Expert warns against drying clothes inside (Image: Getty)
Hanging out your washing to dry inside your warm home may seem like the logical option in the cold depths of winter, yet a top scientist has warned against it.
While many of us choose to hang our freshly washed clothes on a drying rack, Dr Rebecca Drummond, an expert in immunology and immunotherapy at the University of Birmingham, has said the health implications of this should prevent you from doing so.
She wrote in an article for The Conversation: “Drying wet clothing on racks in poorly ventilated spaces could increase the amount of mould growing in your home.”
The scientist explained how this “is associated with poor health and, in some cases, even death”.
Dr Drummond said, despite the wintry weather, it is still best to hang your clothes out to dry outside of your property, year-round.
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Mould can cause serious health complications, expert warns (Image: Getty)
For those who do not have access to an outdoor space, the expert says to invest in a dehumidifier or heated clothes rack to accelerate the drying process and suck the moisture out of the air.
Mould flourishes in damp conditions, which is why it is commonly found in bathrooms.
Dr Drummond said: “When mould grows in your home, it can form black or green coloured patches on the walls, and usually creates an unpleasant musty smell.
“It shouldn’t be ignored, because being exposed to mould over long periods of time can have serious health implications.”
The expert explains how individuals with “damaged or compromised immune systems are at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell from fungal infections”.
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Hanging your washing to dry outside can prevent mould from developing (Image: Getty)
She added: “Moulds like aspergillus cause infections in patients with limited immune function, or who have lung damage from diseases like asthma, cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with heavy smoking.”
Certain cases of mould exposure sees fungal spores enter the airways and block them, resulting in bleeding.
Dr Drummond said: “This happens when spores germinate and form long spiderweb-like projections called mycelium, which create sticky lumps that block airways and damage the delicate tissues of the lung.”
The scientist explained how people with healthy immune systems means typical exposure is not likely to cause health problems.
However, exposure to large amounts of fungal spores can be “fatal even for people who don’t have underlying health issues”.