Mold growth in the house may lead to health issues. This is how to eliminate it, along with five strategies to avoid it in the first place.
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How to remove mould
If the mould is little, you may usually use home items or mould remover to remove it yourself.
Wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose to prevent breathing in mould spores, especially if you suffer from allergies or respiratory problems. Wear your rubber gloves and goggles if you have them, and make sure the space is properly aired.
But in order to avoid making this a Sisyphean chore, you must address the issue at its root and determine why you have mould in the first place.
1. Making use of home goods
When it comes to minor patches of mould on hard surfaces like walls or floors, a few drops of dishwashing liquid diluted with warm water will definitely help.
Use a sponge, rag, or brush to massage the soapy solution in tiny circular motions over the mould after using a soft brush or vacuum cleaner to clean the affected area.
It might be necessary to repeat this procedure a few times, washing your sponge well with new water after each scrape and letting the area dry in between.
If your mould problem is really bad, mix white vinegar and warm water 1:1 and use a spray bottle to apply the solution directly to the mouldy region. A higher concentration of vinegar in the solution is necessary for more resilient mould. For up to an hour, leave this mixture on the mould.
After the mould has disappeared, remove any leftovers and use a fresh cloth to gently dry the area before allowing it to air dry fully.
Take the afflicted articles outside if at all feasible and use a paper towel or dry cloth to brush away any loose mould from machine-washable textiles, such as towels and clothing.
After rubbing in a few drops of washing detergent, wash the pieces at the maximum temperature recommended for the fabric (according to the label).
Until you are certain that the mould has been eradicated entirely, it is crucial to let the clothes air dry instead of tumble drying.
2. Applying a mould remover
Using a specialized mould remover can be more convenient for you overall. These are readily accessible pre-made solutions that may be purchased from most supermarkets, certain DIY stores, and online. Astonish Mould and Mildew, Cillit Bang Black Mould Remover, and Mold Magic are popular choices.
In order to guarantee that you are eliminating the actual mould and not simply the discoloration it has created, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Making sure the mould remover you’re using is suitable for the surface or substance you’re treating is also crucial.
Before using mould remover, remember to ventilate. Usually, you’ll need to give it time to function, then return and remove it.
Mould removers have not been tested by us, however they are available for purchase at well-known stores like the ones listed below.
3. Get the experts involved
Smaller amounts of mould are often treatable by yourself, but it might be time to seek expert assistance if you notice fresh mould spreading fast in other parts of your house or if the afflicted area is too big to manage.
We advise employing a mould and cleaning professional from Which? Trusted Trader. You can be sure you’re working with a reliable organization since our endorsement program honors respectable traders who complete our evaluation method.
Prevention of mould
When it comes to mould, the best defence is actually the best offensive. Here are five methods to keep mould from growing in your house.
Keep your house clean and ventilated
Mould thrives in warm, humid circumstances. Try to make it a daily practice to open your windows and leave the vents open.
If moisture cannot escape, it condenses into the air and finds a suitable place to live—on hard surfaces. Make sure you sometimes give any unoccupied rooms in your house a good cleaning.
Maintain as much dryness as possible in your bathroom to avoid the growth of mould. Try using one of our Best Buy window vacs on your shower screen to dry your bath, sink, and other wet surfaces after taking a shower. You should also hang your towels and bath mats rather than leaving them in a damp pile.
It’s possible that mould is to blame for stained tile grouting or sealing. If you see that the seal surrounding your bath is beginning to break away, replace it.
Store any toiletries you don’t use often in your cabinet. It will be more difficult for you to detect mould if you have hundreds of bottles of shampoo and shower gel arranged about your bath or shower tray.
To make it simpler to find symptoms of mould, it’s also a good idea to keep your house clean and clutter free. A fungus called mould spreads via spores. Regularly cleaning your home with a vacuum and dusting can help stop the growth of mould.
It may be time to update if the vacuum cleaner you now own isn’t very powerful. Dormant spores from your rug or sofa may be removed using a powerful vacuum, helping to avoid the growth of mould.
2. Refrain from hanging damp clothes inside.
The moisture that is released when wet laundry is hung indoors will condense and adhere to your walls. However, make sure you open a window if drying items inside is your only choice because you don’t have a tumble dryer or an outside space.
In addition to speeding up the drying process, a dehumidifier can control moisture evaporating into the air and prevent condensation.
Numerous dehumidifiers come equipped with a laundry mode that maximizes fan speed and targets a lower relative humidity, accelerating air drying and simulating an outside, breezy day.
You can still use your dehumidifier to dry your clothing even if it doesn’t have a laundry option. Arrange the dehumidifier close by and hang your garments on a clothes hanger.
When drying clothing inside, you should normally open the window, but if your dehumidifier is running, you should close it since it will have to work more to dehumidify a larger space.
3. When cooking, use your extractor fan hood.
If you have a kitchen extractor fan, use it to its full potential. The moisture in the air has a means to escape if your extractor opens to the exterior of your home. Make sure you open a window as well if your fan forces air through a filter before returning it to the room.
In order to prevent moisture from escaping into the rest of the home, attempt to keep the moisture in your cooking contained by covering as much of your pots and pans as you can.
Additionally, keep an eye out for ceiling mould above your kettle. Additionally, avoid placing your kettle behind a cabinet as this can cause damage to wooden components.
4. Avoid mould growth by using a dehumidifier from Best Buy.
Mould grows best on moist surfaces. By removing extra moisture from the air, an effective dehumidifier will stop the formation of mould. Even while a dehumidifier can’t remove mould that already exists, it can prevent it from growing in the first place.
A compressor or refrigerant dehumidifier pulls air across cold coils and through a filter. Since the air within the machine needs to be warmer than the cold surface, these models work better in heated rooms than in cold ones.
Orient it towards the middle of your house and leave all inside doors ajar to allow it to absorb moisture from every room.
A larger house will require a greater capacity dehumidifier since more people will probably be producing moisture via daily activities like cooking, taking showers, and boiling water.
To prevent the dehumidifier from working harder than necessary when trying to dehumidify a greater space, keep the exterior doors and windows closed.
A desiccant dehumidifier, on the other hand, employs an absorbent substance to draw moisture out of the air and stop mould from growing. This is your best option if you’re looking for a dehumidifier that can operate efficiently in colder climates.