If you are living with mould in your home then you know how miserable it can make you. In the past a few of the properties we lived in whilst renting had mould. Mould can be dangerous and you might even find that you or your family are feeling unwell because of the presence of mould within your home. Here is how to safely remove mould and prevent it from coming back.
What is mould?
Mould is a type of fungi that develops in moist or humid environments. Mould is made up of microscopic organisms that feed on organic material, such as food, paper, fabric, wood, or insulation.
Is mould dangerous?
Some mould can produce toxic substances called mycotoxins. Exposure to these mycotoxins can lead to health problems If someone has a weakened immune system then the presence of mould can really impact their health.
How to prevent mould
Mould might be occurring in your home because of condensation or damp. The bathroom and kitchen are areas of the home you are most likely to come across mould.
It's quite easy to tackle condensation in your home by ventilating your home. You can do this by opening your windows for at least 15 minutes a day, making sure that when you are cooking you use the lids on saucepans as well as using your extractor fan and opening windows whilst you cook. In the bathroom when you have a bath or shower be sure to open the window and use the extraction fan if you have one.
You can also buy special anti-condensation paint to use in areas that get condensation, such as your bathrooms. This is something that is definitely worthwhile considering.
If you are suffering from damp within your home this could be down to excess moisture in the air. This is commonly seen in your bathrooms but you might be experiencing it in other places throughout your home.
There are lots of ways to reduce the dampness in your home. An easy way is to use a squeegee on the walls after you have had a shower to remove the excess water.
Drying your washing outside or in a tumble dryer will also reduce the moisture in the air. However not everyone has a tumble dryer so if you are drying clothing inside it's worth having the windows open for a bit especially if you use a dry buddi like we do.
How to remove mould
If you are seeing mould within your home then you want to remove it safely and efficiently.You can do this in a number of ways.
Before you start to remove mould from your home you should wear protective equipment including a mask to cover your nose and mouth to protect you from the mould spores, gloves and you might even want to consider using goggles.
Make sure that you ventilate the area where you are removing mould from. This means opening doors and windows, and if that isn't possible then take regular breaks outside of the room you are cleaning.
Mould and mildew removers
There are various mould and mildew removers on the market, the two i personally have used and reccomend are Astonish mould and mildew spray and Cilit Bang black mould remover. Simply spray it onto the affected area, leave it for 3 - 5 minutes and then gently dab the area with a cloth before wiping it clean.
As well as removing mould they can also be used to whiten the grout in your tiles. They can be used on most non-porous, hard surfaces including walls, uPVC window frames, shower curtains (plastic), tiles, sealant, sinks and glass.
Make your own solution to remove mould
You can also make your own solution to remove mould by filling a bucket with water and washing up liquid. Simply dip a cloth into the mixture and wipe the mould off the affected area. Also water and vinegar is another great solution to use.
Removing mould from soft furnishings
If you need to remove mould from soft furnishings like clothes or soft toys then you can wash these in your washing machine
Just add 1 - 2 cups of white distilled vinegar to your washing machine or for tougher mould you can pre-soak your item in a bucket of water with one cup of vinegar.
