MOULD CAN BE PREVENTED BY CONTROLLING THE MOISTURE LEVEL IN THE BUILDING
Mould is used for making cheese and penicillin; however, when mould grows in the wrong place such as on the walls around your home or on the window seal, it can be awful for your health. According to the NHS, any form of mould is something you want to get rid of. If you are unsure of how to prevent mould this guide will help to explain why it forms and our advice for prevention.
WHAT CAUSES MOULD?
- Mould forms in environments that have an excess level of moisture in the air, this is also known as condensation or damp. Condensation can develop over the years due to water seepage through roof gaps or window frames. Most buildings have some form of moisture seeping through them, but this is generally taken care of by adequate heating in the house. In buildings or rooms, where the heater is turned to a low setting, moisture levels tend to build up making it a conducive environment for mould to grow.
- Mould is also caused by drainage leaks or burst pipes that have allowed water into the nooks and crannies of the building.
Above are 2 major causes, however being that we are a cleaning company and we have seen so many damp rooms, we will add more to the list (from a cleaning company’s perspective):
- Body liquid: Now this may make you say “ick” but we all produce sweat, admittedly some sweat more than others, while some have rare conditions that they cannot help. It is a fact that the average human gets rid of 1/2 a pint of liquid while they sleep. That is a lot but we think it is true and you can find out by checking the amount of condensation on your window when you wake up in the morning.
- Mattress: Not only does the sweat evaporate into the air, but some is retained in the mattress (together with accidental spillages), this moisture is kept in the room. This moisture will eventually aid mould growth on the mattress if the level of moisture is right.
- Flood: If a property has been flooded in the past, there is a high chance of moisture being absorbed into the walls and floor of the building.
AREAS WHERE MOULD FORMS EASILY
- Window seal: Due to the difference between outside and inside temperature, moisture from inside condenses at the window as the temperature drops at the window. Most of the time the moisture is left to dry up, day after day. This gives mould breeding ground, and over time you will be able to see a buildup of black mould on the sealed edges of the glass.
- Wall: Either upper or lower level, the position points to the source of the moisture. If the roof is leaking you are most likely going to have mould develop on the upper part of the wall, if it is a leaking bathroom pipe, the mould spot will be close to it.
- Behind furniture: In a generally damp room, moisture gets trapped behind wardrobes or bookshelves. These areas don’t get much air circulation, so it is effortless for mould to develop in these places.
- Bathroom: Mould gets formed on the window area, and in the seals in the shower or on the grout between the tiles. Soap scum also presents a breathing ground for mould to form as scum gradually add up, the layers forms (like soil is good for plantation) and becomes a good growing ground for mould.
HOW TO PREVENT CONDENSATION
- Ventilation: A well-ventilated room should have a normal level of moisture and no excess water seeping in or spilt on the floor. By opening the window for about 15 minutes daily, you will allow the airflow from outside to carry away the excess moisture in the building. This is easily fixed if you use an air conditioning system in your property, as they condition the moisture level as well as clean it, although, we only encourage the use of air conditioning system when you have no other choice. Alternatively, you can lock your window on a ventilated lock (when your window is locked but allows a gap between the frame and the window) if convenient.
- Cooking/showering: Close the door (but open the window and or put on the fan/extractor) when you are in the shower, or cooking in the kitchen and vapour/steam is being generated. This helps to let steam out of the building (not into the main building) through the extractor fan and window.
- Open doors: By opening the door to each room in the house, air can circulate better, hence preventing staleness in any room.
- Clean any blocked drain or pipework: Blocked drain or pipe works will hold water back, especially when it rains, this means the water will have to find their way of escape. This can lead to puddles or weakening of the roof structure over time as the water finds an alternative route to the exit.
OUR MOULD PREVENTION METHOD
- Clean your house after yourself, do not leave the shower till it becomes unbearable before you clean it. It is much much (much) easier to clean your bathroom every week than to clean it when it is #Super-Grubby. The reason it is very easy to clean more frequently is that the stains are not as ingrained, and they can be easily scrubbed off the surfaces.
- When cleaning the house, it is a good idea to let fresh air into the house while you clean. This will help to freshen up the air in the building and it will help to reduce mould formation around the building.