Ok. I have an idea but am not sure. Maybe someone with more knowledge can help me out with this. I refuse to hang dry laundry in the basement of my house in NY. However, my elderly that resides now at the house insists on doing her laundry and hanging it in my basement and the result is as follows (this is just what I suspect):
The garment is not soft
The garment smells like a wet dog
The basement feels damp and humid
The cloth it self feels like it can give you skin irritation
It smells as though it would be evident of fungus or bacterial growth (this is not proven)
Now as a person with allergies all my life and a very picky and cleanly way of doing things, is my speculations correct? Is this a safe and clean method. Growing up my mother hang dried outside and that was fine but in an old ancient basement of a early 1930's house?
Ok let me know some truth behind my speculations. I know I'm a neat freak but my nose and conscience tells me that her method is off
2006-07-11 05:42:45 · 9 answers · asked by Truth 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Cleaning & Laundry
Yeah, that moisture goes somewhere. If it has no way out, it just stays in the basement. Probably takes a lot longer to dry the garments that way too. Excess moisture in a cool, dark place does promote the growth of mold and fungus.
2006-07-11 05:47:00 · answer #1 · answered by Blunt Honesty 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
When I lived in NY, I had some friends who hang dried their clothes in their basement. They did have a certain smell about them. I work with kids, and I sometimes notice that same smell on their clothes. I ask them if their mommy hangs their clothes up to dry in the basement, and they always say yes. I don't know scientifically if there are any allergens or bacteria/fungus that result. But there must be something there that gives the clothes that distinct basement-dried smell.
2006-07-11 05:49:27 · answer #2 · answered by jengirl9 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Clothes need the heat of the sun and the fresh air from the wind to dry properly. Or a dryer. If this person really insists, maybe installing a dryer would be your only option.
By the way, if she is elderly, maybe she can't smell the mustiness. Does she have any younger family member that visits that you can talk to?
2006-07-11 05:47:02 · answer #3 · answered by Terisu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you worry too much and if you are not wearing these clothes or sleeping in the same room as the drying clothes then stop thinking about it.
Keep it ventilated as much as you can so the moisture has somewhere to go. Humidity isn't always a bad thing. People actually buy humidifiers.
2006-07-11 06:22:28 · answer #4 · answered by ruletheworld 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope, not safe at all. Some types of mold can kill you. It's better to hang laundry up where there is good air circulation, and you won't find that in a dark basement.
2006-07-11 05:46:52 · answer #5 · answered by Luann 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she insists on still doing it buy a dehumidifier to help with the dampness otherwise maybe offer to hang them outside for her/him.
2006-07-11 07:57:28 · answer #6 · answered by LB 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Outside is okay, but avoid direct light to prevent fading.
2006-07-11 05:46:15 · answer #7 · answered by buzzman_hst 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
, You are correct in all your assumptions/ speculations, I wouldn't hang my clothing there either.
2006-07-11 05:49:48 · answer #8 · answered by Yakuza 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have allergies this could put you in the hospital.
2006-07-11 05:48:14 · answer #9 · answered by CYNDIITA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