Many households across Ireland are feeling the pinch from the ongoing cost of living crisis and are trying to save money where possible. With energy costs skyrocketing, some people have been air-drying clothes rather than using the tumble dryer.
However, Ireland’s unpredictable weather often makes outdoor drying impossible, leaving indoor drying as the only alternative. While this may seem like an easy solution, it comes with a significant downside: the risk of mould. This can not only harm the health of both humans and pets but also lead to costly damage to walls, ceilings and window sills.
Experts in air quality have shared some insights on how mould forms and how to combat it. Mould thrives in damp, poorly ventilated environments, where fungal spores can settle and grow. While most adults can tolerate these spores without issue, they can pose serious risks to babies, young children and individuals with respiratory conditions or weakened immune systems.
The presence of mould can lead to a variety of health problems, including allergies, skin irritation, chronic colds and worsening conditions like asthma and eczema. To prevent mould from taking hold, it’s essential to reduce the humidity in your home.
Simple actions like opening windows and doors can help air circulation, while extractor fans in bathrooms and kitchens can mitigate steam from showers or cooking. Additionally, using a dehumidifier in moderation can be an effective way to combat excess moisture.
Jenny Turner, Property Manager at Insulation Express, warns that drying wet clothes indoors can worsen existing mould problems, Hull Live reports.
She advises always keeping a window open in the room to allow moisture to escape. She also recommends using a dehumidifier, which can remove up to seven litres of moisture from the air each day in damp conditions. While this might seem counterintuitive, investing in a dehumidifier can save money in the long run by preventing costly mould damage.
For those looking for a more advanced option, the Pro Breeze 4L dehumidifier comes with an app which allows you to monitor the current moisture level in your home, set a target humidity level, 24 hour on/off timer or select from three operating modes including auto, continuous dehumidification and internal drying. Over 500 of these have been bought on Amazon in the last month and they are rated an impressive 4.4 out of 5 stars from almost 7,000 reviews. For more information or to buy for £229, click here.
For a more budget-friendly solution, there are simpler, non-electric dehumidifying options available. Home supply stores offer plastic dehumidifier pots for as little as £1.24. These pots trap moisture in the air and reduce condensation on windows, which is common when drying clothes indoors. Another affordable option is placing bowls of rock salt on window sills, as salt absorbs moisture and helps keep the air dry.
Jenny explained: “For a dehumidifying effect without the use of electricity, try a combination of open windows and plastic window dehumidifier pots which can trap and collect moisture in the air. These inexpensive plastic pots can help to eliminate the risk of condensation on windows which can occur from drying wet clothes inside, adding to the damp atmosphere. Another cheap trick to draw moisture away from walls and windows is to place bowls of rock salt on the window sill when drying clothes, as this will help to absorb excess moisture in the air.”
Meanwhile, Francesca Brady, CEO and co-founder of AirRated, has highlighted the growing issue of mould in homes as part of a larger conversation about the condition of buildings.
She said: “It’s important that this is covered in the media, everyone needs a basic level of understanding of what sort of environments are unhealthy spaces for us to live and work in. That being said, there is a much larger issue surrounding building stock that is not-fit-for-purpose, where it will take more than changing behaviours to improve these settings.”
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