Households urged to run empty washing machines from April

Households across the UK are being urged to run empty washing machine cycles regularly from April to help fend off seasonal allergies.

The spring season is now underway, and unfortunately, that means pollen is being released, which is bad news if you suffer from hay fever. In the UK, hay fever season typically runs from now until September and follows three overlapping phases, which include the release of tree, grass and weed pollen. According to the Met Office, around a quarter of people with hay fever are sensitive to tree pollen, which is currently being released, and with ‘high’ levels forecast over the coming days, it’s wise to take preventive measures to reduce your exposure.

There’s no cure for hay fever, but making small changes at home can make a big difference in minimising symptoms, and one simple way to do this is simply adapting your laundry routine.

According to experts, households should run an empty washing machine cycle on a hot wash regularly during hay fever season to prevent pollen from building up and transferring to your clothes.

Pollen is very sticky and can cling to your clothes, but these particles can also remain in the drum, seal, or filter of your washing machine, so it’s important to regularly clean it to keep your clothes pollen-free.

According to experts, an empty hot wash needs to be at a temperature of at least 60C to effectively kill and remove any allergens that are lingering in your washing machine, and this should be done at least once a month, or more frequently depending on the severity of your allergy.

Ian Palmer-Smith, appliance repair expert at Domestic & General, told The Express: “Staying on top of cleaning is the most fundamental step in eliminating allergens from your home.

“Use your washing machine on a cycle of 60 degrees to help get rid of pollen particles and dust mites. Some washing machines even have specific cycles for allergy care, so check if your appliance has this available. Cleaning also needs to be extended to the appliance itself, ensuring that your washing machine can effectively clean your bedding, towels and clothes.

“As a general rule, I recommend cleaning your washing machine every 1-3 months, but if you suffer with seasonal allergies, you may want to increase this slightly to help keep on top of it.

“Run a monthly maintenance cycle to keep the washing machine nice and clean. A maintenance wash is essentially a deep-clean cycle that helps to kill off any bacteria, mould, any and sludge that has built up with use. You can do this by running a hot cycle with some washing machine solution or a DIY solution of white wine vinegar and baking soda in the drum.”

For everyday cleaning, a lower temperature of 40C is the most common setting according to Which?, but if you opt for a low temperature, it’s “even more important” to run a regular monthly maintenance wash to clean your machine.

Gwil Snook, washing machine expert at AO.com, added: “Deciding on the best temperature to wash your clothes really depends on how soiled the clothes are. If there are no major stains, then most detergents now are developed so that a 30C wash is plenty.

“However, whilst cold washes are more economical, 30C is not hot enough to remove most bacteria, dust mites and pollen allergens. Severe hay fever sufferers should opt for hotter washes around 50-60C, as these are best at removing allergens from your clothing.

“If running regular hot washes on your items isn’t an option, then make sure you run an empty cycle on a hot wash once a week to stop pollen build-up in your appliance from being transferred to your clothes during a wash.”