Finding mould in your home is unpleasant – and a health hazard.
The spores from mould and mildew are airborne and can get into your lungs, and even the less toxic ones cause problems for people with asthma and allergies.
According to the NHS, moulds produce allergens, irritants and, sometimes, toxic substances.
Inhaling or touching mould spores may cause an allergic reaction, such as sneezing, a runny nose, red eyes and skin rash. Moulds can also cause asthma attacks.
So when you come across a patch of mould, it’s easy to raid the cupboard under the sink and try and attack it with whatever cleaning product you can find.
This isn’t always a good idea.
Let’s find out why.
Common mistakes when treating mould
Using bleach
Drenching the wall in a bleach solution seems like a no-brainer. Surely that will kill it off?
Sadly, no.
Bleach doesn’t kill the spores, so removing mould with a solution of bleach and water can allow it to regrow even faster, according to cleaning product manufacturers VitalOxide.
It adds: ‘Prolonged exposure to bleach only makes indoor air quality worse and could potentially cause symptoms like respiratory irritation, blurred vision, watery eyes, and nausea, among others.’
Choose an antimicrobial cleaner instead designed to kill mould, or use white vinegar.
Spray the vinegar on the mould and leave it for an hour. Then, either rinse the area or – if needed – scrub it with one teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in two cups of water.
Painting over it
Whipping out the paint brush and slapping a thick layer over the mouldy area is tempting.
It’s also a terrible idea, as the mould will just grow back through it.
Your best bet is to clean the area, as explained above, and then use special anti-mould paint.
Doing nothing
Yes, this is very tempting, especially if the mould gets a bit better in summer. But it’s a bad idea.
A newly built home may be damp if the water used when building it is still drying out – for example, in the plaster on the walls.
So make sure you find the source of it. Be sure to air damp rooms such as bathrooms ro release steam and humidity, repair any leaks, avoid drying clothes indoors if you can, and get a dehumidifier if needed.
Otherwise the mould could flare up with a vengeance.
Which people are most susceptible to the affects of mould?
Those who are more sensitive to its effects include:
- Babies and children
- Older people
- Those with existing skin problems, such as atopic eczema
- Those with respiratory problems, such as allergies and asthma
- Those with a weakened immune system, such as those having chemotherapy
Trying to save very mouldy items
According to experts DKI Services, while mould can be successfully removed from non-porous surfaces such as glass, metal and porcelain, it penetrates soft materials.
These include carpet, upholstery, insulation, drywall and wood.
The advice is: ‘In general, you must dispose of these items if they are severely damaged.’
Otherwise the spores will just spread.
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