If you’ve done everything you can to prevent the buildup of damp and mould in your home, but still manage to find an infuriating dark patch and musty smell in your home, then follow our top tips on how to remove this ugly and hazardous nuisance.
Before you attempt to remove damp and mould check if it is caused by sewage or contaminated water. If it is please seek professional help (contact your local council for advice).
The spores from mould can be damaging to your health, so it is advisable, especially with large areas of damp and mould, that you wear gloves, goggles and a mask that cover your nose and mouth. Close your doors and open the windows.
The spread of damp and mould can vary – from the corner of a window all the way through to walls, mattresses and even toys in a childs bedroom. Have bin bags at the ready to place clothes and furnishings in. It can be hard to remove mould from furnishings; shampoo your soft furnishings and take your clothes to the dry cleaners. If you can’t completely remove the mould, especially from childrens toys, bedding etc, the best thing you can do is dispose of them to avoid causing a health risk.
To remove mould from walls, use a simple solution of washing up liquid or soap used for washing clothes mixed with water. Dip a cloth in the water and wipe the mould off. Try not to rub too hard as you don’t want to disturb the mould spores. When you have finished, use a clean, dry cloth to remove any moisture from the wall. Open windows and turn on extractor fans to ventilate the room and help dry the wall. Once finished, make sure you throw away all of the cloths, vacuum the floor and wipe down all of the surfaces to remove any spores.
In the bathroom, dip a toothbrush in bleach and run it along grouting for removal of mould. You can also try more natural solutions such as diluted vinegar, or a paste made from baking soda. Bleach can also remove mould from bath sealant, although this can be tricky to tackle and often result in the removal and reapplication of new sealant.
If none of the above suggestions work then you can buy a number of off the shelf damp and mould products from your DIY store or supermarket. Once you have removed the mould, make sure that you refer back to our damp and mould prevention guide to ensure that you don’t have to deal with it again!
Image by Sanja Gjenero
