With the return of sunny days, it’s tempting to dry laundry outdoors and enjoy that fresh, breezy scent. But for millions with seasonal allergies, this springtime habit can backfire. From March through autumn, the air fills with tree, grass, and plant pollen—triggering sneezing, itchy eyes, and fatigue for nearly a third of the French population. And outdoor laundry?

It acts like a pollen magnet. Clothes and sheets left to dry outside trap allergens, which then enter your home and worsen symptoms. To avoid this, experts recommend simple precautions: