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A technique used in some parts of Europe to prevent wintertime development of indoor mould is to ventilate the dwelling once or twice daily and to keep all windows and doors closed at other times. For example, Germans call this Stoßlüften or "shock-ventilation". This also replenishes the home with oxygenated air owing to the windows normally being closed in winter.

The process relies on periodically displacing as much as possible of the interior air -- which is comparatively warm and moisture-bearing -- with fresh air from outside. The new air is allowed to then warm up and absorb water vapour from indoor activities like cooking and laundry. And warm air can hold more moisture, and thus appears drier to clothing, than the same air when cold.

Recommendations are to open all windows and doors on opposite sides of the dwelling for 5 minutes or more so as to cause a draught that carries the interior air away, but windy conditions could reduce this time. It won't work well in misty conditions.

I have used this technique to dry laundry, however, if the temperature and RH differences between inside and outdoors are not significant then the effort can be in vain, and outdoor drying might be more effective. Your local conditions could be borderline. To reduce the burden, perhaps isolateplace the laundry in a room in the house that haswith a radiator and placeshut all doors and windows to the laundry thereroom, then experiment with briefly ventilating the room every 2 hours.

InformationIf the technique works for one rack of clothes then it will scale to multiple racks.

Advice from a German government department about ventilation (in German):

Shock-ventilation

Translations of the text:

Proper ventilation - like so:

  • Shock-ventilation several times a day with windows wide open.
  • Best by opening opposite windows ("draught").
  • Ventilate with the radiator turned off. (I ignore this step for brief occurrences.)

Source: https://www.bmu.de/themen/gesundheit-chemikalien/gesundheit-und-umwelt/innenraumluft/richtiges-lueften-und-heizen/

A technique used in some parts of Europe to prevent wintertime development of indoor mould is to ventilate the dwelling once or twice daily and to keep all windows and doors closed at other times. For example, Germans call this Stoßlüften or "shock-ventilation". This also replenishes the home with oxygenated air owing to the windows normally being closed in winter.

The process relies on periodically displacing as much as possible of the interior air -- which is comparatively warm and moisture-bearing -- with fresh air from outside. The new air is allowed to then warm up and absorb water vapour from indoor activities like cooking and laundry. And warm air can hold more moisture, and thus appears drier to clothing, than the same air when cold.

Recommendations are to open all windows and doors on opposite sides of the dwelling for 5 minutes or more so as to cause a draught that carries the interior air away, but windy conditions could reduce this time. It won't work well in misty conditions.

I have used this technique to dry laundry, however, if the temperature and RH differences between inside and outdoors are not significant then the effort can be in vain, and outdoor drying might be more effective. Your local conditions could be borderline. To reduce the burden, perhaps isolate a room in the house that has a radiator and place the laundry there, then experiment with briefly ventilating the room every 2 hours.

Information from a German government department about ventilation (in German):

Shock-ventilation

Source: https://www.bmu.de/themen/gesundheit-chemikalien/gesundheit-und-umwelt/innenraumluft/richtiges-lueften-und-heizen/

A technique used in some parts of Europe to prevent wintertime development of indoor mould is to ventilate the dwelling once or twice daily and to keep all windows and doors closed at other times. For example, Germans call this Stoßlüften or "shock-ventilation". This also replenishes the home with oxygenated air owing to the windows normally being closed in winter.

The process relies on periodically displacing as much as possible of the interior air -- which is comparatively warm and moisture-bearing -- with fresh air from outside. The new air is allowed to then warm up and absorb water vapour from indoor activities like cooking and laundry. And warm air can hold more moisture, and thus appears drier to clothing, than the same air when cold.

Recommendations are to open all windows and doors on opposite sides of the dwelling for 5 minutes or more so as to cause a draught that carries the interior air away, but windy conditions could reduce this time. It won't work well in misty conditions.

I have used this technique to dry laundry, however, if the temperature and RH differences between inside and outdoors are not significant then the effort can be in vain, and outdoor drying might be more effective. Your local conditions could be borderline. To reduce the burden, perhaps place the laundry in a room with a radiator and shut all doors and windows to the room, then experiment with briefly ventilating the room every 2 hours.

