here and there are a few things that you can be sure of; there will be rain, you will sweat in your office and your days will be filled with the sound of sniffing and sneezing.

There are hayfever sufferers everywhere, in fact 1 in 4 of the population experience hayfever and it isn’t hard to spot them.

They are the ones continuously sniffing and sneezing like they are working in a pepper mill, with red-streaming eyes usually found on weepy rom-com attendees. 

Basically, annoying for all parties involved! The Hayfever sufferer can take a range of antihistamines including tablets such as Piriton, Clarityn, Benadryl, supermarkets own, nasal sprays, lozenges and anticholinergic sprays.

But they have to face side-effects such as drowsiness, dizziness and headaches oh and there is also the small problem that they really don’t work! 

Hayfever is the body’s way of fighting the ‘harmful’ pollen, when the immune system goes into overdrive and triggers chemicals from certain cells in the nose, throat and eyes; culminating in the above effects.

There are the usual hints and tips to prevent hayfever, but one that is often overlooked is the cleanliness of a work station!

Keyboards and drivers can harbour dust, pollen and a whole host of nasties, make sure you keep your area as clean as possible. Here are a few tips:

• Never eat or drink near a computer – this is just sensible, if wheezing and sneezing wasn’t bad enough munching through several packets of crisps and sucking tea is just as gross!

• Turn off - When cleaning a component of the computer turn it off –no shocks or pieces of cloth getting lost in the machinery that way

• Keyboard - usually the most infected item, containing more bacteria than a toilet seat! Use compressed air to blow away debris from between the keys, then spray disinfectant onto a cloth and wipe.

• Cotton swabs- with rubbing alcohol or water to get into those hard to reach places.

• LCD – the screen attracts debris and pollen and will need a gentle clean to remove those static monsters. Use a soft cotton cloth, which won’t damage the screen

• Mouse – a mouse with a ball can hide a whole lot of yuck! Removing all components and disinfecting them is the best way to ensure your mouse is clean.

With a high majority of workers being office bound, what else can be done to prevent the sneezing, coughing and wheezing? Here are a few more general tips:

• Keep doors and windows closed

• Wear wraparound sunglasses to keep pollen out of eyes – pretty cool!

• Put Vaseline on the inside of your nose to prevent pollen getting in

• Create your own air conditioning; get a battery operated fan and spray some water through occasionally for a bit of freshness

• Try not to rub itchy eyes; washing your face and hands can help.

If, after all that, you are still annoying your co-workers maybe it’s time to picket for your own hayfever survivors office!