How to Remove Allergens From Your Dryer and Clothes for Healthier Living

Allergies are the bane of my existence—especially during the spring. My seasonal allergies make me sneeze, cough, and itch, and I feel like I have a constant headache and watery eyes. Allergy meds help decrease my symptoms, but it’s hard to avoid exposure to allergens completely.

Even just walking outside to my car can expose me to pollen that can stick to my clothes and subsequently get trapped in my washer and dryer. So, washing my clothes isn’t always the relief I hope for! But, I did some research and found some helpful tips on removing allergens from my dryer and clothes. Here’s what I learned.

What Are Allergens and How Do They Affect Your Health?

Allergens are proteins that can cause reactions in people who suffer from allergies. When an allergic person comes into contact with an allergen, their immune system basically goes into overdrive. This causes respiratory issues, itching, sneezing, red or watery eyes, rashes, and headaches that I’m all too familiar with. 

My biggest allergen is pollen, but other common environmental allergens can make your life miserable, like dust mites, pet dander, and mold spores. These allergens attach to your clothes and skin and are transferred into your washer and dryer. If left unaddressed, the allergens will pass onto your clothes during wash and dry cycles.

How Allergens Get Trapped in Your Dryer

When I realized allergens could get trapped in my dryer, my first question was… how? The answer is quite simple. Dryer cycles remove allergens from clothes, which can settle in lint traps, drum interiors, and exhaust vents. When you run your next cycle, those allergens can transfer to your laundry and cause allergies from clothes. Removing them is essential to prevent allergen buildup and keep your family healthy. 

How to Remove Allergens from Your Dryer: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Clean the Dryer Lint Trap Regularly

The dryer lint trap is where debris from your clothes settles during a dryer cycle. You already know that lint can be a fire hazard, and you should clean out the lint trap frequently to prevent such issues. But lint can also hold onto those troublesome allergens. If you don’t clean out the lint trap after each cycle, you’re just transferring allergens to the next load of laundry.

To eliminate as many allergens as possible, I remove the lint trap from my dryer after each use and gather the lint before throwing it in the trash. For extra thorough cleaning, I vacuum the lint trap to remove any smaller pieces of lint that remain after my initial cleaning. 

Step 2: Wipe Down the Dryer Drum and Seals

Allergens can also stick to the drum and seals of the dryer door. To remove allergen buildup in these areas, I wipe down the door seals and dryer drum after every use with a damp microfiber cloth and a natural cleaning agent (I like white vinegar). If you have mild allergies, you may not have to do this after every use, but if your allergies are as bad as mine, you’ll want to do it every time. It’s a hassle, but it’s worth the few extra minutes!

Step 3: Clean the Dryer Vent and Ducts

It’s likely that you’ve never given a single thought to your dryer vent and ducts. I’m here to tell you that you should start! These two areas are hot spots for harboring allergens, mostly because they’re often neglected in the cleaning process. Build ups in the vent and ducts will diminish air flow, making your dryer less efficient. So, not only are you transferring allergens from one load of laundry to the next, but you’re also not getting the most out of your dryer.

Thankfully, you don’t have to deal with this often. I clean out my dryer vent and ducts about once a year to remove any lingering allergens. This can definitely be a DIY project, but I enlist the help of my husband or daughter as it requires an extra pair of hands. 

• First, turn off the breaker connected to your dryer to prevent electrical accidents. 
• Move the dryer and unhook the duct from the dryer vent.
• Use a blower or shop vacuum to force air through the ductwork, removing lint buildup from the inside.

Dryer duct cleaning isn’t necessarily easy. If you don’t feel confident doing it yourself, consider hiring a professional. A pro has the experience to clean your dryer vents properly, decreasing fire hazards and preventing allergen accumulation.

Step 4: Use High Heat or Anti-Allergen Dryer Sheets

A high-heat dryer setting can eliminate allergens like dust mites and pollen. But before I set my dryer temperature to high, I check the laundry symbols on the clothing care labels. Not all fabrics can be dried on high heat, and doing so can ruin them permanently.

Anti-allergen dryer sheets soften clothes without using harsh chemical dyes and fragrances that can cause allergic reactions. They also reduce static cling on laundry, which helps loosen allergens and remove them from clothes while they dry. Sounds like a win all around!

How to Remove Allergens from Clothes: Best Laundry Practices

You can also remove allergens in the wash cycle. I include these steps in my laundry routine to reduce the spread of allergens between laundry loads.

