For those without a tumble dryer, during the winter months, there seems to be no choice but to dry clothes indoors, but the household chore comes with risks.
Everest home energy expert Anthony Threlfall said: “Just going about our daily life in our homes produces over 15 litres of water vapour every day, which is a staggering amount.”
The number one cause of condensation in the UK is drying laundry indoors on radiators or clothes airers.
Anthony Threlfall advised: “It is essential to ventilate a room when drying laundry given the incredible volume of water vapour that is released into the home (around five litres).
“This will have the added benefit of not only helping your clothes dry faster because of increased air circulation, it will help stop your clothes smelling damp.”
Threlfall added: “If possible, I would also recommend running your laundry through an additional spin cycle to ensure as much water as possible is spun out, especially for heavier items such as jeans, towels or hoodies.”
While you may take these precautionary steps moving forward, it could mean mould has already started to build up in your home.
Threlfall said mould has a distinctive musty odour akin to “the smell right before or after it rains with a little extra pungent kick”.
Another indication of mould is warped surfaces, so be on the lookout for bubbling or peeling paint.
“If you see this in your house, there’s a good chance you’ve got mould starting to grow,” said Threlfall.
A more visible sign of mould is dark spots that may feel slimy appearing on the walls, for example.
“Mould exposure can cause health issues,” said Threlfall, so be aware that mould might be the culprit if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Wheezing
- Skin rashes
- Cold or cough that won’t go away
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Congestion
- Worsened allergies
- Persistent headache.
Additional household chores that could encourage mould growth include cooking, turning the kettle on, and washing the dishes.
All these activities contribute to condensation which is why the extractor fan should be on when cooking, and windows should be open regularly.
“There is nothing better than allowing fresh air to circulate through a space to keep it ventilated, remove stale air and smells and reduce moisture in the house,” said Threlfall.
So while it may be cold outside, it’s still key to crack open the windows, even just a little, to ward off mould.
