With the return of the sun and rising temperatures, the desire to dry laundry outside inevitably returns. The aroma of fresh washing borne by the breeze appears enticing. However, this idyllic image conceals a trap for the millions of people who suffer from seasonal allergies. So, shouldn’t we be drying outside? The answer may surprise you.
The coming of spring is not as joyful for everyone.
Every year, beginning in March, spring ushers in a protracted agony for people with pollen allergies. Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, affects almost one-third of France’s population. With sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes, and chronic weariness, this period is anything but relaxing.
From April to September, many types of pollen are produced: first from trees, then from grasses (from May to July), and last from herbaceous plants until the autumn. To put it simply, the outdoor air becomes a veritable allergy concentration.
Why does drying your laundry outside worsen the symptoms?
When you leave your clothes or linens out to dry, they behave as pollen magnets. During the hours of exposure, the pollen adheres to the fabric fibres due to its natural stickiness.
When you return indoors, pollen can settle on your skin, hair, and linens. It’s not surprising when your symptoms worsen for no apparent cause.
It’s similar to leaving your laundry in a flowery field during pollen season before returning it to your room.
Good habits to decrease your exposure to pollen
Fortunately, you can take a few basic precautions to reduce the damage. Here are the advice of environmental health professionals.
Dry your laundry indoors, in a well-ventilated area, or with a clothes dryer.
When you’re outside, wear sunglasses to keep pollen out of your eyes.
Wear a hat or cap to keep pollen from getting into your hair.
When you arrive home, wash your hair, change your clothes, and take a shower to remove pollen particles.
Avoid touching newly mowed lawns or standing near them right after mowing.
And how about the treatments?
Unfortunately, there is no miraculous treatment for hay fever. Antihistamines, nasal sprays, and eye drops, on the other hand, can provide relief from symptoms. However, prevention remains your best ally.
Experts emphasise the following point: by slightly adjusting certain everyday behaviours, such as drying your laundry, you can significantly improve your quality of life during the dangerous months.
Taking a few basic changes can make a huge difference for allergy sufferers. Do not bring pollen into your home through your washing! While you can’t control the outside air, you can prepare your home to enjoy spring.
5 blunders when using the washing machine, making clothing dirtier the more you wash them.
Here are some common blunders when using the washing machine:
1. Do not take out the garments to dry right after washing.
Many people do not hang them to dry immediately away after washing them, but instead leave them for a bit, possibly overnight.
After washing, promptly dry the clothes to ensure they are flat and bacteria-free.
Because the washed garments are damp, leaving them in the washing machine generates a lot of steam, providing ideal conditions for germs and mould to thrive.
This not only makes the clothes smell bad, but it also leaves an unpleasant odour in the washer. As a result, after washing, take the clothing out to dry immediately; do not leave it in the washing machine for too long.
2. Close the washing machine lid immediately after washing and remove the garments.
Experts recommend that after removing clothing from the washing machine, you leave the lid open for around 2-3 hours before shutting it again, particularly with horizontal drum washing machines (front doors). The reason for this is that front-loading washing machines include a barrier and a rubber gasket to prevent water from leaking while in operation.
However, because to this feature, any remaining steam and moisture inside the washing machine after the cycle is completed will be unable to evaporate and escape. This encourages the growth and development of bacteria and mould, making our clothes even dirtier.
Furthermore, to prevent dust from entering the washing machine, do not keep the lid open for a lengthy period of time. Furthermore, for horizontal drum washing machines, opening the lid for an extended period of time will limit the passage, causing damage to the connection between the door and the washing machine’s body.
3. Wash knickers in the washing machine.
90% of people do wash their pants in a washing machine, although this is a poor habit.
Hand wash and scrub your pants well to remove stains. To prevent bacteria from spreading, wash it in warm water and avoid washing it in the same machine as other garments. After washing, dry it in a cool place or in the sun to disinfect.
4. Wash the bedding with cold water.
Dust mites flourish on blankets, bed sheets, and pillowcases. Not only that, but they are prone to yellow stains created by dead cells and sweat generated from the body.
Washing with cold water saves energy, but it does not effectively remove yellow stains or kill bacteria.
It is best to wash them with hot water every two weeks, but be careful not to use too much water to avoid deforming the material.
5. Clean the washing machine.
There are small gaps and holes between the washing drum and the washing machine’s external shell that allow water to enter and exit. During the washing process, dirt will attach to the interior of the washing machine or the drain pipe’s corners via these small gaps and pores, causing bacteria to grow.