What are the health risks of air drying clothes indoors? 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.
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.
Clothes can dry indoors in winter, but it can affect air quality, humidity and lead to mould. Try avoiding drying laundry in the rooms where you spend the most time e.g., your living room and bedroom. Instead, place the drying rack in the bathroom, the kitchen or hallway where you spend less time.
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.
The presence of damp clothes indoors can lead to excess moisture and humidity which often results in mould and mildew growth which can be hazardous. Aside from those issues, it can take longer for clothes to dry in a small, poorly ventilated space which can become uncomfortable and frustrating over time.
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.
Air needs to circulate around items to whisk away moisture and ensure a quality, even dry.
Yes, turning your hoodie inside out before washing helps protect the exterior from abrasion and colour fading... ...so it's a good idea to do so for better maintenance of your hoodie. Is it better to air dry or use a dryer for my hoodie? It's better to air dry your hoodie to maintain its softness and prevent shrinkage.
Try to wash your bed linen inside out to preserve colours and patterns and dry it well afterwards to avoid bad odours. While air-drying is effective, using a tumble dryer will save time (check the information on the label).
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.
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.
Drying laundry in the home poses a health risk to those prone to asthma, hay fever and other allergies, according to research.
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.
As the wet clothes dry the moisture released into the air creates the ideal breeding conditions for the growth of mould and other airborne irritants that can easily be breathed in and introduced into the body.
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.
A good rule of thumb is to wash your jeans after every 3-10 wears, or when they start to smell. If you're regularly active in your jeans (think: manual work, anything where you work up a sweat), wash them every 3 wears, but if you're working at a desk, you can probably go through multiple wears without washing.
Shirts, trousers and dresses don't usually need to be washed every day they're used, but should be aired overnight before being worn the next day.
Drying clothes outside is cheaper and healthier, as the sun's UV rays kill bacteria and dust mites, and can even bleach away stains.
More hygiene
Thanks to the action of high temperatures, drying your clothes in a tumble dryer will help you kill germs and bacteria that may be left on your garments after the washing.
Air drying your clothes isn't just good for your wallet, the environment, and your wardrobe – it's also beneficial for your health. Reduced chemical exposure and the natural sanitising effects of sunlight are just some of the health advantages of air drying your laundry.
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.
Local Ordinances. Many towns, municipalities, and even some neighborhoods have rules and regulations about outdoor clotheslines. Breaking the rules can result in steep fines. Some homeowner associations ban them because they symbolize the bygone days of poorer living conditions.
Position your drying in rooms where you spend the least amount of time, for example the bathroom. You want the space to be well ventilated so you can avoid allergic reactions, mildew or mould on fabrics or in your home from all the extra moisture in the air. Open windows are the best way to allow fresh air in.