An outdoor line and pollen

Short answer: In pollen season, wet laundry collects large amounts of pollen from the air. For people who react to pollen, that means drying clothes indoors from March to August, or washing them again if they have been hung outside.

Damp fabric binds particles

Pollen settles on a damp surface and stays put as the fabric dries. A wet garment on the line works almost like a filter, catching whatever drifts past. This applies to everything hung outside, including bamboo sweatpants for men, whose soft surface gives pollen plenty of places to settle.

How much is collected

An hour in high pollen levels can be enough for a garment to cause discomfort afterwards for sensitive people. Large surfaces like sheets and towels are most affected, but so is a big load of bamboo socks for men and women, where many small items add up to a large area.

Clothes next to the skin matter most

Clothing that sits directly on the skin matters most. Pollen in a top or in underwear is in contact with the skin all day. That is why men's bamboo undershirts and other underwear in particular should dry indoors during the season, even if the rest of the wash goes outside.

What to do during the season

Dry indoors on a rack in a room with air movement. If you dry outside, wash the clothes again before wearing, at least those worn close to the body. Keep an eye on pollen counts in the forecast and use the line on days when levels are low, typically after rain.

Time of day plays a part

The amount of pollen in the air changes through the day and depends on the weather. Dry, warm and windy days are usually worst. After a shower the air is often cleaner for a while. Bringing clothes in as soon as they are dry means they hang outside no longer than needed.

Drying indoors without damp problems

When drying indoors, it is important to get the moisture out of the room. Air it with short, strong bursts, ideally at times with less pollen. Put the rack in a room with a door you can close and where nobody sleeps. That avoids both pollen in the clothes and damp in the bedroom.

Shake before bringing it in

If clothes do hang outside, shaking them before bringing them in helps a little. It removes some loose pollen, but much stays stuck in the fibres, so shaking is not enough for people who react strongly. Do not put clothes from the line straight onto the bed or into the wardrobe with clean ones.

If you are unsure

Reactions to pollen vary from person to person. Some notice nothing from line-dried clothes, others clearly do. If you have symptoms that do not go away, or are unsure what triggers them, talk to your doctor. The advice here is only about clothes, not treatment.

Frequently asked questions

When is pollen season worst

In Denmark from March to August, with different types of pollen in each period. When it is worst depends on which type you react to.

Does shaking the clothes help

Only partly. Some loose pollen falls off, but it sticks in the fabric, so a wash is more effective for people who react.

Can you wash pollen out

Yes, a normal wash at thirty degrees removes it. Clothes from the line can then be worn without discomfort once they have been through the machine again.