How To Prevent Mould In Your Home

Wed 10 Jul 2024

Preventing mould growth in your home involves maintaining good ventilation, controlling humidity levels, and addressing potential sources of moisture. Here are some tips to help you keep mould at bay:

Adequate Ventilation:

• Open Windows: Regularly open windows to allow fresh air to circulate, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.
• Use Extractor Fans: Use extractor fans in the bathroom and kitchen to remove moisture when cooking, showering, and bathing.
• Vent Appliances: Ensure appliances like clothes dryers are vented to the outside.

Control Humidity:

• Dehumidifiers: Use a dehumidifier in areas prone to high humidity, such as basements or bathrooms. For rooms with slight damp issues, a 12l dehumidifier will suffice - Prices are around £50 for one of these. For bathrooms and basements that are regularly prone to bad mould, a larger 20l dehumidifier should be used - prices for these start around £150.
• Some older properties with North-facing windows in bedrooms may be susceptible to damp issues. Sometimes, this can't be controlled by the landlord so the tenant must do everything he/she can to prevent damp from occurring.

General Housekeeping:

• Clean Regularly: Regularly clean areas where mould is likely to grow, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements and around window frames.
• Avoid Carpet in Damp Areas: Avoid using carpets in high-moisture areas like bathrooms and basements.
• Furniture Placement: Keep furniture away from walls to allow air to circulate.
• Fix Leaks: Report any leaks in roofs, walls, or plumbing as soon as they are detected.
• Dry Spills Quickly: Clean and dry spills immediately to prevent moisture from seeping into floors or walls.
• Shower Practices: After showering, leave the door open and run the extractor fan and/or open window to remove moisture.
• Dry Towels: Hang wet towels and bathmats to dry immediately instead of leaving them in a pile on the floor.
• Wipe Surfaces: Regularly wipe down surfaces with antibac prone to moisture, such as kitchen countertops and bathroom tiles.
• Clean Gutters: Keep gutters, downspouts and drains clear of blockages and in good repair to prevent water from seeping into your exterior walls.

House Plants:

• Watering: Do not overwater indoor plants and ensure that plant pots are well-drained.
• Placement: Place plants in well-ventilated areas to prevent moisture build-up.

Tenant Responsibilities

If you're worried about your responsibilities as a tenant and if you are responsible for removing the mould caused by damp in your rental property, check out our article about "What Repairs Tenants Are Responsible For".

 

How to prevent dampness in old Victorian properties in the UK

The majority of terraced houses in Barnsley, Penistone and Huddersfield were built in the Victorian ages (mid-to-late 19th century). Here's a really useful video showing you a few tips on how to prevent damp.