13 Sep How to stop mould from taking over your home

Mould is a big fan of moisture. Anywhere you’re likely to find damp conditions, be it through water leaks or regular condensation, you’re also likely to come across mould. Bathrooms are a prime target, mainly thanks to limited air circulation and regular temperature variations between hot and cold. Other favourite spots are basements, kitchens and sometimes even cupboards.

Thankfully, however, you don’t have to let mould rule your life. The following handy tips will certainly help in keeping your home mould-free.

Keep it clean

If you find some mould in your house, clean it off immediately before it has time to settle in. Your supermarket shelves will be full of products which are suitable for the job at hand. If you’d prefer to tackle the blight with natural methods, you can try baking soda, vinegar or even tea tree oil. If the mould is still new, a warm cloth is all that you’ll need.

Let nature do the work for you

Light and ventilation are mould’s worst enemies. By simply keeping the lights on for a short while after showering, or letting natural sunlight flow through open blinds, you’re already keeping mould at bay. Airflow is also key, so try and keep a window permanently open and make sure that your air vents are unblocked and free flowing.

Turn to technology

There are plenty of tools and gadgets you can use in your battle against mould. The most useful is an extractor fan which sucks out steam before it can settle. These can sometimes be fitted as part of a lighting, heating and ventilation unit. You can also test your room’s humidity levels with a hygrometer – if this shows humidity levels above 60%, a dehumidifier would be a useful purchase. Finally, if you heat your home during winter, try to keep the temperature at a constant level to counteract the condensation build-up that will occur if you’re always turning the heat up and down.

Repelling mould with paint

If you’ve recently scrubbed away a mould infestation, then painting the area with mould-resistant paint is a good idea. These paints contain antimicrobial ingredients to prevent re-growth. However, please make sure that the area is mould-free and dry before you get started. Putting a coat of paint over the mould won’t stop it.

Leave a gap

If you have large pieces of furniture pushed up snugly against exterior walls, there’s a definite danger of mould forming. Trapped air could cause condensation which, as we all know, creates prime mould-growing conditions. You’d be best advised to pull the furniture away from the wall a little to create a gap which will allow air to flow freely.

The above-mentioned measures should take care of most mould problems. If, however, the problems persist, you’ll need to get the professionals in to check your gutters and plumbing to rule out drainage issues, as well as the dreaded rising damp.