How To Prevent Mould In Your Home

• Keep humidity levels below 50%
• Ventilate your home
• Fix leaks immediately
• Don’t let your property cool completely
• Clean up after floods immediately
• Regularly clean your home
• Wipe down wet surfaces
• Use anti-mould paint
• Don’t dry clothes indoors
• Contact us today

Mould is a type of fungus that grows in environments with excess moisture. It is usually caused by high humidity, condensation, damp, leaks, and flooding. To stop it growing, you need to find ways to control the moisture levels in your home.

Should mould start growing in your property, we can help. Our mould remediation services can remove all the mould, including on hard surfaces and in the air. We operate nationwide, around the clock, 365 days a year. In an emergency, our technicians can be on site in several hours.

Continue reading to find out the best ways to prevent mould.

Keep humidity levels below 50%

When warm, humid air meets a cold surface like a window pane or a wall, the moisture in it condenses. This makes the surface damp so when airborne mould spores in the air settle on it, they can quickly start to grow.

Low humidity levels reduce the amount of condensation that can occur in your home and ensure surfaces don’t get too damp. A dehumidifier can help you monitor humidity levels and make sure it stays low.

You must keep this low throughout the day as relative humidity is highest in the mornings and lowest in the afternoon.

Ventilate your home

Poor ventilation can lead to warm, humid air getting trapped in your home. Fresh air, on the other hand, can help expel moist air and keep humidity levels low.

Aside from opening your windows often, it is recommended you open all the windows and doors at the same time when humidity is high. You should also open windows when it is colder outside your home than inside to prevent condensation forming.

Installing vents on your windows can help you improve ventilation, too, and are particularly useful during the colder months when you don’t want to open the windows.

Fix leaks immediately

Even small leaks in the roof or walls, or problems with your plumbing can cause damp and provide mould with enough moisture to start growing.

You should mop up any water from leaks as soon as possible and then bring in a professional to rectify the issue. Mould can start growing within 24-48 hours, so a quick response is essential.

Don’t let your property cool completely

Another way to prevent condensation is ensuring the surfaces in your home do not get too cold. Keep your heating on and make sure the temperature does not fall below 14°C to reduce the chances of condensation forming.  

Clean up after floods immediately

Flooding can lead to a major mould problem in your home as it makes surfaces very wet, soaks your possessions, and causes condensation. Floodwater may also contain dirt and sewage which provides mould with a food source, enabling it to thrive in the affected area.

You must have the water removed, the property dried out, and the affected surfaces deep cleaned as soon as possible to prevent mould growth.

Some things like upholstered furniture and carpets might need to be disposed of as they will not dry out before mould starts growing.

Regularly clean your home

Mould feeds off organic material like dust, dirt, and dead insects. Wiping surfaces vulnerable to mould growth frequently, like windowsills, can remove mould’s food source.

Cleaning all the nooks and crannies will also enable you to spot the early signs of mould growth so you can deal with it before it becomes a big problem.

Wipe down wet surfaces

Remove condensation that has formed on surfaces to stop them from becoming damp. The places condensation is most likely to form includes on windowpanes and sills, walls, mirrors, and the shower curtain. It is most common in the mornings, and when washing and cooking.

Black mould in particular likes very wet surfaces so keeping your home dry is key to black mould prevention.

Use anti-mould paint

Mould prevention paint contains antimicrobial agents and inhibits the growth of mould on walls and the ceiling. It is especially useful in the bathroom and kitchen which are hotspots for mould.

You should also consider anti-condensation paint to tackle a major cause of mould.

Don’t dry clothes indoors

The moist air they produce can get trapped inside your home, leading to condensation. It is recommended you hang them outside on a washing line or use a tumble dryer.

Contact us today

Our Dewpoint-accredited technicians can diagnose the specific cause of the mould in your home and advise on mould prevention in the future. With every mould removal service we offer a lifetime guarantee* so if the mould returns, we will carry out a mould treatment for free.

Get in touch with our team on 0208 066 0360 or enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk to learn more about our mould cleaning services and get a free, no-obligation quote.