How to prevent mould and damp in your home

Mould might start small, but it can quickly turn into a big headache if left unchecked. The good news? A few simple habits can make all the difference…

Read on for some tips to prevent mould in your home.

Adequate ventilation

One easy way to prevent mould from growing is by ensuring adequate ventilation in all of your rooms, but especially the bathroom or any spaces where you may be hanging up laundry to dry. With enough ventilation, you allow for a lot of the moisture in the air to escape so that the mould doesn’t even have a chance to build up.

Having the extractor fan on when showering and opening the windows and doors for a few minutes every day can already be enough to keep any moisture at bay.

Avoid the buildup of condensation 

Most moulds tend to develop in damp locations, which is why something as simple as wiping away any condensation that develops in rooms overnight or in the bathroom after a shower are excellent way to minimise the build-up of moisture and mould growth.

To further limit the amount of moisture in the air, avoid drying clothes indoors or on radiators when you can. If drying your clothes indoors is the most practical solution for you, then you’ll find that having a dehumidifier in the same room as where the clothes are drying helps avoid condensation and damp.

As a general rule, a dehumidifier can work wonders in reducing the amount of moisture in the air and protecting not just your home, but also your clothes from mould.

Keeping your home heated

Although this may not be the most economical method, keeping your home heated helps reduce the risk of mould. Even if you just have your heating on at a low level, it can help make a difference. Why? Because you reduce the amount of condensation forming in your home, making it more difficult for mould to grow.

If you’re looking for an easy way to keep an eye on the humidity levels in your home, you can do this with a hygrometer – a device to measure the moisture in the air. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to keep humidity levels below 60-65%.

What kills mould?

Sometimes, no matter what you do, you’ll still have some mould growth in certain high-humidity areas, like bathrooms.

There are various types of mould, some more dangerous than others, so there’s no one method to get rid of all mould. For small spots of mould, you can use non-toxic mould cleaners, white vinegar or diluted bleach (wear rubber gloves and other protective gear when using bleach) to clean the area gently but thoroughly and then wipe it dry.

It’s important to remove any mould in your home, as it can affect your health when mould spores enter your lungs and chest, and have a range of health consequences.

Frequently asked questions

How to clean mould off walls

If you want to clean mould off your walls, make sure you put gloves on before you start (rubber kitchen ones, not mittens). Also, make sure you put on some goggles and a mask, making sure the area is well ventilated.

Clean with products such as vinegar, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or a commercial remover, applying it to the mould, scrubbing gently with a brush, and rinsing with clean water before drying the area thoroughly to prevent regrowth. When using cleaning products, always check the safety instructions first.

How to remove mould from fabric

If you need to remove mould from fabric, start by taking the item outside and gently brushing off any loose spores. This helps stop them from spreading indoors. Before washing, pre-treat the affected area with white vinegar, borax, or hydrogen peroxide (the last one is best kept for white fabrics). Always patch test and read any instructions for cleaning products.

Next, wash the item using the hottest water that is safe for the fabric, along with your usual detergent and an extra cup of vinegar or baking soda. After, dry the fabric thoroughly, ideally in direct sunlight, as this helps kill any remaining spores and naturally brightens the material.

Is bleach or vinegar better for mould?

When it comes to killing mould, vinegar is often a better option than bleach. It is non-toxic, can soak into porous surfaces to tackle mould at its roots, and helps discourage it from coming back. Bleach, on the other hand, usually only removes mould from the surface and can give off strong, unpleasant fumes, although it does work well on hard surfaces.

If you are dealing with a large or persistent mould problem, it is best to seek professional help. Whatever product you use, the most important step is tackling the source of moisture, as mould will keep returning to damp conditions.