Hanging
Experts have found that clothes put on drying frames or draped over warm radiators raise moisture levels in our homes by up to 30 per cent, creating ideal breeding conditions for mould spores – and one in particular called aspergillus fumigatus, which can cause potentially fatal lung infections.
The seams are typically bulkier inside a garment, so if you turn it inside out the bulk of the seam will get more exposure to the heated air in a dryer and dry better.
Drying Your Washing Indoors Introduces A Hidden Menace To Your Home – Damp. You Won't Be Able To See The Extra Moisture In The Air, But It Will Be There. Because The Moisture From The Clothes Has To Go Somewhere, Over Time You Are Likely To See Problems Such As Mould Growth, Condensation And Musty Smells.
For health reasons, it is best to avoid sleeping in rooms where clothes are being dried, as the air is saturated with moisture and detergent.
If clothes are not fully dried after washing, left inside a washer, left wet and crumpled for long periods, or simply left to dry in too humid of a space, mold can begin to grow.
When drying clothes in a small space or a poorly ventilated room, the humidity levels can increase. This can create a breeding ground for mold and mildew, which not only damages walls and ceilings but can also lead to health issues for people sensitive to mold due to the bad air quality inside your home.
"Moist environments encourage the growth of mould which can release 'seeds' called spores", explains Pheena Kenny of the Asthma Society of Ireland. "The spores can cause allergic reactions in some people. Mould and fungal spores are often invisible to the naked eye."
According to experts, your preference should always be to dry your clothes outside in the shade. But when the weather doesn't permit this, a clothes rack in a well-ventilated space will suffice.
Drying Indoors Made Easy
Keep clothes away from the kitchen, too, unless you want your laundry to end up smelling like bacon and eggs. Use a folding rack, retractable clothesline, wall mounted rack or ceiling airer, and position it near a window, a fan, or air conditioner vent for better air circulation.
You won't usually need to rewash laundry left in the washer overnight. However, under the right circumstances, mildew can begin forming on clothes quickly. If you detect an odor, simply rewashing clothes that were left overnight should be your first step.
One way on how to clean clothes exposed to mold spores is through careful hand-washing; using bleach; drying the clothes outside in the sun or using a dryer at high heat for 20 minutes after washing it off.
Opening windows when drying clothes indoors can help improve air circulation and reduce humidity levels, which can speed up the drying process. However, it's important to keep the room at a comfortable temperature to avoid mould growth.
Laurence warned: “Avoid drying laundry in the bathroom as it's already a damp space and you don't want to add more humidity to the air. Plus, clothes will take longer to dry in an already-damp room. “If you have a dedicated laundry room, a spare room or garage, this is the best place to dry your clothes.
Hang your clothes straight away. Don't leave them in the machine or a laundry basket as this can cause them to smell musty and even grow mould. If you're tight on space, you can create more hanging room by simply using curtain rods.
Do not leave laundry outside at night as it risks humidity and bad odors. Better to spread it out during the day for good drying in the air fresh.
But experts are warning that if you do air-dry your wet clothes indoors, to avoid putting them in one particular room - the bedroom. According to researchers, doing this could result in issues such as mould, dampness and some health concerns.
Air drying clothes indoors can lead to several health risks like raised humidity levels that lead to mold or mildew growth. This can irritate asthma or allergies, and cause several breathing issues.
Aircons ensure a steady airflow, which is essential for accelerating the drying process. Positioning your clothes near the aircon vent allows cool, dry air to pass over them, enhancing evaporation. This airflow prevents moisture from lingering and reduces the chances of musty odors.
Do clothes dry better inside out? When you dry your clothes inside out, you're helping to prevent color fading and lint buildup on the outside of the items that may occur from tumbling in the dryer. Drying your clothes inside out helps to prevent damage to the garment as a whole.
One of the most common indicators of possible mold growth on clothes and fabrics is its smell. If you have a mold problem on clothes, they may have strong musty, earthy odour. Visible mold growth on clothes may appear as irregular white, bluish, greenish or greyish to black spots or stains.
Most mold spores will die at temperatures above 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius), so cold and warm water cycles won't work. Add laundry detergent (regular detergent is fine). Add any other disinfectants, like vinegar, bleach or baking soda. Run two complete cycles on hot water.