Step 1: Wash Clothes in Hot Water

Hot water can help eliminate some of the allergens that stick to your clothes. The water must be at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit to kill dust mites and remove allergens, which may not be possible with some washing machines. Not all clothing is suitable for washing in hot water, so read the care label before cranking up the heat.

Step 2: Use an Allergen-Reducing Laundry Detergent

Traditional laundry detergents often contain chemical dyes and fragrances that can irritate skin and may not effectively reduce allergens in your washer. Look for hypoallergenic and fragrance-free laundry detergents designed to reduce allergens in clothes. I love using HeySunday laundry detergent strips—they’re made with natural ingredients to clean your clothes and remove allergens without harming your skin, or your washer. Plus, they take up less space and smell amazing!

Step 3: Choose Allergy-Friendly Fabric Softeners and Dryer Sheets

Fabric softeners and dryer sheets help reduce static cling in laundry, making it easier for the detergent to remove dirt and allergens from your clothes. However, you may experience an allergic reaction to dryer sheets or fabric softeners that contain chemical ingredients. 

If you have a dryer sheet or fabric softener allergy, opt for products with natural ingredients or substitute vinegar for your softener. I recommend using dryer balls to reduce static in the dryer without introducing chemicals to your laundry.

Step 4: Dry Clothes on High Heat

A high heat setting on your dryer for at least 30 minutes can kill dust mites and reduce allergens in fabric. Just remember to check the care label on your clothing before setting the dryer heat to high, as some garments can be ruined permanently if dried on high heat.

Step 5: Store Clothes Properly to Prevent Allergen Recontamination

Once your clothes are clean and dry, storing them properly is essential to prevent allergen recontamination. I like to pack my clothes in airtight containers on my closet shelves to keep out allergens so my clothes stay fresh and clean. It’s also a good idea to clean your closets regularly to prevent allergen buildup.

Allergen-Prevention Tips for Laundry Machines

Regular Maintenance and Cleaning of Washing Machines

Your washer and dryer deal with allergens every time they’re used. Left untreated, those allergens can build up and contaminate every load of laundry you do. Regularly cleaning your washer can prevent allergen buildup as well as mold growth and musty smells.

Here’s how I clean my washing machine to remove allergens and other icky things.

• After each use, I wipe down the washing machine drum and rubber door seals.
• I regularly clean the outside of my washing machine with sanitation wipes.
• I run a wash cycle without clothes about once a week to clean the machine. If my allergies are especially bad, I may add a capful of bleach to kill any remaining allergens.
• I sometimes use washing machine cleaning solutions to clean and deodorize my machine while removing allergens.

Air-Drying vs. Machine-Drying: What’s Best for People with Allergies?

I love the smell and feel of freshly line-dried laundry. Unfortunately, indoor drying is best for allergy sufferers. Drying clothes outside exposes them to allergens like pollen, dust, and mold spores, which can worsen your allergy symptoms. 

If possible, machine-dry your clothes to remove as many allergens as possible. However, some garments can’t go in the dryer. To dry these items, set up a drying rack in a well-ventilated space in your home.

FAQs on Removing Allergens from Laundry

What temperature kills dust mites in the dryer?

Temperatures of 130 degrees Fahrenheit or higher will kill dust mites. Your dryer will likely exceed 130 degrees on a high heat setting.

Can I use a regular detergent to remove allergens?

If you suffer from allergies, finding a detergent that can remove allergens in the wash is essential. But not all detergents can do this. Look for an allergy-safe detergent (like HeySunday detergent sheets) made from natural ingredients to remove allergens without irritating your sensitive skin.

How often should I clean my dryer to prevent allergens?

To prevent allergen buildup in your dryer, clean the lint trap after every use and wipe down the machine's exterior once a week. Additionally, clean out the dryer vent and ducts at least once a year.

Do anti-allergen laundry products really work?

Yes, anti-allergen laundry products work if you follow the directions and use them correctly. But you’ll also need to keep your washer and dryer clean to prevent allergen buildup.

Final Thoughts: Keep Your Clothes Allergen-Free for Healthier Living

Allergens in your washer and dryer can worsen your allergy symptoms, but regular cleaning can prevent allergen buildup and keep your clothes allergen-free. Following the tips I outlined in this article can help control your allergy symptoms so you can live healthier at home.

Did you find this guide useful? Please consider bookmarking it for future reference and share it on social media to help other allergy sufferers.

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