As we enter the coldest few months of the year in the UK I thought I would share a few tips on mould prevention to stop it occurring in your home.
Any household can suffer with mould, it isn’t just houses in disrepair or with rising damp, I myself have a
constant battle with mould.
The type of mould we get in the UK absolutely loves dark, cold, dampness and lack of ventilation. It is the perfect breeding ground for the spores. It is common for every household to have areas like this.
Behind furniture, in corners of rooms, rooms that are damp regularly such as bathrooms and closed cupboards are just a few common places. It doesn’t mean you have a dirty house. I even lost a whole cupboard of summer shoes once because it was tightly closed over winter and the lack of ventilation paired with the darkness and cold was a prefect environment for the mould to thrive! Mould prevention is always better than trying to get rid of the mould once you have it and I have a few inexpensive ways you can try and prevent and keep your house mould free!
Firstly keep your house as warm as possible. I totally get with the cost of heating these days it’s easier said than done but the mould will struggle to thrive in a warm and dry environment. If you can afford to have the heating on then do.
If you can’t afford to have the heating on much then try to keep the temperature at a mild level rather than going really cold to heated up etc, its better to keep the temperature at 16-18 degrees that hot and cold.
Another great tip to keep air dry is using a dehumidifier, these are less costly to run than having the heating on but will help keep the air dry. These are also good to have in the same room as your washing if you have them on clothes horses etc rather than a tumble drier.
When air drying clothes try to avoid putting them over the radiators if you can, not only will that stop the rest of the house being heated up but it will send lots of steamy water particles into the air! Using a window vacuum or a towel to get rid of condensation on the inside of windows each day will help to keep air dry too and reduce mould around your windows.
Use disposable dehumidifiers on window sills or inside cupboards, you can get ones that hang inside wardrobes as well.
Keeping good ventilation is key. Even though it can be cold, try to open windows as frequently as possible. Obviously it is a balance of keeping the property warm but on the milder, sunny winter days at least try to open them for a few minutes. Make sure ventilation is good in bathrooms and rooms where moisture will be created, laundry rooms etc. Windows open and an extractor fan are ideal. Also when cleaning, regularly move furniture away from the wall and give the wall and skirting boards behind a good wipe, there will likely be mould occurring purely because of the lack of ventilation between the furniture and the wall. The same applies for behind your toilets, under desks and in other areas that you might not think to clean regularly. Keep cupboards and wardrobes open even a crack, empty and clean out from time to time.
Which cleaning products are best for mould prevention or treatment? Cleaning regularly is key, especially areas where moisture is prone, bathrooms, round windows etc.
White vinegar is a great natural product that will prevent and deal with mild mould, if it’s a case of wiping areas that haven’t been ventilated or around windows etc.
There are also some great
domestic cleaning products that deal with mould just fine. I’d recommend using a mould removal type bathroom product at least once a month to really get in the corners, grout etc.
Always use a mask and gloves. If you find yourself with a severe mould situation I’d get a specialist cleaning company to deal with it. Some types of mould can be very dangerous and it would need to be treated by a specialist.
Remember mould thrives in cold, damp and non ventilated areas so think HEAT, DRY, VENTILATE.
