Help and Advice with Condensation and Mould

All houses can experience condensation and dampness which are two of the most common causes of household mould.

No one wants to live in a damp home. Damp can cause mould on walls and furniture and cause wooden window frames to rot. It’s also unhealthy. In the darker evenings with windows and doors shut to keep the cold out, we may unknowingly be creating the perfect environment for mould to thrive.

A badly ventilated home can encourage harmful mould spores in dark, damp corners of your home and leave both you and the property at risk.  Striking a balance between a well heated and ventilated home is the key to stopping mould.

There are plenty of things you should do to help prevent mould in your home:

• Pull wardrobes and furniture away from walls, and keep tops of wardrobes clear, to allow air to circulate
• Close doors and open windows when cooking
• Keep lids on saucepans when cooking
• Keep bathroom doors closed when bathing or showering, and open windows slightly
• Extractor fans are an effective way to get rid of moist air and steam so that less condensation forms – they use minimal electricity.  Do not block extractor vents as this ventilation is essential.
• Do not dry clothes on radiators
• You must not use Liquid Petroleum Gas or paraffin heaters
• Open windows regularly for a few hours a day to ventilate
• Wipe down surfaces affected by condensation regularly to prevent mould growth
• Catch condensation dripping from windows with condensation channels and sponge strips (available from DIY shops). If you wipe down windows catches and sills in the morning this will also help, but be sure to wring out the cloth rather than dry it on a radiator. Or you can get battery operated window vacs
• While you don’t want to waste money heating rooms you don’t use, very cold rooms are more likely to get damp and mould. Set the thermostatic radiator valve to 1 in unused rooms so the radiator gives out a little bit of heat whenever you have the heating on. Don’t leave heating off for more than a few days. If you don’t have central heating, consider using a room heater with a timer and temperature control. Remember, unused rooms will need a good airing from time to time.
• In extreme cases a dehumidifier, which extracts moisture from the air, can be bought or hired

How to get rid of mould

If you already have mould on your walls and / or ceilings then you need to clean it off properly. An effective two-stage method is to start by cleaning off the mould with spray containing bleach. This will help remove the staining that persistent mould can leave behind. Leave to dry overnight and then spray the affected area with an anti-fungal wash and allow that to dry. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and consider wearing a face mask when spraying.