When is pollen season in Florida?
UF/IFAS Extension agents describe Florida's pollen season as January to June and name oak, pine and palm as the trees producing the most pollen. The UF/IFAS publication Urban Trees and Allergies in North Florida gives the same window: Florida trees often release pollen from January to June. These are statewide and North Florida sources, so treat them as a guide for the Tampa Bay area rather than a local forecast.
Oak is the one to watch. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions says trees account for about 80% of the airborne pollen in Florida, that oak is one of the most allergenic, and that February to May is peak season for the state's 11 oak species, with some areas seeing high counts as early as December. The same page says grasses pollinate in spring, summer and fall, so grass pollen overlaps the end of tree season and continues after it, and weeds such as ragweed add their own.
What is the yellow dust on everything in spring?
The yellow film that shows up on cars, patio furniture and window ledges in late winter and spring is tree pollen. UF/IFAS experts point out that pollen is light and dry enough to travel up to several miles on the wind, and that oaks and pines release more of it in warm, windy weather. That is why a house with no oak in the yard still gets coated.
The most visible pollen is not always the most allergenic. In the North Florida publication, pines carry an OPALS allergy rating of 4 and oaks a rating of 8. For cleaning it makes no difference, because both settle on the same surfaces and come off the same way.
How to keep pollen out of your house in Florida
AAAAI, ACAAI and UF/IFAS recommend a short list of steps:
- Keep windows closed and use the air conditioning during pollen season (AAAAI)
- Mop hard floors weekly (AAAAI)
- Vacuum carpet weekly with a vacuum that has a small-particle or HEPA filter (AAAAI)
- Wash sheets, pillowcases and blankets weekly in 130°F water (AAAAI)
- Dry clothes in a dryer rather than hanging them outside, so pollen does not collect on them and come indoors (UF/IFAS News, 2024)
- Shower after time outdoors to rinse pollen from hair and skin, and stay inside during peak pollen hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (UF/IFAS News, 2024)
- Clean or replace small-particle filters in your central heating and cooling system at least once a month (AAAAI)
- Use a disposable HVAC filter rated MERV 11 to 13, typically replaced every three months (ACAAI)
Where does pollen settle inside a house?
Once inside, pollen collects in the places that are rarely touched during a quick tidy:
- Window sills and window tracks, especially on windows that were opened on a mild day
- Sliding glass door tracks, which sit at floor level right where outdoor air comes in
- Horizontal blinds, where every slat is a small shelf
- Ceiling fan blades, which then push what they hold back into the room
- Entry floors and the first few feet of carpet inside each door
- Baseboards along exterior walls and near doors
- Dog coats and paws after time in the yard, plus pet beds
What does a standard clean cover in pollen season?
A Lilly Maids standard clean covers the kitchen (counters, sink, stovetop, outside of appliances, floors), the bathrooms, and bedrooms and living areas with dusting, surfaces, vacuuming and mopping, plus emptying trash. That takes care of floors and open surfaces, where much of the indoor pollen settles. Blinds and window sills and tracks are not on the standard checklist; they are included in a deep clean.
These are the add-ons that matter most in spring, at the prices on our booking form:
- Ceiling fan cleaning: $10 per fan
- Baseboards: $25
- Sliding glass doors: $15 per door, both sides
- Interior windows, home up to 2,000 sq ft: $55 (adds 1 hour of booked cleaning time)
- Interior windows, home over 2,000 sq ft: $7 per window with blinds, $5 per window without blinds
Standard clean with extras or one deep clean: a worked example
Take a 1,400 sq ft home with three ceiling fans, one sliding glass door and interior windows. A standard clean for that size is $220, and the booking form schedules 4 hours of cleaning time. Adding three fans ($30), baseboards ($25), the sliding door ($15) and interior windows ($55) brings the visit to $345.
A deep clean for the same home is $330 (the 1,000 to 1,499 sq ft band), and it already includes ceiling fans, baseboards, blinds, window sills and tracks, door frames, light switches, and behind and under movable furniture. Adding the sliding door ($15) and interior windows ($55) makes it $400. Here the deep clean costs $55 more than the standard visit with extras and also covers the blinds and window tracks where pollen collects, so it is the better spring reset.
