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Housekeeping

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Original poster

How often do u open the windows?

42 replies

Canihavesomemore · 31/01/2013 16:30

Just that really. I air out the flat when I do my Sunday clean... SometimesBlush Ds's room has always been particularly damp, today I opened the storage cupboard in Ds's room to find it full of mold! All over his spare push hair and a couple of my going out dresses. Called the estate agent who came around and said you obviously don't air the flat out enough Hmm realistically, how often is enough and do u do it?

OP posts:
specialsubject · 31/01/2013 17:13

once a day for about 10 minutes is enough. In summer (remember that?) windows are open all day when I am home.

your stuff should be covered by your tenant's insurance.

Dothraki · 31/01/2013 17:19

I never close my bedroom window - even when it was snowing Wink

HoratiaWinwood · 31/01/2013 17:32

Bedrooms every day for at least an hour (open before school run, close when I get back).

Bathroom after every shower. After baths if it feels steamy.

Downstairs if I remember.

We get awful mould otherwise.

deleted203 · 31/01/2013 17:34

In the North of England? Only in summer time, love. (Occasionally).

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 31/01/2013 17:39

Our windows are always on the latch with the vents open.

Cantbelieveitsnotbutter · 31/01/2013 17:41

5-10 mins every day & after cooking / baths / showers

Its still bad though

ElectricSoftParade · 31/01/2013 17:44

I air the house out every day as if I don't it gets too smelly and damp. The only time I don't is when DH is at home during the day as he tends to put the heating on while leaving the windows open and then complaining he is cold Hmm.

Even ten minutes is better than not doing it at all. Hope you find a solution.

DeafLeopard · 31/01/2013 17:45

Little windows in bedrooms slightly open all the time, as is the utility room as it has washing machine and tumble dryer in there.

Kitchen I open if cooking and it gets steamy, but it is quite well ventilated anyway.

Loo open when someone has a smelly poo.

Rest of downstairs, rarely, although the doors don't close properly so there is always a draught going through which airs the house

Dahlen · 31/01/2013 17:46

Every day for about an hour. It's not just about ventilation though. You also need to keep the place warm enough. My house doesn't keep mould-free unless I do both.

hiddenhome · 31/01/2013 18:29

Every morning and some windows are open all the time, even during winter.

MirandaWest · 31/01/2013 18:30

Bedroom window open during the night. Bathroom window after hot shower or bath. More open windows when it's a little warmer :)

HDee · 31/01/2013 18:37

Some windows are open all day, every day, except in the very, very coldest of weathers.

The en suite bathroom window is open all the time, as are both windows in my bedroom. Other bedroom windows get opened every day but are closed after a little while.

Kitchen windows are opened when cooking and usually left open all evening. Front room windows are opened daily too, but closed regularly too.

I hate musty unaired houses. They never seem clean and fresh.

Original poster
Canihavesomemore · 31/01/2013 20:19

Shock wow I am so out of the loop! Thanks everyone! During the summer it is all day everyday but I don't really do it during winter, really need to change that!

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 01/02/2013 00:17

damp and mould inside and behind cupboards or furniture which are against (cold) external walls is typical of condensation caused by excessive humidity.

Opening ther windows daily to let the moisture out will help a lot.

In UK homes, the most common cause is draping wet washing around the home and over radiators, followed by not using an effective extractor fan in the bathroom.

If you have no tumble drier, there are a couple of other suggestions that will help. Does the bathroom have an extractor, and does it seem to work?

Original poster
Canihavesomemore · 01/02/2013 02:11

Thanks piglet the laundry is aired in the kitchen so I don't think it's that, must be windows

OP posts:
TapirBackRider · 01/02/2013 02:21

I air the house every day - upstairs windows are opened an inch or so when I get up, and only closed if it rains (prevailing winds tend to blow the window open and rain in) or when night falls.

I have no tumble drier, and no space for one so we have to dry over the radiators during bad/cold weather. It's not ideal but really have little choice.

brighthair · 01/02/2013 02:39

Trickle vents open everyday
Bedroom window open on lock (so just open)
Living room/kitchen window everyday
And I run extractor fans in both bathrooms (dry washing in there as its faster with door shut and fan on)

Rosa · 01/02/2013 03:01

Daily ..."change the air" try to do all rooms but I have a small house. When sick kids move them into another room then airthe room and bedclothes.

AppleOgies · 01/02/2013 10:41

Every day... The length of time they're open depends on the weather.

ZipItShrimpy · 01/02/2013 10:46

Bedroom windows get opened every morning for a blow though come rain, hail or shine.

Kitchen window opened whenever I cook as I hate lingering cooking smells.

All other windows get opened at random intervals to let some fresh air in.

Does your house not smell musty and pongy if you never open the windows? It certainly mustn't smell fresh!

Blackden · 01/02/2013 14:57

OP I went through a phase of not opening the windows at all, for about 6 months, because I've got a spider phobia and was convinced they come in through open windows. (They may well come in through open windows but they tend to come from lots of other places too, as it turns out).

Several months later I found that I had an awful problem with damp in my fitted wardrobes. All of my clothes had a horrible musty smell and felt cold and damp when I got dressed.
Then someone I'm very close to commented that my house whiffed a bit. I was mortified.
Now, during winter, I open the bedroom windows for about 30 minutes a day and downstairs for about 10 minutes. In summer I try to keep most of them open all day when I'm at home. I live in the North of England.
No more damp in the wardrobes and I'm told that my house no longer has an unpleasant odour.

PigletJohn · 01/02/2013 20:45

Tapir

Does your bathroom have an extractor fan, and does it appear to work?

stargirl1701 · 01/02/2013 20:48

I keep the upstairs bedroom windows open all the time, all year round. Downstairs the vents are all open and the doors are opened and closed all day.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 01/02/2013 20:52

Trickle vents open all the time. Upstairs and down at least one window open for at least half an hour a day, often longer. Back door open most of the time in summer. Bathroom window always open during showering and for half an hour afterwards.

DeathMetalMum · 02/02/2013 09:19

Trickle vents opened daily. Bathroom and kitchen open when cooking and after baths. Also keep the bathroom fan running all day after a bath.

I try and open other windows when I remember our bedroom is usually 5/7 days for most of the day, dd's room at least weekly. We have nor long moved from a very damp flat so I am paranoid about the same happening here. I dry clothes on an airer in the dining area in the daytime if I need too and hang tshirts on the curtain rails in front of either the trickle vent or an open window they dry v quickly.