Drying laundry at home is a common practice for many people, especially during autumn and winter. When it’s freezing outside, leaving your clothes in one of the rooms often seems like the only practical option. However, experts warn that this method can have serious health consequences. The main problem is the increased humidity in the interior, which promotes the growth of mold.
- Drying laundry indoors increases the risk of mold in the home.
- Increased humidity and poor ventilation promote the spread of spores.
- The most at risk are children, the elderly and people with chronic diseases.
While it’s difficult to completely avoid drying your laundry indoors, it’s important to be aware of the risks. Children, the elderly and people with chronic diseases are especially at risk. Moisture combined with insufficient ventilation creates an environment suitable for harmful pathogens.
Hanging wet laundry indoors causes a rapid increase in humidity. In households where laundry is often done, for example in families with children, this problem can appear daily. If ventilation is insufficient, an environment that supports the growth of mold is created, especially in bathrooms, kitchens and bedrooms.
Drying laundry indoors can pose risks. (illustrative photo)
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Excessive moisture may not immediately cause visible symptoms. Mold spores can linger in the air and settle on surfaces long before dark spots appear on walls. This initial phase is often the most dangerous for the health of the people in the household.
Among the most common molds are Penicillium a Aspergilluswhile we inhale a small amount of their spores daily. This is usually not a problem for people with healthy immune systems, but long-term exposure greatly increases the risk of respiratory infections. Mold Aspergillus it is especially dangerous for people with cystic fibrosis or chronic asthma. In asthmatics mold acts as a strong trigger of inflammation that causes shortness of breath.
In severe cases, mold spores can invade the lungs and form fungal structures that block airways and damage tissue.. Although such cases are rare, they can cause bleeding and even be life-threatening. Despite the fact that for many people it is impossible to avoid drying laundry indoors, several principles must be followed. Experts emphasize the importance of air circulation. “Proper ventilation effectively limits mold growth,” add environmental health specialists.
This article comes from the Ringier publishing partner website. The content and data contained in it were taken without editorial intervention.
