How to Tackle Mould and Mildew in Your Home

*This is a guest post

Are you worried you have a problem with mould and mildew in your home?

Read on for tips on how to spot mould and mildew, how to remove them from surfaces and how to prevent them from returning.

What is mould and mildew and why do I need to remove it?

Mould is a type of fungus that grows in damp, warm conditions with limited airflow. In the home, it’s common in bathrooms, kitchens and loft spaces, but can occur anywhere there’s excess moisture and poor ventilation.

It is identifiable by black or green spots that form on surfaces such as around tiles or on the ceiling in the bathroom.

What is mildew? They’re often included together on the label of cleaning products, so is there a difference?

Mildew is another type of fungus and it looks slightly different to mould. It usually presents as a greyish-white or brown, but it can darken as it ages and the key difference is that it is powdery in texture. It only sits on top of a surface rather than getting inside the material like mould does if left to spread.

In general, mildew can be easier to deal with and is less damaging to your property. Left unchecked, mould can damage the material it’s growing on, including floorboards, beams, plasterboard or anywhere else in your home you find it thriving.

Here’s the really bad news: both mould and mildew can be bad for your health. They can cause difficulty breathing, eye irritation, headaches, rashes, and coughs that could be confused for flu-like symptoms.

If you find any areas of mould or mildew in your home, it’s important that you act swiftly to safely remove it and then take steps to prevent it from recurring.

How to remove mould and mildew

So you’ve identified some mould or mildew that needs cleaning – where do you start?

We’ve compiled five easy steps to get your home mould and mildew free.

Get the right cleaning product – to get rid of the staining but to also kill the mould spores, get yourself either a high-street mould and mildew cleaner or make your own using a solution of chlorine bleach and water, one part bleach to three parts water.

Protect yourself – you’ll need eye protection, rubber gloves and a dust mask. You’ll want to keep the bleach solution from irritating your hands and eyes but also avoid breathing in the mould spores. Open the windows and shut the door of the room you’re in to contain the mould spores but to allow adequate ventilation.

Get scrubbing – test an inconspicuous area first and then apply the bleach mixture to the affected area. We recommend you leave it on for 10-15 minutes and then scrub to remove the mould spores. Use a brush with fairly stiff bristles to allow you to scrub away the mould and get into the texture of the surface. An old toothbrush is great for small or difficult to access areas, such as corners and the grout between tiles.

Rinse and dry – rinse the whole area with soapy water to remove any trace of the bleach solution and mould spores. Follow this up by ensuring the surfaces are thoroughly dry.

Clean up – if any fabrics such as clothes or furnishings have been affected by the mould, pop them in a plastic bag and then into the washing machine immediately to stop mould spores spreading further throughout the house.

Note: You should only clean mould yourself if it covers an area smaller than 1m². For more serious cases of mould, especially those affecting structural aspects of your homes such as rotting floorboards or beams, your first step should be calling in the professionals.

Prevention is better than cure

You’ve now removed the mould or mildew from your affected surfaces but how do you ensure it stays away? Mould and mildew spores are already within your home. They’re in the air and on your carpets. They could come in through the windows or be brought in on shoes, clothes or pets – and they’re looking for a place to settle.

Mould needs certain conditions to stay alive and to grow. Air, food, moisture and temperature over 20°C are all essential if they are to thrive. Take any of those away and the mould or mildew spores will struggle to survive in your home.

Keep things dry – the biggest tip for preventing mould and mildew growth is to remove sources of moisture. For smaller mould infestations simply ensuring surfaces remain dry can be a huge help e.g. wiping down after having a shower and using a squeegee to remove excess water from tiles. Open the window or use a fan when showering. Keep lids on pots and pans when cooking. Dry your clothes outdoors as often as the weather allows.

Use a dehumidifier – if you regularly get condensation on your windows, then your house has more water in the air than it can handle. It’s also the perfect breeding ground for mould and mildew. Invest in a dehumidifier and see how this condensation disappears along with any future mould growth. You can also use a dehumidifier in a room where clothes are drying to prevent excess moisture in the air and to also dry your clothes quicker.

Check for bigger issues – more serious cases of mould can also be caused by issues such as leaks, faulty guttering or missing roof tiles causing water to get into your loft space, so you may need to take some remedial action if this is the case. If you’re worried about any of these being the cause of your mould problem, call out the professionals to assess the damage.

Keep the air flowing through your house – stagnant air is something that moulds and mildew love. Make sure you’re regularly opening windows, especially in the bathroom.

Good hygiene – this is critical to keeping mould and mildew at bay. Vacuum your carpets regularly, keep surfaces dusted and dispose of food before it spoils. This way you are minimising the ‘food’ that mould spores can thrive on and removing the mould spores before they have the chance to breed.

Author bio

Jess Bray is a Marketing Assistant at The Cleaning Collective, with 10 years’ experience in digital marketing. She loves applying her knowledge of design and marketing to the world of cleaning, helping her to share tips, tricks and hacks with keen members of ‘The Cleaning Collective’.