Smartphone Apps of the Month – May

I don’t know about you, but as much as I love spring (and I really do), I dislike suffering from an allergy attack, which seems to come with the territory for me at this time of year. Relentless sneezing is just not my idea of a good time. That’s why I was pleased to find an Allergy Alert app for my smartphone. This app can help me avoid—or at least better prepare for—dealing with specific pollen that can trigger my allergies. I’m also pleased to share details about the perfect app to help you plan your spring cleaning chores this season. The app is from Good Housekeeping, so you know it’s full of practical house-tested tips and tricks. In addition to the daily usefulness of both apps, they are both free, which is always my favorite price.

Allergy Alert: Available on Android and iPhone.

When it comes to allergies, does pollen count? Yes, so it’s worth tracking the pollen count in your local area. IMS Health Incorporated, the company behind the free Allergy Alert™ smartphone app, has spent 25 years studying pollen counts and the methods for pollen sampling. The result is a handy allergy alert smartphone app, a subset of their Pollen.com online site, that’s based on your current location. So, for example, if you plan to travel to a different part of the country, you’ll know beforehand what the pollen count will be in that area. All you need do is search for a location by city or ZIP code.

The interface is simple and effective. If you suffer from allergies, the app’s single-day alerts enable you to better plan your day, while its four-day forecasts make it easier to plan for a week. In addition to giving you the nation’s leading pollen and allergy forecast, this app also keeps you on top of other environmental factors, with indices that measure asthma and ultraviolet ray levels, as well as cold and cough predictors. The app utilizes weather data directly from NOAA, our nation’s weather forecasting authority.

Allergies. You can’t live with ‘em but you can definitely try to live without ‘em thanks to Allergy Alert. The app is especially useful for people on the go. Pollen counts have become a powerful tool in helping to solve individual health problems. Okay, I know you saw it coming: This app is nothing to sneeze at. Download it today for free.

Good Housekeeping@Home: Available on Android and iPhone.

How’d you like to research items and see the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval right on your smartphone? Now you can. Introducing Good Housekeeing@Home, the popular magazine’s first-ever Android and iPhone application.

The app gives you the same great advice you count on in the magazine and at goodhousekeeping.com. You’ll get an A-to-Z guide on removing stains, smudges, spots, and spills—a real life-saver for on-the-go housekeepers. There’s even a list of the top ten stains and how to remove them. Receive surface-by-surface cleaning advice, backed by the experts at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute. You’ll be able to view hundreds of room décor photos to help inspire your next home update or renovation. In addition, countless news articles and time-tested tips on everything from organizing your home to creating festive craft projects will be at your fingertips.

Plus, a daily news feed, Twitter posts, and a complete list of products that have earned the Good Housekeeping seal. In short, smart solutions for house and home are just a finger tap away!

These are my two recommended apps for the month. I believe you’ll enjoy adding both Allergy Alert and Good Housekeeping to your smartphone. They’re practical, easy to use, and free. Both apps definitely have earned my seal of approval.  For the month of May and beyond … May the apps be with you!