If you’re a homeowner, the thought of mould may be enough to send chills down your spine. Mould spores tend to spread quickly and can grow in a variety of places within your home.
Not only is it difficult to remove, but it can also create damage that is costly to repair and can even be hazardous to your overall health.
So, if you’re worried about mould in your home, what can you do? Our guide has a few handy tricks and tips for mould removal and prevention to get rid of this pesky problem once and for all.
How To Remove Mould From Your Home
Assess Your Home For Mould Damage
Before you can begin to remove mould from your home, you will need to determine what type of surface the mould has adhered to.
If you find mould on surfaces that are extremely porous, such as carpets, curtains, clothes, or furniture, it is unlikely that you will be able to clean it well enough to remove spores that have made their way deep into the fibres of the fabrics. You may need to discard mould-damaged furniture to keep your home clean and safe.
You can, however, remove mould from non-porous surfaces like tiles and hard plastics.
If you have mould in your bathroom, you may have noticed that it is most prevalent in the grout or silicone around your shower or bath. Once it takes hold of these areas, it is more difficult to get rid of. This is because it creates its own roots called hyphae, which grow into the grout or silicone as it spreads.
While you can clean the exterior of your grouting, you won’t be able to clean deep inside of it where most of the spores hide. If the problem is too severe, you may have to replace the silicone or completely re-grout your bathroom.
Brush Any Visible Mould Off Of Your Walls
If there is mould growing on the outside of certain areas or surfaces of your home, you can use a brush attachment on your vacuum or use a scrubbing brush to loosen up the mould and then vacuum it up.
It’s important to note, however, that your vacuum cleaner has to have a high-quality HEPA or high-efficiency particulate absorbing filter. Without a good filter, you may risk making the problem worse by spreading the mould to other areas of your home.
Clean The Mould
Commercial cleaning products that are advertised as mould-busters may appear to be effective, but this is very rarely true when you’re trying to remove mould from your home.
As an active ingredient, most of these mould-killing products use bleach or sodium hypochlorite. However, the bleach content in these products is usually less than 5%. For bleach to effectively remove mould or fungi, it needs to have a concentration of at least 10%.
Instead, you can use a simple homemade vinegar cleaning solution that is made up of 80% vinegar and 20% water. When you’re cleaning the mould, make sure to fill three separate buckets with the vinegar solution.
Using a microfibre cloth, wet your cloth by dipping it into the first bucket. When you are cleaning, make sure to scrub any visible mould off of the affected surface. To avoid the mould from spreading and cross-contamination, rinse the same microfibre cloth in both the second and third bucket consecutively.
There may be stains or discolouration on your walls after using vinegar, which you should then be able to remove with bleach.
If you struggle to clean the mould, or you suspect that the affected area has mould damage that goes deeper than the surface, you will need to call a professional to examine and remove the mould for you.
But, the best way to avoid mould damage in your home is to know how to prevent it from taking hold in the first place.
4 Ways To Prevent Mould In Your Home
Take Note Of Potential Problem Areas In Your Home
The first step of mould prevention is making sure your home is mould-resistant. Make a note of any areas in your home that could potentially encourage mould from taking root, like a basement that is prone to flooding or ceilings that show signs of excess moisture like stains or water damage.
If you notice any potential threats, you should try and address the situation as soon as possible. While it may be costly to remedy these problem areas, mould that is left unchecked will begin to spread and can cause more damage over time.
Keep Your Home Dry
Mould cannot grow in the absence of moisture, therefore you should treat any damp areas as soon as possible. If you’ve had a flood, take out any water-damaged rugs, bedding, or fabric objects that can’t be dried sufficiently.
It’s also possible that your daily activities are promoting the spread of mould in your home. Rooms like your bathroom, laundry room, or kitchen can collect a lot of moisture. These rooms should be well-ventilated at all times to avoid mould from growing.
You may need to check your home’s foundation, as well. Foundations that aren’t properly sloped can allow water to collect or accumulate in your basement or crawlspace, creating a breeding ground for mould.
Check Your Gutters For Damage
A mould infestation could be as straightforward as a leaking roof caused by overflowing or broken gutters.
Ensure that your roof gutters are cleaned and inspected on a regular basis. Repair them as needed, and keep a watch out for water stains that could indicate a leak after a storm.
Increase Air Circulation In Your Home
As the temperature drops, the air’s ability to hold moisture decreases. Excess moisture may develop on your walls, windows, and floors if your home does not have adequate air circulation.
So, during the colder months, you should make sure to leave doors open within your home, move your furniture away from the walls, and keep windows open when the weather allows. This can help to improve airflow in your home and minimize the risk of mould.
Final Thoughts
Mould can easily be prevented from growing and spreading throughout your home. If the problem is moderate and the mould hasn’t begun to spread, there are a few ways of getting rid of it on your own. However, if you notice that it’s gotten into your walls or any wooden surfaces of your home, contact a mould removal specialist to help clear it away and keep your home in tip-top shape!