How often should you clean during pollen season?
Because the season lasts months, one clean in February will not hold until June. A recurring standard clean keeps the floors and surfaces under control while the pollen keeps coming, and our team of 12 cleaners runs those visits at the same prices from Wesley Chapel, Lutz and Land O' Lakes to Tampa. For the 1,400 sq ft home above, every-other-week visits are $198 each ($220 minus 10%) and weekly visits are $187 each ($220 minus 15%), with the first visit at the one-time price as the weekly vs biweekly guide explains. Ceiling fans and baseboards can be added to any recurring visit at $10 per fan and $25.
A simple spring routine between cleaning visits
Much of what keeps pollen down happens in the days between visits. A routine that takes little time each week:
- Leave shoes at the door and keep a washable mat on both sides of each entry
- Wipe window sills and sliding door tracks with a damp cloth once a week instead of brushing them out
- Wipe down a dog with a damp towel before it comes back in from the yard, and wash the pet bed weekly
- Run the vacuum with a HEPA filter over entry carpets and rugs at least once a week
Does house cleaning cover the lanai or garage?
A cleaning visit covers the inside of the house, so the lanai, the garage and exterior windows are not part of it, and pressure washing is not offered. If pollen season is hard on someone in your home, an allergist is the right person to ask what matters most for them.
Prices
Priced by square footage. Weekly visits are 15% off and every other week 10% off from the second visit. Minimum booking 4 hours. Extras and details.
| Home size | One-time | Every 2 weeksEvery other week | Weekly | HoursCleaning time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,999 sq ft | $220 | $198 | $187 | 4 h hours |
| 2,000 - 2,499 sq ft | $275 | $247.50 | $233.75 | 5 h hours |
| 2,500 - 2,999 sq ft | $330 | $297 | $280.50 | 6 h hours |
| 3,000 - 3,499 sq ft | $385 | $346.50 | $327.25 | 7 h hours |
| 3,500 - 3,999 sq ft | $440 | $396 | $374 | 8 h hours |
| 4,000 - 4,499 sq ft | $495 | $445.50 | $420.75 | 9 h hours |
| 4,500 - 4,999 sq ft | $550 | $495 | $467.50 | 10 h hours |
| 5,000 - 5,499 sq ft | $605 | $544.50 | $514.25 | 11 h hours |
Weekly and every-other-week prices apply from the second visit. The first visit on a new schedule is charged at the one-time price.
From our customers
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★★★★★
Excellent service! The house was cleaned very thoroughly, and everything looks great. Very professional, reliable, and highly recommended!
Yecheng L. · Thumbtack · Aug 18, 2026
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★★★★★
Very impressed with the cleaning job. Have a townhouse and it was spotless after the cleaning was complete. Would recommend to family and friends.
3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, Standard cleaning, Window cleaning (interior), No pets, Once a month
Nicholas A. · Thumbtack · Aug 26, 2026
Common questions
When is pollen season in Tampa?
UF/IFAS sources describe Florida's tree pollen season as January to June, with oak peaking from February to May and some areas seeing high counts as early as December. Grasses pollinate in spring, summer and fall.
Does a standard clean include ceiling fans and baseboards?
No, on a standard clean ceiling fans are $10 per fan and baseboards are $25. Both are already included in a deep clean, along with blinds and window sills and tracks.
How much is a spring deep clean for a 1,400 sq ft home?
A deep clean for a home between 1,000 and 1,499 sq ft is $330, and it includes ceiling fans, baseboards, blinds, and window sills and tracks. Sliding glass doors ($15 per door) and interior windows ($55 for homes up to 2,000 sq ft) are extra.
Can you clean pollen off the lanai?
A cleaning visit covers the inside of the house, so pollen on the lanai is not part of it.
What water temperature should I wash bedding in during allergy season?
The AAAAI recommends washing sheets, pillowcases and blankets weekly in 130°F water.