The dangerous mistakes you’re making drying your washing inside – and when to see a doctor
WHEN it’s cold, damp and rainy outside, it can seem like your clothes take days to properly dry.
Rather than let them get smelly from the damp, you might think popping your stuff on your radiator will be a quick fix.
But while your radiator might get your stuff toasty and dry much quicker than your drying rack would, health experts have warned against taking this shortcut as it could negatively affect your health.
Firstly, it could be making your home mouldy.
UK households are no strangers to mould, especially a particular variety called aspergillus.
Breathing in the spores could make you ill, causing you to develop a sometimes deadly infection called aspergillosis.
According to Asthma + Lung UK, most people won’t get sick if they inhale tiny bits of the mould usually found in soil, compost and rotting leaves, as well as dust and damp buildings.
But people with existing lung conditions such as asthma or a weakened immune system could get very ill from breathing in the mould.
Professor David Dennings, director of the National Aspergillosis Centre, warned you might be helping aspergillus thrive if you regularly pop your socks on the radiator.
That’s because the damp emitted by your sodden clothes can create an ideal breading ground for the fungal mould, he told the BBC.
Dr Dennings also warned that clothes put on drying frames or draped over warm radiators raise moisture levels in our homes by up to 30 per cent.
“The odd pair of socks or towel on the radiator isn’t going to make it awful,” he said.
“It’s the regular business of drying your inside and not having the windows open so there’s no exit for all that dampness, that’s the big problem.”
Which brings us to the second clothes drying no-no. Dr Dennings said it was important to ventilate your home when your clothes are drying inside.
If your items just aren’t drying and you have to place them on the radiator, make sure you open some windows and close the door to the room they’re in.
Who’s at risk of apsergillosis?
People with severe asthma and weekend immune systems can be particularly vulnerable.
The NHS notes that it’s rare to get aspergillosis if you’re healthy.
You’re usually only at risk of aspergillosis if you have:
- a lung condition – such as asthma, cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- a weakened immune system – for example, if you have had an organ transplant or are having chemotherapy
- had tuberculosis (TB) in the past
- severe flu or coronavirus (COVID-19) and need artificial ventilation
Symptoms include shortness of breath, a cough which may bring up blood or mucus, wheezing, a high temperature and weight loss.
You should see a GP if you’ve had a cough for more than three weeks or your lung condition is getting harder to control with your usual treatment, NHS guidane says.
It’s also especially important to do so if you have a weakened immune system and are experiencing the above symptoms.
How to prevent it
It’s not possible to completely avoid aspergillus mould, but there are things you can do to reduce the risk of catching aspergillosis, according to Asthma + Lung.
Like Dr Dennings, it suggested you be careful when drying your clothes.
It recommended you hang them up outside or use a tumble dryer or airing cupboard if you can.
Barring that, put them in a well ventilated room that isn’t your bedroom or living space.
It also advised you close your windows if there’s construction work or digging outside and wear a face mask when venturing into dusty places, as well as when gardening or disturbing compost.