If the technique works for one rack of clothes then it will scale to multiple racks.

Advice from a German government department about ventilation (in German):

Shock-ventilation

Translations of the text:

Proper ventilation - like so:

  • Shock-ventilation several times a day with windows wide open.
  • Best by opening opposite windows ("draught").
  • Ventilate with the radiator turned off. (I ignore this step for brief occurrences.)

Source: https://www.bmu.de/themen/gesundheit-chemikalien/gesundheit-und-umwelt/innenraumluft/richtiges-lueften-und-heizen/

Clarification (again...)
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crw
  • 111
  • 2

A technique used in some parts of Europe to prevent wintertime development of indoor mould is to ventilate the dwelling once or twice daily and to keep all windows and doors closed at other times. For example, Germans call this Stoßlüften or "shock-ventilation". This also refreshesreplenishes the home with oxygenated air owing to the windows normally being closed in winter.

The process relies on periodically displacing as much as possible of the interior air -- which is comparatively warm and moisture-bearing -- with fresh air from outside. The new air is allowed to then warm up and absorb water vapour from indoor activities like cooking and laundry. And warm air can hold more moisture, and thus appears drier to clothing, than the same air when cold.

Recommendations are to open all windows and doors on opposite sides of the dwelling for 5 minutes or more so as to cause a draught that carries the interior air away, but windy conditions could reduce this time. It won't work well in misty conditions.

I have used this technique to dry laundry, however, if the temperature and RH differences between inside and outdoors are not significant then the effort can be in vain, and outdoor drying might be more effective. Your local conditions could be borderline. To reduce the burden, perhaps isolate a room in the house that has a radiator and place the laundry there, then experiment with briefly ventilating the room every 2 hours.

Information from a German government department about ventilation (in German):

Shock-ventilation

Source: https://www.bmu.de/themen/gesundheit-chemikalien/gesundheit-und-umwelt/innenraumluft/richtiges-lueften-und-heizen/

A technique used in some parts of Europe to prevent wintertime development of indoor mould is to ventilate the dwelling once or twice daily and to keep all windows and doors closed at other times. For example, Germans call this Stoßlüften or "shock-ventilation". This also refreshes the home with oxygenated air owing to the windows normally being closed in winter.

The process relies on periodically displacing as much as possible of the interior air -- which is comparatively warm and moisture-bearing -- with fresh air from outside. The new air is allowed to then warm up and absorb water vapour from indoor activities like cooking and laundry.

Recommendations are to open all windows and doors on opposite sides of the dwelling for 5 minutes or more so as to cause a draught that carries the interior air away, but windy conditions could reduce this time. It won't work well in misty conditions.

I have used this technique to dry laundry, however, if the temperature and RH differences between inside and outdoors are not significant then the effort can be in vain, and outdoor drying might be more effective. Your local conditions could be borderline. To reduce the burden, perhaps isolate a room in the house that has a radiator and place the laundry there, then experiment with briefly ventilating the room every 2 hours.

Information from a German government department about ventilation (in German):

Shock-ventilation

Source: https://www.bmu.de/themen/gesundheit-chemikalien/gesundheit-und-umwelt/innenraumluft/richtiges-lueften-und-heizen/

A technique used in some parts of Europe to prevent wintertime development of indoor mould is to ventilate the dwelling once or twice daily and to keep all windows and doors closed at other times. For example, Germans call this Stoßlüften or "shock-ventilation". This also replenishes the home with oxygenated air owing to the windows normally being closed in winter.

The process relies on periodically displacing as much as possible of the interior air -- which is comparatively warm and moisture-bearing -- with fresh air from outside. The new air is allowed to then warm up and absorb water vapour from indoor activities like cooking and laundry. And warm air can hold more moisture, and thus appears drier to clothing, than the same air when cold.

Recommendations are to open all windows and doors on opposite sides of the dwelling for 5 minutes or more so as to cause a draught that carries the interior air away, but windy conditions could reduce this time. It won't work well in misty conditions.

I have used this technique to dry laundry, however, if the temperature and RH differences between inside and outdoors are not significant then the effort can be in vain, and outdoor drying might be more effective. Your local conditions could be borderline. To reduce the burden, perhaps isolate a room in the house that has a radiator and place the laundry there, then experiment with briefly ventilating the room every 2 hours.

