Dry laundry indoors or in a dryer, not on an outdoor line

What to Do

Use a clothes dryer or indoor drying rack instead of hanging laundry outside during allergy season. Outdoor-dried clothes and bedding collect significant amounts of pollen.

Why It Works

Fabric is an extremely effective pollen trap. Sheets, towels, and clothing hung outdoors during pollen season collect enough allergen to trigger symptoms for hours after being brought inside. A dryer eliminates this exposure entirely.

Tips

• Bed sheets are the most important items to keep pollen-free since you sleep on them for 6-9 hours
• If you must line-dry outdoors, do it on low-pollen days (after rain, in the evening)
• Shake out any outdoor-dried items vigorously before bringing them inside
• Wash bedding weekly in hot water during allergy season regardless of drying method