- Drying laundry indoors, especially in autumn and winter, can lead to serious problems, not only for your furniture, but also for your health.
- Wet clothes increase air humidity, which favors the growth of mold and fungi, which can cause health problems such as a runny nose or headaches.
- Find out why experts are sounding the alarm and whether there are safe ways to dry laundry at home to avoid negative consequences.
Do you dry your laundry like this? Experts are sounding the alarm
. Many people point out that there is no space for them, they consume too much electricity and even destroy clothes. In our country, drying clothes on a traditional dryer or on radiators still dominates. While in spring and summer most people dry their laundry on the balcony or terrace, in autumn and winter we usually do it indoors. It turns out that drying laundry this way can have serious consequences. Experts pay attention primarily to the place where . Many people dry their clothes with a towel or cloth on doors or chair backs. This shouldn’t be done. Wood or other materials from which furniture or doors are made may begin to swell and the veneer may begin to peel off. As a result, the door may stop closing and other furniture may be damaged.
Another important aspect indoors is humidity. In the autumn and winter period, many households experience the problem of too wet air. Steam settling on windows and too much moisture contribute to the multiplication of fungi and mold. Wet laundry can make this problem worse. On her Instagram profile, expert Joanna Gałuszka-Szarzyńska pointed out the dangers of drying clothes on a traditional dryer placed in the room. – Drying laundry on a traditional dryer placed in the room increases the humidity level in the apartment, which, combined with the heat of radiators, creates an optimal environment for the development of mold fungi. Most of us associate mold with black spots on the walls, and mold fungi can also be found in the soil of potted plants, garbage cans, on old furniture and carpets, in sink drains, air conditioning, ventilation holes, and garages. Their multiplication especially increases in winter, when we open windows and ventilate rooms less often – said Joanna Gałuszka-Szarzyńska.
Moisture and multiplying mold and fungus spores have an impact on our health. Being regularly exposed to their effects, we may experience increased problems in the upper respiratory tract. Constant runny nose, headaches or conjunctivitis may be related to mold problems in the apartment. The expert indicated that, in her opinion, the best way to dry laundry is an electric tumble dryer.
Is drying laundry in the room always harmful?
It is worth adding, however, that the problem of moisture is only one side of the coin in autumn and winter. In many homes, the air is too dry during the heating season. In such a case, increasing the air humidity is recommended. Experts often recommend drying laundry to properly moisturize the air in the room.
