If you suffer from allergies, a clothes dryer could be a game-changer

Reviewed October 2026

There's something appealing about line-drying your laundry. As well as being free, it's energy-efficient and seems very wholesome.

But if you're one of the millions of Aussies who suffer with allergies, hanging your shirts and bed sheets on the Hills Hoist might be doing you more harm than good.

Health experts have warned of an intense hay fever season in Victoria, and Australia more widely, in 2026. Victoria's Chief Health Officer, Dr Caroline McElnay, said the warm and wet winter has increased grass growth and pollen levels. In addition to elevated hay fever risk, Victorians have been warned of potential 'thunderstorm asthma' events, which are triggered by a combination of high grass pollen and thunderstorms.

Although allergies affect around one in five Australians, with pollen one of the most common triggers, most of us don't consider the fact that our laundry routine could be quietly bringing it straight into our homes, beds and wardrobes.

When you hang your washing outside, your damp clothes and bedding provide the perfect surface for pollen and other irritants to stick to. Pollen, dust and mould spores settle onto the wet fabric as it dries and get trapped in the weave. When you wear those clothes, and sleep on those sheets and pillowcases, you come into direct contact with those allergens.

For people with hay fever, asthma, allergic rhinitis, or sensitive skin, this can trigger allergy symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion and skin irritation. Depending on where you live in Australia, pollen season can last for several months, so outdoor drying can mean constant exposure year-round.

Heat pump dryers are the newer technology on the market. They're significantly more energy-efficient than traditional vented dryers, which means lower running costs over time. The lower temperature drying is also gentler on fabric than traditional higher temperature vented models.

The trade-off for this is that they are generally more expensive to buy. They are also too heavy to wall mount, so unless you can safely stack one on top of a compatible front load washing machine, you will need to have the floor space for it.

Vented dryers are the traditional tumble dryer option many of us grew up with. They're cheaper to buy and light enough to be wall-mounted, which is great if you're short on floor space in your laundry area.

However, they're less energy-efficient than heat pump models and therefore cost more to run. They also work best with proper ducting to vent the moist air outside: without this, your laundry room will be filled with hot, damp air, which can lead to mould and mildew on ceilings, walls and windows.

We deliver home appliances to 95% of Australia's population, so if you’re ready to reduce common allergens in your laundry, we can usually get your new vented or heat pump dryer to you by tomorrow (Mon-Fri), with Appliances Online's legendary FREE delivery*. Plus, you can book paid Same Day Delivery at checkout if you live in metro NSW, QLD or VIC and order before 12pm weekdays.

We stock highly rated dryers from Bosch, Westinghouse, Samsung, Miele, Electrolux, ASKO and other leading brands: check out the full range of dryers here, or if you need some pointers on choosing the best type or size for you, read our Laundry Buying Guide, call our friendly team 24/7 on 1300 000 500 or message us via the chat icon at the bottom of your screen.