‼️Dealing with mould‼️

The vast majority of houses have some form of mould problem. This is a guide on how you can deal with mould in your home. It will tell you everything you need to know about combating the No 1 enemy this winter.

1. Catch it and kill it asap. As soon as you catch a glimpse, check your entire home for lurking mildew. Common areas are shower curtains, window sills, ceiling corners, under the kitchen sink and behind wardrobes or large furniture. The bathroom is the most at risk area, so make this a priority to check. The goal is to stop it from spreading as soon as you can.

2. Where there is cold and damp, there is soon to be mould. We know there is a cost-of-living crisis and in particular energy bills are hiked up. However, it's super important to keep everything in your home dry, warm and well ventilated as often as possible to reduce the chances of mould forming. At the very least, keep your belongings dry - this is a priority. You don't want to wear clothes that smell damp.

3. Heat will help. Consider investing in a small space heater if you don't actually want to put your heating on. A heated clothes horse can cost as little as 3p an hour to run and this is a great way to dry your clothes. If this isn't an option, consider using a launderette to dry your clothes. Getting clothes dry asap is vital. Keep your home well ventilated, as often as possible. Open windows when you can, especially if you are not using the room and can shut the door. An extractor fan in the bathroom is important to

dispel any steam and condensation, or in the kitchen if you are cooking.

4. Clean it - if is not too bad or a huge area, keep it cleaned. Use a mould spray that you can spray onto a clean cloth and keep the area clean. When cleaning the affected area, be cautious, don't spray in an area that isn't ventilated and use the spray sparingly. Make this part of your regular cleaning routine.

5. Buy a small dehumidifier. If you can't afford to put the heating on, you can take the excess moisture out of the air without the need to open a window by using a dehumidifier. Small ones are less than £100 new, you could look for some second- hand ones, or consider hiring one if you only need it for short term use. Damp traps are also an extremely useful way to collect excess moisture. You can buy a pack of damp traps online, or at any bargain shop. They generally last a couple of weeks and are inexpensive to buy.

6. Report it to your landlord. Damp is a structural issue that needs to be raised to your landlord or housing association. Please bear in mind, mould can be a result of how you are living, so please follow the advice given already. When you report it, take the time to send pictures and explain where the mould or damp is. This will help your landlord to assess the urgency of it. The damp issue needs to be resolved before it turns into mould. Once reported, your Landlord will be able to assess the situation and work on providing you with a solution plan. Mould/Damp is dangerous to your health, so don't delay. Use the preventative measures we have given you so that you can take action now.

For more information on mould/mildew please contact us.