November 22, 2022, 11:11 am | Read time: 4 minutes
In icy winter weather, airing out the apartment is often neglected. As soon as the window is even slightly open, the room temperature drops abruptly. But airing out in winter affects not only this but also another factor that is not exactly beneficial to health.
Many are familiar with the typical winter problems–such as dry skin, chapped lips, and watery eyes. This is mostly due to the dry air that prevails, especially in the cold season. It’s not just about the conditions in the proverbial fresh air but also within your own four walls. Important: Not airing out is also not a solution, as mold can quickly form, especially in the cold season, due to condensation. Instead, after airing out in winter, you should aim to regulate the dry air in the room.
Airing out in winter leads to dry air in the apartment
When the heating is on in winter, the room air quickly becomes dry. This can also affect our skin, which then becomes dry or itchy, but especially the mucous membranes. To counteract the heating air, many people hastily open the window, hoping that more humid air will flow in from outside. But that’s a mistake–because cold air, in particular, contains little moisture and is inherently rather dry. The result: The room air is still dry, but now it’s also cold.
Why is low humidity bad?
Our bodies are not accustomed to too low humidity, which can prevail especially when airing out in winter. Ideally, it should be between 40 and 60 percent. You can check how humid the air is with a device called a hygrometer. If the humidity is too low, our bodies can dry out, negatively affecting the respiratory system, eyes, and mucous membranes. Breathing becomes more difficult, and viruses or germs have an easier time entering the body. Therefore, many people also resort to additional care products in winter to keep the skin moist and supple and to avoid cracked lips.
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How can you increase humidity?
To prevent humidity from plummeting after airing out in winter, you can counteract it with some effective tricks.
- Houseplants: They are not only decorative but also improve the indoor climate. Some release a lot of moisture. Others, however, reduce humidity.
- Smart thermostats: These tools are helpful for saving heating costs and for not running the heating all day. This ultimately leads to dry indoor air. Learn how to install the devices here.
- Hang wet cloths: Often, a damp dish or hand towel is enough to slightly increase humidity.
- Bowl of water on the heater: Placing a small bowl on the heater and filling it with water will cause it to evaporate, creating a more humid indoor climate.
Important: If you think you can simply dry wet laundry in the apartment and completely skip airing out, you’re mistaken. Wet laundry still contains about two liters of water–and that’s far too much moisture. The result: fogged-up windows, and in the worst case, mold formation in the living space. If you dry laundry indoors in winter, you should ensure regular ventilation.
Related: 6 common heating mistakes
Not airing out is also not a solution
Even though humidity can quickly drop when airing out in winter, you should not refrain from opening the windows. Otherwise, mold can quickly develop. Experts recommend letting fresh air into the apartment three times a day. In subzero temperatures, you should limit the duration to about five minutes each time, or the apartment will cool down too much. Experts reveal in this article how long you should air out in winter when temperatures are between zero and ten degrees Celsius.