Hay fever season is in full swing across the UK, and if you're hanging washing out to dry between late April and July you may have noticed clothes coming back inside coated in invisible pollen. For the 16 million Britons who suffer with hay fever, that's a recipe for itchy eyes, streaming noses and ruined nights of sleep.
The good news is you don't have to give up line-drying altogether. With a bit of timing, the right kit and a few smart habits, you can keep your laundry pollen-light without resorting to the tumble dryer.
Check the Pollen Forecast Before You Hang Out
The Met Office publishes a daily pollen forecast for every UK region, and it should be your first port of call before you peg anything out. Counts are typically lowest after rain and on overcast, still days, when grass and tree pollen aren't lifting into the air.
Avoid hanging washing on days marked "high" or "very high" — particularly between mid-morning and early afternoon, when pollen tends to peak. A sturdy 20-metre washing line means you can hang a full load quickly during shorter low-pollen windows.
Time Your Wash Around Low-Pollen Hours
Pollen levels are usually lowest in the early morning before 10am and again in the late evening after 7pm. Hanging out a load first thing means clothes can dry through the breezy middle of the day, but you'll want to bring them in before the evening dew settles.
If you work standard hours, an evening wash that goes out for a couple of hours of late-day sun can be a winner. A pulley system on a long line lets you hoist a full load up and out of reach in seconds, so you spend less time fiddling outdoors.
Choose the Right Spot in Your Garden
Site your washing line away from grass that's about to be cut, hedges in flower and any trees known for heavy pollen — birch, oak, ash and plane trees are the worst UK culprits. A spot above paving or a hard standing is better than a freshly mown lawn, which will keep throwing up grass pollen for hours after cutting.
If you're setting up a new line, sinking a steel ground socket means you can position the pole exactly where airflow is strongest and pollen exposure is lowest. Removable poles also let you take the line down on the worst pollen days without ripping out a permanent post.
Bring Washing in Carefully — and Wash Pegs Too
Pollen sticks to fabric, so give each item a firm shake outdoors before bringing it inside. Don't bring laundry into the bedroom, where pollen can transfer to bedding and trigger night-time symptoms — fold and store it in a different room first.
Wooden pegs can collect pollen in their grain. Stainless steel pegs rinse clean in seconds and won't trap allergens between uses, which makes a real difference if anyone in the household is sensitive.
Have a Backup for High-Pollen Days
On red-warning pollen days, drying indoors on an airer near an open window is usually safer than hanging out. A short tumble-dry on a low setting also kills any pollen that has clung to the load on its way in from the line.
Keeping a sturdy clothes line prop to hand also means you can lift wet washing up away from low-lying pollen on the lawn while it dries on borderline days. It's a small piece of kit that buys you a lot of flexibility.
Browse our full range of washing line poles and accessories — built to last and made in the UK.