So, how can you prevent mould growth? As damp environments and mould often go hand-in-hand, decreasing the level of damp in your home will help prevent the growth of mould.
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 build up 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 ways 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 by 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 and 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
With the tips we offer above, you can work towards ensuring that your home is and stays mould free. In this way, you can protect your belongings from any mould- or damp-related damage.
And if you’re looking for other tips on how you can keep your place mould-free and more homey, we’ve got you covered...
