5 Must-Have Items for Going Out During Pollen Season - Took Me 3 Years to Get This List Right

Honestly, this year’s pollen season is really intense.

I just went out to buy groceries last week, came back with eyes red like a rabbit’s and nose so stuffed I could only breathe through my mouth. And this is me as a pollen season “veteran” in my third year—if it were the old “tough it out” me, I’d probably be in the hospital by now.

Today, let me share with you the “must-have list for going out” I’ve figured out over 3 years—5 items, not one can be missing.

Item 1: N95 mask (not regular masks!)

My first year I used regular medical masks and found they couldn’t block pollen at all. Later I checked and learned pollen particles are only 10-100 microns—regular masks have gaps too large to block them.

After switching to N95, it really felt different—at least my nose stopped sneezing crazily.

Item 2: Safety goggles (great news for glasses wearers)

This was my hard lesson from year two. I thought masks were enough, but my eyes itched so much I wanted to dig them out.

Later I bought goggles with side shields (glasses wearers can get prescription ones), wear them when going out—absolutely amazing, eyes never itched again.

Item 3: Nasal rinse device

This was my year three discovery. I used to find this thing intimidating, but after one use I was hooked.

First thing when coming home, not washing face but rinsing nose. Flush out the pollen from nasal passages, allergy symptoms reduce by more than half.

Item 4: Wet wipes (baby kind)

This is for the detail-oriented. When out touching public facilities, handrails, etc., hands may pick up pollen. Wipe hands with wet wipes before rubbing eyes or nose, saves a lot of trouble.

Item 5: Hat (wide-brimmed)

This is to protect hair. If pollen gets on hair and you don’t wash it when getting home, pillows and quilts get full of pollen—sleeping at night is like rolling in a pollen pile.

Wear a hat, at least hair stays cleaner.

Seriously, these 5 items together cost under 200 yuan, but can reduce pollen season suffering from 100 to 30.

Listen everyone, don’t tough it out. Allergies, the more you tough it out, the worse they get, eventually possibly developing into asthma. I have a friend who toughed it out for 3 years, now wheezes every pollen season, too late for regrets.

Final question: Do you take precautions when going out during pollen season? Are you “fully equipped” or “tough it out to the end”?

Anyway, I’ve completely surrendered now—must bring these 5 items when going out, can’t skip a single one.