At this time of year, it becomes a whole lot more difficult to dry our clothes without a tumble dryer. Thanks to unreliable weather, hanging them outside often isn’t an option, and hanging them up inside also comes with its issues.
Keeping wet clothes indoors can cause problems like damp and mould to thrive within your home. These black spores aren’t just an eyesore – they can also cause significant health issues if left unchecked for too long. In fact, government data shows that up to 6.5 million homes in England are affected by damp and mould, putting families at risk of respiratory issues and allergies – a figure that spikes in autumn and winter when ventilation drops.
Nigel Bearman, home cleaning and laundry expert at Daily Poppins, has urged people to take the issue of damp seriously and change up their laundry habits now.
He said: “People often think damp is just a cosmetic problem, a bit of black mould on the wall or condensation on windows. But it can have real health consequences, especially for children, the elderly, or anyone with asthma and allergies.”
The pro has shared a simple tip that could help to cut down on the amount of damp in the air at home if you’re drying clothes inside, that could save you a lot of hassle in the long run.
How to dry clothes inside safely
One simple thing that homeowners can do to banish damp and mould when drying clothes inside is to stragetically use moisture-trapping materials to absorb it from the air.
For example, placing clean towels or old sheets near or under drying clothes can help tp soak up excess moisture. It also helps speed up drying and keeps the room less damp without needing a dehumidifier or heating.
Damp and mould is caused by poor ventilation, so even during the colder months, it can be really useful to increase the air flow around your home when drying laundry. Opening windows for just 10–15 minutes while drying clothes makes a huge difference to airflow and prevents damp from settling.
And finally, if you’re doing a few loads of laundry at a time, try not to hang them up to dry all in the same room. Instead, spread loads out across the week, which will help to reduce excess moisture.