THE arrival of summer and the warmer weather is always welcomed for making laundry easier.
Gone are the cold, dark nights with the heating on to dry the washing on airers inside.
Hayfever sufferes have been advised not to dry laundry outside during summer[/caption]
Instead, we can finally get our clothes out on the washing line for a quick and energy-efficient dry.
But for the 10 million Brits suffering from hayfever, experts say this is the worst thing we could be doing.
The Met Office has warned that much of the UK will see “very high” pollen levels this weekend as temperatures soar.
As a result, laundry experts have suggested it may be wise to stick to indoor drying for now.
Nigel Bearman, home cleaning expert and founder of Daily Poppins, said: “Hanging your clothes, bedding or towels outside on high pollen days is a recipe for itchy eyes and a stuffy nose.
“The wet laundry acts like a sponge, soaking up all the pollen.
“It settles into the fibres and clings on as the fabric dries, meaning it’ll end up in your bed, wardrobe and on your skin.
“It’s no wonder so many people have allergy flare-ups even in their own homes.”
Laundry fibres trap pollen easily, especially cotton, linen and towels.
Likewise, clothing lines, balconies and garden racks are all exposed to airborne pollen, especially on warm, breezy days.
Once indoors, pollen from the dried laundry can aggravate symptoms like itchy eyes, blocked nose and sneezing, even hours after exposure.
To avoid this, Nigel says: “On high pollen days, I always recommend drying your clothes indoors, ideally near a window or with decent airflow. If you’re short on space, use a collapsible drying rack in a well-ventilated room.”
It might be slightly less convenient, but Nigel insists this simple switch could make a big difference to daily comfort, especially for those suffering from seasonal allergies.
Extra tips to reduce pollen indoors
In addition, the laundry pro suggests checking the pollen forecast each day and avoiding drying clothes outside when levels are high.
He also suggests washing bedding regularly at 60C to remove allergens that build up overnight.
If you have pets, you should wipe them down after walks as their fur and paws pick up pollen just like laundry.
Finally, vacuuming floors and upholstery regularly – especially if you’ve had windows open or brought in laundry from outdoors – will help to reduce extra exposure to pollen.
