Mould loves damp dark places and in the colder months of the year your home could become a breeding ground for mould and mildew. Mould is made of airborne spores that thrive in warm, damp conditions and is often found in cupboards, walls and in bathrooms. For serious mould problems you need to call an expert to get rid of it.
Apart from it looking unsightly, mould can cause some serious health risks to your family including sinus infection, respiratory issues, irritation to eyes and headaches.
For people with weak immune systems the problem can escalate.
Here are some tips to prevent mould forming in the home
VENTILATION
In cold climates you may want to keep warm and cosy however your home still needs ventilation especially the bathrooms and the kitchen which are the highest risk of developing mould. Keep a window slightly ajar when cooking and taking a shower, even if it's just for a short time to prevent the build up of moisture. When cooking use the exhaust fan.
DRY YOUR CLOTHES OUTSIDE
If you can't hang your washing outside to dry because it's too wet or cold and you don't have a dryer, you may think hanging them inside on an airer near a heater will do the trick. Doing this only encourages moisture to settle on walls and ceilings that evaporates from the drying clothes. An alternative is is to hang outside under a veranda or in a room that you can keep the window open and hang the clothes horse near it, especially if you can get some sunshine in the room too.
FIX LEAKS
Leaks can be found under sinks, behind the toilet, around dishwashers, fridges and washing machines and can encourage mould to grow.
Common spots that should be checked include under sinks, behind toilets, around your washing machine and dishwasher. If you find a leak, call a plumber to rectify it and repair any leaking appliance. Mould in ceilings can also be caused by blocked drainpipes.
PREVENT STEAM LEAVING THE BATHROOM
Steam will escape from the bathroom when having a shower or filling the bath would could cause condensation throughout the house. Always keep the bathroom door closed when showering with a window open and ventilator on.
KEEP YOUR CARPETS CLEAN
Carpets need to be vacuumed regularly and professionally cleaned at least once a year. If you notice a musky smell in rooms with carpet this could be an indication of trouble. When replacing carpet spend some extra and buy carpet padding with antimicrobial properties.
MAINTAIN EXTRACTOR FANS
Extractor fans can become clogged and lose functionality. Extractor fans are essential for filtering humidity and cooking smells so keep them in top shape and replace or repair as soon as they are no longer doing the job properly.
CLEANING MOULD
There are plenty of products on the market to get rid of spot of mould in the shower or around taps, but many of them don't actually fix the problem. If you see the mould is becoming worse, your home smells musky or your family keeps getting respiratory problems then don't put off having a professional inspector look at it. Mould is dangerous and needs to be handled by a professional.