Tips for Mould Removal in Your Home
Not only does black mould look unsightly, but it can also cause a range of long-term respiratory issues, damage furniture, and start to develop on clothing.
It can also be a sign you have structural issues. Depending on the cause, you may be experiencing mould in different areas of your home and need professional assistance.
Thankfully, hiring a dehumidifier can usually lessen the issue by eliminating excess moisture in the air. But you will also need to clean and look into any structural problems.
Below, we will go into how to remove mould from walls, fabric, carpet, and around windows, as well as in high humidity areas such as the bathroom.
Never attempt to remove mould without wearing personal protective equipment. You will need:
- Masks
- Eye protection
- Gloves
You will also want to cover any surfaces, such as furniture and carpet, which could be damaged by bleach or other cleaning product splashes.
Speedy's guide below will explain everything you need to know about mould, from why it appears to how to tackle it.
How do I get rid of mould in my home?
This depends on where the mould is growing and why. You may only be able to achieve a temporary fix if it is a reoccurring issue; professional help could be required to avoid damage to your home.
How to get rid of mould on walls
This can often be the most severe problem, as structural or pipework issues could be the cause. However, if your brickwork and pipework all seem in good condition, there's a good chance that the mould is forming because of internal issues.
If your walls are plasterboard, a porous material, they may need to be replaced, as mould can work through the different layers of plaster. If the problem isn't structural, brick or stone is likely to just have a visible layer of mould.
The key to preventing mould on walls is to keep air moisture at a minimum. Electric dehumidifiers are crucial to reducing high humidity levels to a suitable level. You must also wipe away any moisture that forms on surfaces as soon as possible and keep windows open when cooking and showering.
Wash the walls to remove mould growth. One part bleach to three parts water is effective, but you can also buy mould sprays. Repeat this process, and ensure the walls are dry before moving any furniture back or using the room again.
Always wear gloves when handling any bleach or chemical-based cleaners
If you need to repaint, wait a few weeks to ensure the mould is gone so you know you aren't just painting over the problem. You can pay a bit extra for kitchen paint, which is mould and moisture-resistant and scrubbable.
Hire a paint sprayer to ensure you're painting thin layers of paint, which will also help with breathability. Choose paint rather than wallpaper for added breathability.
Long-term, only place furniture on internal walls, and regularly check for mould to keep on top of it.
How to get rid of mould in the bathroom
Mould can occur in several places in your bathroom. The most common is around the sealant of your bath or shower, which is usually because you don't wipe away the water after use. Remove mould by wearing gloves, applying neat bleach directly to the sealant and covering it with scrunched-up kitchen paper. Leave overnight, and it should be gone in the morning.
Dedicated grout mould sprays can be used on the grout around bathroom tiles. Ensure there's really good airflow when using these products, and always wear gloves, eye protection, and a mask, following instructions on the product.
Wipe down with bathroom cleaner, and then remember to dry your shower or bath after every use. If this didn't work, you may have to remove the sealant and replace, or regrout tiles.
If your extractor fan has mould, it may be a sign that excess moisture is working its way to the fan but not being removed efficiently. Look into replacing it, and remember to clean your fan regularly.
If your walls are mouldy, as above, you will want to look into a specialist paint made for high-moisture areas that can be cleaned. Keep windows open when showering to allow fresh air to circulate.
How to get rid of mould around windows
Our guide to reducing condensation mentions that mould can form on window seals and sills if condensation is left to drip away throughout the day if it isn't removed.
Again, mixing three parts water and one part neat bleach can help remove mould from around window sealant and windowsills. Check that you won't damage any paintwork, and then fully dry afterwards.
Keeping windows open a bit every day to improve ventilation is vital. This should reduce the humidity in your room and help with condensation on windows.
How to get rid of mould on carpets
It is rarer, but it can happen. Mould on carpets usually forms after a leak (from something like a radiator) or a large spill that hasn't dried properly. It could also be a sign you have an issue with pipework under your flooring, so check this first.
It would be best to dry the carpet thoroughly; hire a carpet dryer to do this safely. Again, open windows for more airflow. It is also worth mentioning that you need to fix the cause of the leak.
If the mould has stained your carpet, hire a carpet cleaner (but again, ensure it is thoroughly dried afterwards). A steam cleaner can also help sanitise the carpet, which could be particularly crucial if you have children and pets.
Unfortunately, if your carpet is damp post-flooding, you'd probably be best to replace it all as the underlay and floorboards could also be damaged. Your insurance can help with this.
How to get rid of mould on wood furniture
Mould can form on furniture if it is against a damp or mouldy wall and there's little airflow reaching the back of the item. This is also common on the backboards of flat-pack furniture.
Firstly, remove the item and place it outside so mould spores don't spread around the house. Then, wipe down with warm water and a small amount of washing up liquid. Use a soft bristle brush to try and really work it in.
Leave to dry. If the mould is still visible, try sanding back the furniture and restoring it to remove the layers of mould present. Backboards can easily be replaced using plywood.
If mould is still present, replace the item. Don't place it back against the wall unless the mould issues are fixed, and try to leave a gap for airflow between all furniture and walls.
FAQs
What do I do if the mould comes back?
Bleach can remove the appearance of mould if it is only on the top layer of your wall or furniture, but it won't remove the mycelium in the foundations (which mould grows from). So, if the issue is unfixable and mould reappears on walls soon after you wipe it away, it has spread, and you will need professional help.
It is also worth using a dehumidifier year-round to thoroughly tackle excess moisture in the air.
If you rent your property, it is your responsibility to ventilate and heat your home to prevent dampness. Still, your landlord's responsible for organising an inspection and carrying out repairs. See shelter.org.uk for advice.
Why does mould grow?
Mould appears because of a build-up of excessive moisture, which isn't removed.
This can be caused by steam from cooking or showering, humidity from drying clothes indoors, or a lack of airflow (such as furniture being against a wall or not opening your windows regularly).
Excessive moisture can also result from issues with your home's foundations, such as poor insulation or leaking guttering.
Mould spores will drop in damp conditions and then grow further. Whereas we have probably all seen a little bit of mould around our bathroom sealant, mould growing on walls and carpets is less common and needs to be treated very seriously.
Why is mould more common in winter?
Mould occurs year-round but can be more common in colder months.
In addition to the causes mentioned above, condensation can form when outside surfaces such as walls and windows are cold and our homes are warm. This leads to excess moisture in the atmosphere, and if left to settle on surfaces, the condensation can form mould.
Similarly, not using heating in the home to save money can cause mould, too. This is because there's no heat to help dry damp surfaces, causing mould to thrive.
If you're concerned about the cost of central heating, hiring an electric portable heater could help.
Poor ventilation is also more common in winter, as our windows open less often.
It would be best if you didn't have to change habits to prevent getting a mouldy home, but you can try to keep on top of reducing condensation and mould to reduce the likelihood of issues.
IS THERE DEHUMIDIFIER HIRE NEAR ME?
Yes. Speedy Hire, the UK's leading tool hire company, has a range of dehumidifiers for hire nationwide. Speedy has more than 200 service centres nationwide, hire counters in selected B&Qs and nationwide 4-hour delivery. Emergency dehumidifier hire has never been easier.
Our dehumidifiers are trade standard, so they can tackle emergencies and serious issues.
We also have a range of cleaning and decorating products available to banish unsightly mould and redecorate when the time comes.
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