On bright, sunny days, hanging freshly washed clothes outside to dry feels refreshing — until unexpected visitors arrive. Bees, drawn by certain scents and colors, may hover around or land on clean laundry. While it might seem strange, this behavior has a simple and natural explanation rooted in their remarkable sense of smell and visual perception.
Bees rely heavily on scent to find food. Many detergents and fabric softeners include floral or fruity fragrances that mimic the aroma of blossoms. To a bee searching for nectar, a towel or shirt carrying those sweet, flower-like notes can easily be mistaken for a patch of blooms. Light-colored fabrics, especially whites and pastels, make the illusion stronger by reflecting sunlight the way petals do, inviting curious bees to investigate
Color and brightness also play a role. Bees are especially attracted to yellow, blue, and white shades, and the reflective quality of sunlit fabric enhances those signals. When combined with pleasant detergent scents, your laundry can seem like a miniature garden to them. Though bees are generally harmless, a trapped one might sting out of self-defense, so always shake out clothes gently before bringing them inside.
To keep bees away, use unscented laundry products, dry clothes in shaded or screened areas, or choose darker fabrics for outdoor drying. These small adjustments protect you and the bees alike. Their gentle curiosity serves as a reminder that even everyday routines — like doing laundry — are intertwined with the rhythms of the natural world.