Get rid of mould

Dark spots on the walls and ceiling, a smell you cannot place — why is mould worth taking seriously?

It grows wherever there is moisture: roofs, windows, walls. It likes paper, GIB, ceilings and timber jambs and sills, and it will just as happily live in dust, paint, wallpaper, insulation, carpet, curtains, clothes, mattresses and upholstery — or on hard surfaces like shower screens, glass, tiles and plastic curtains.

Where does it come from?

Moisture. From cooking, especially on gas; from our own bodies; and from condensation, where warm inside air meets a cold surface.

How does it affect us?

• In quantity, black mould spores are a health hazard — allergic reactions and respiratory problems.
• Some moulds produce mycotoxins, which carry serious risks for people and animals. High exposure has been linked to neurological problems and, in some cases, death; daily exposure over a long period is the most harmful.
• Mould you cannot see spreads behind wall linings, framing and cladding.
• Stains, smells and swelling.
• Trapped moisture rots timber, sags insulation and swells GIB — all expensive to put right.
• Wet, sagging insulation stops insulating, so the house costs more to heat.

Keeping it from growing

• Keep humidity down with a dehumidifier.
• Fix leaking roofs, windows and pipes.
• Clean and dry thoroughly after any flooding.
• Extract mechanically from the shower, laundry and kitchen.
• Air out bedrooms and living rooms by opening the windows.
• Replace single glazing with double glazing at the highest R value you can.
• Replace plain aluminium windows with uPVC or timber, or use thermally broken aluminium.
• Deal with a colony before it spreads.
• Once the material itself starts breaking down, replacing it is the only real fix.

Getting rid of it

• Kill the mould you can see and the area around it, with something like Selleys Rapid Mould Killer, 30 Seconds Mould Off or Exit Mould.
• Spray it on generously.
• Scrub, then wash the residue off.
• On badly affected walls, ceilings and sills, follow up with a mould-stop primer.
• Repaint with a mould and mildew resistant paint.
• Wash the curtains.
• Spray carpet and mattresses with a suitable mould killer.

Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners — the fumes are toxic. Wear a mask and cover up when you are handling mould.

Do it yourself, or get someone in to do it for you.

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