With energy prices spiralling and everyone looking to save money, more people than ever before are turning down their heating and ditching their tumble driers. But with UK weather being changeable at best, having to dry your washing in your home could be leaving you open to mould, which can affect both health of humans and pets and cause costly-to-repair damage to walls, ceilings window sills and other areas.
We asked several air quality experts for their advice on how mould forms and what you can do to combat it. Mould in buildings is usually caused by a lack of ventilation and humidity. Fungal spores commonly float naturally in indoor and outdoor air and are breathed in, and usually for most adults this isn't a problem, although it can be dangerous for children and babies as well as people with respiratory issues or weak immune systems.
But when fungal spores settle on damp surfaces they grow into mould. This can cause allergies, chronic colds, skin irritation and aggravate asthma and eczema.
