Stop making this common laundry mistake that's 'breeding mould'

With autumn and winter drawing on, the weather is starting to turn. One of the challenges brought on by the cooler months is laundry.

Although washing is easy enough, when it comes to drying your clean clothes, if you don't have a tumble dryer it can be an uphill battle. Government data shows that up to 6.5 million homes in England are affected by damp and mould, putting families at risk of respiratory issues and allergies, a figure that spikes in autumn and winter when ventilation drops. Nigel Bearman, home cleaning and laundry expert at Daily Poppins said: "People often think damp is just a cosmetic problem, a bit of black mould on the wall or condensation on windows.

"But it can have real health consequences, especially for children, the elderly, or anyone with asthma and allergies."

If you have no option but to dry your washing inside, there are some ways you can mitigate damp in your home.

The first thing to make sure you're keeping on top of is ventilation.

Nigel said: "Even in cooler weather, opening windows for just 10-15 minutes while drying clothes makes a huge difference to airflow and prevents damp from settling."

It's also important not to crowd all your washing into one room, as this can increase moisture in the air. Rather than having it all in one space, try spreading it out across your home.

You can also try using moisture absorbing materials like towels and sheets. If you plce these near or under drying clothes, they can help soak up excess moisture.

Nigel's final tip is to invest in a dehumidifier. He said: "If you're willing to invest, a dehumidifier can also help remove excess moisture from the air, but following these simple, cost-free tips should keep your home dry until the weather cools further."