Is cleaning your laundry having an adverse effect on your indoor air quality?
When most of us think of laundry day, we think of clean, fresh-smelling clothing. After all, that’s what laundry day is all about, right? Freshening things up?
In theory, yes.
But in reality, cleaning your laundry could actually hamper the quality of your indoor air.
Doing laundry in your home can cause mould growth, high humidity, dust mites, toxic chemicals and more! Effects which are far from beneficial for your indoor air quality and potentially dangerous for your health.
So before you throw another load in the dryer or wash machine, read through these 9 laundry hacks for better indoor air quality. They can help keep your indoor air clean and fresh while also lowering your energy bills!
1. Clean Your Dryer Vent
Keeping your dryer vent clear and clean is vital for three reasons.
First, a buildup of dryer lint can become a fire hazard. The hot air and static in your dryer can ignite a spark with the excess lint found in your dryer vent.
Secondly, dryer lint can also hinder the proper ventilation of gas-powered dryers. This could then release carbon monoxide into your indoor air. – a colourless, odourless and toxic gas that is both flammable and poisonous.
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning:
- Headaches
- Confusion
- Chest Pain
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Upset Stomach
If inhaled, large amounts of carbon monoxide can also cause fainting or death!
Thirdly, as lint accumulates in the liner of your dryer ducts, airflow becomes restricted. This restriction causes your dryer to consume more energy – lowering its efficiency and raising your energy bills.
Improve your dryer’s efficiency, minimize the risk of fires and keep your indoor air safe with our dryer vent cleaning services!
Schedule Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning
2. Try Using 100% Natural Laundry Detergents and Fabric Softeners
What laundry detergent and fabric softener brand do you use and why?
Shopping for a “fresh” new laundry scent is exciting. We look for the perfect fragrance, the best reviews and the most affordable prices – all in search of a solution that suits our preferences and budget.
However, the factors that guide this decision-making process may have to change.
In light of a recent study, some fragranced laundry products can be harmful to our indoor air quality. These products can emit concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Studies have also found that many laundry detergents and fabric softeners contain toxic chemicals that release harmful fumes. These fumes can then enter your body through inhalation or skin absorption, causing serious health effects.
Our indoor air quality experts recommend using 100% natural laundry products to lessen the risk of this toxic exposure.
3. Prevent Mildew and Mould Growth In Your Washing Machine.
When was the last time you cleaned your washing machine? If you can’t remember, or maybe you never have, there might be an unpleasant surprise hidden inside for you.
Do you recall our recent article on mould, weird smells and high humidity in your basement? If so, you might remember that heat and warmth creates the perfect breeding ground for mould and mildew. And if you’ve smelt a musty odour on your supposedly “fresh” laundry recently, you’ve probably seen the first sign of it!
But don’t worry! Although your washing machine may be the perfect home for mould, this bacterial growth isn’t inevitable. In fact, there are a couple of easy ways for you to help prevent mould growth from happening.
First, always remember to keep the lid of your washing machine open after you run it. This will help dry it out and release some heat from inside.
Second, remove damp laundry immediately after the cycle is complete. Although it’s common for us to throw a load of laundry in and forget it for an entire day, this can increase the chances of mould growth in your machine.
4. Use a Dehumidifier
Speaking of hot and damp environments…did you know that daily housekeeping tasks like laundry can increase the humidity in your home?
Your laundry room is actually an especially hot and humid area of your home. With both machines running, clothes air drying and a pile of sweaty clothes piling up in the corner, you’re practically inviting mould growth!
To reduce the humidity in your laundry room, we recommend:
a) Cleaning your laundry room to keep it as dry as possible, and
b) Installing a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture.
5. Use a Clothesline.
Many of us air dry our clothes indoors to save money on energy and preserve the shape and quality of fabrics. But did you know that indoor air drying can dramatically increase your indoor humidity levels?
Leaving your laundry to dry indoors creates that perfect humid environment for mould growth and dust mites. It also means your dehumidifier has to work even harder to remove this excess moisture.
To save energy and maintain a healthy humidity level in your home, we recommend using a clothesline as much as possible.
Plus – your clothes will actually smell fresher when dried in the fresh outdoor air!
6. Ventilate Your Laundry Room.
Circulating the air in your laundry room is key to managing moisture and preventing the growth of harmful bacteria.
Ventilation also introduces fresh air into your laundry room while removing that unpleasant, stale, muggy air. Because nobody wants to walk into a sauna every time they fold laundry.
Recommended Ventilation Equipment:
- Dryer Vents
- Energy Recovery Ventilation
- Windows
- Exhaust Fans
- Heat Recovery Ventilation
Freshen Up Your Laundry Room With Indoor Air Quality Products by Shipton’s CleanAir Solutions!
Is laundry day hampering the quality of your indoor air? Although laundry is nobody’s favourite chore, you should never have to worry about it harming your indoor air quality. By following the above recommendations, you can help keep your indoor air clean and safe!
Stay in touch with Shipton’s CleanAir Solutions for more indoor air quality hacks! You can reach us at (905) 544-2470 or contact us online!
P.S. Don’t forget to book your professional dryer vent cleaning while you’re at it!