Information from a German government department about ventilation (in German):

Shock-ventilation

Source: https://www.bmu.de/themen/gesundheit-chemikalien/gesundheit-und-umwelt/innenraumluft/richtiges-lueften-und-heizen/

Clarifcation
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crw
  • 111
  • 2

A technique used in some parts of Europe to prevent wintertime development of indoor mould is to ventilate the dwelling once or twice daily and to keep all windows and doors closed at other times. For example, Germans call this Stoßlüften or "shock-ventilation". This also refreshes the home with oxygenated air owing to the windows normally being closed in winter.

The process relies on periodically displacing as much as possible of the interior air -- which is comparatively warm and moisture-bearing -- with fresh air from outside. The new air is allowed to then warm up and absorb water vapour from indoor activities like cooking and laundry. 

Recommendations are to open all windows and doors on opposite sides of the dwelling for 5 minutes or more so as to cause a draught that carries the interior air away, but windy conditions could reduce this time. It won't work well in misty conditions.

I have used this technique to dry laundry, however, if the temperature and RH differences between inside and outdoors are not significant then the effort can be in vain, and outdoor drying might be more effective. Your local conditions could be borderline. To reduce the burden, perhaps isolate a room in the house that has a radiator and place the laundry there, then experiment with briefly ventilating the room every 2 hours.

Information from a German government department about ventilation (in German):

Shock-ventilation

Source: https://www.bmu.de/themen/gesundheit-chemikalien/gesundheit-und-umwelt/innenraumluft/richtiges-lueften-und-heizen/

A technique used in some parts of Europe to prevent wintertime development of indoor mould is to ventilate the dwelling once or twice daily and to keep all windows and doors closed at other times. For example, Germans call this Stoßlüften or "shock-ventilation". This also refreshes the home with oxygenated air owing to the windows normally being closed in winter.

The process relies on displacing as much as possible of the interior air -- which is comparatively warm and moisture-bearing -- with fresh air from outside. The new air is allowed to then warm up and absorb water vapour from indoor activities like cooking and laundry. Recommendations are to open all windows and doors on opposite sides of the dwelling for 5 minutes or more, but windy conditions could reduce this time. It won't work well in misty conditions.

I have used this technique to dry laundry, however, if the temperature and RH differences between inside and outdoors are not significant then the effort can be in vain, and outdoor drying might be more effective. Your local conditions could be borderline. To reduce the burden, perhaps isolate a room in the house that has a radiator and place the laundry there, then experiment with briefly ventilating the room every 2 hours.

Information from a German government department about ventilation (in German):

Shock-ventilation

Source: https://www.bmu.de/themen/gesundheit-chemikalien/gesundheit-und-umwelt/innenraumluft/richtiges-lueften-und-heizen/

A technique used in some parts of Europe to prevent wintertime development of indoor mould is to ventilate the dwelling once or twice daily and to keep all windows and doors closed at other times. For example, Germans call this Stoßlüften or "shock-ventilation". This also refreshes the home with oxygenated air owing to the windows normally being closed in winter.

The process relies on periodically displacing as much as possible of the interior air -- which is comparatively warm and moisture-bearing -- with fresh air from outside. The new air is allowed to then warm up and absorb water vapour from indoor activities like cooking and laundry. 

Recommendations are to open all windows and doors on opposite sides of the dwelling for 5 minutes or more so as to cause a draught that carries the interior air away, but windy conditions could reduce this time. It won't work well in misty conditions.

I have used this technique to dry laundry, however, if the temperature and RH differences between inside and outdoors are not significant then the effort can be in vain, and outdoor drying might be more effective. Your local conditions could be borderline. To reduce the burden, perhaps isolate a room in the house that has a radiator and place the laundry there, then experiment with briefly ventilating the room every 2 hours.

Information from a German government department about ventilation (in German):

Shock-ventilation

Source: https://www.bmu.de/themen/gesundheit-chemikalien/gesundheit-und-umwelt/innenraumluft/richtiges-lueften-und-heizen/

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