How to get rid of mould
How to deal with mould growing on walls
If you can see that your house has mould growing in more than superficial quantities, it is important to have the problem diagnosed and dealt with properly.
In practice, this means that the cause of the mould needs to be identified and eliminated and that the mould itself needs to be removed.
How much mould is too much mould?
All mould potentially causes allergic reactions, but peoples’ bodies react very differently to mould infestations. This means that it is not possible to establish a ‘safe’ level of mould in a property (although HouseTest is helping researchers to do this).
The World Health Organization, for example notes in their guidelines for indoor air quality that
‘no quantitative health-based guideline values or thresholds can be recommended for acceptable levels of contamination with microorganisms. Instead, it is recommended that dampness and mould-related problems be prevented. When they occur, they should be remediated because they increase the risk of hazardous exposure to microbes and chemicals.
It is not usually necessary to seek professional help if you have a small amount of mould around your windows or on the grouting in your bathroom. However, you should endeavour to remove this mould using domestic cleaning products (although not with bleach). You should also make sure that you briefly air your property with a through-draft multiple times a day.
Diagnosing the causes of mould
Mould requires certain conditions to be present in order to grow. Mould needs moisture, organic material on which to feed, sufficient warmth and sufficient oxygen (although it is important to note some species of mould can grow in cold, dry and low-oxygen environments).
Usually, the key to diagnosing a mould problem is to find the source of excessive moisture in a building. Excessive moisture is typically caused by
Condensation, which can be caused by insufficient ventilation and/or insulation
Leaking plumbing or pipework inside the house
Water coming into the house from the outside (for example through a leaking roof or defective drainage)
If you have mould growing in your property, your first step should be to seek professional help diagnosing the cause of the excess moisture in your property.
Diagnosing hidden mould
Sometimes you may suspect that there is mould growing in your property even though you cannot see any mould. You may notice a musty smell or areas of discoloration. You may be aware of a damp problem. You may also suspect that mould is present because you develop symptoms consistent with mould exposure.
In these cases it is necessary to test your property for mould using DNA analysis, which is the only form of mould testing that is able to detect hidden mould.
Removing mould
Having identified a mould problem - and having diagnosed and fixed the cause of the mould, your next step should be to have the mould growth professionally removed.
Because mould can be a health hazard, it is important that you contact a reputable company who will take appropriate health and safety measures and deal with the problem properly. Any of HouseTest’s UK distributors will be able to help.
How to clean mould
Most professional mould remediators will physically remove the mould using specialised vacuum cleaners containing powerful filters. Alternatively, they may kill the mould using biocidal processes. They may also use a combination of the two methods. Some remediators also use ‘air scrubbers’ so they can remove and destroy the mould spores present in the indoor air.
Whichever method is used, it is important to remember that mould can return if conditions conducive to mould growth also return. So it is important that any moisture problems are dealt with before you embark on mould remediation. You should also follow HouseTest’s tips on avoiding mould and properly airing your property.
