What Temperature Kills Mould?

CONTENTS

• At what temperature does mould grow?
• How does heat kill mould?
• Why you should not use heat to kill mould
• How to remove mould
• Contact our team today

Mould is a very difficult problem to deal with. It is stubborn to remove, gets deep into porous surfaces, and most DIY mould removal solutions cannot get rid of it. But extreme temperatures can effectively eliminate the fungus. 

We offer efficient, thorough mould removal services, here at ICE Cleaning. Our technicians have been accredited by Dewpoint Professional, and are fully qualified to remediate mould from domestic and commercial properties. 

Keep reading to find out what the best temperature to stop mould growth is.

At what temperature does mould grow?

Mould spores tend to flourish in temperatures ranging from about 5°C to 35°C, which unfortunately aligns closely with the temperature of our homes. 

However, mould is usually more of a problem in the winter than during the summer as it needs excess moisture to grow. This is mainly because of condensation: when warm, moist air comes in contact with a cold surface, it causes condensation to form on it, making it damp. 

In the summer, on the other hand, we are more likely to open our windows to ventilate our homes and surfaces are not too cold so the chances of condensation are greatly lowered. 

How does heat kill mould?

When mould is subjected to extreme temperatures of around 60°C or more for a long period of time (at least 90 minutes), the proteins inside the spores begin to get damaged. Similarly, very cold temperatures can deactivate mould. 

However, although it kills the mould, the dead mould left behind can still be dangerous to be exposed to. It continues to release spores which are harmful when inhaled, ingested, and touched. 

It also dries into a fine dust when killed which can become airborne and trigger respiratory issues when inhaled. Mould can retain mycotoxins after death, toxic compounds which can lead to serious health problems like fatal asthma attacks and sick building syndrome, too. After heat is used to kill mould, cleaning the residue will still be required to ensure the property is made safe again. 

Why you should not use heat to kill mould

Using heat might seem like a thorough way to tackle mould, but it's very impractical. Heating the affected surfaces to such an extreme temperature is not just difficult and will require some form of specialist equipment, it can damage the surfaces. The area will need to be heated to extreme temperatures for a long time to kill the mould, as well.

The mould residue will then need to be cleaned up by professionals to protect your health. 

Instead, just bring in professionals for mould removal. They will have the specialist equipment and training to properly tackle your mould problem. They can even diagnose the cause of the mould in your home and advise on how to prevent it returning in the future. 

How to remove mould

Although there are plenty of DIY mould remediation methods shared online, you should always bring in professionals. All traces of the mould must be removed from your home as the smallest amount can grow back and continue to spread around your home. 

Aside from heat, several DIY methods can damage your property, like scrubbing the affected surface with a cleaning product or applying harsh chemicals such as bleach. Some can put your health at risk as you will need to come in close contact with the harmful mould and may inhale dangerous fumes. 

Too abrasive a method can even aggravate the mould, encouraging it to release spores and spread around your home. 

Professional mould cleaners can give you peace of mind that they will take care of all the mould in your property without damaging any surfaces. Our mould remediation services also come with a lifetime guarantee* so if it comes back, we will return to site and remove it for free. 

*subject to advisories

Mould removal specialists will have the health and safety knowledge to safely tackle your mould problem, as well. They will wear full personal protective equipment during the treatment to protect their health, and will isolate the affected area to stop any spores from spreading. 

Contact our team today

We offer our mould remediation services nationwide, 24/7, 365 days a year. If it's an emergency, our technicians be on site within several hours, no matter where you are in the UK. 

To find out more about our mould remediation services, speak to our team on 0208 066 0360 or enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk. They will be happy to schedule your free site survey and offer you a no-obligation quote.