How Can I Control Mould in My House?

Unfortunately, mould is something a lot of people deal with at least once in their lives, so naturally they are looking for ways to stop mould, although some items help, they usually aren’t the one and only way to remove mould for good.

In this blog we will be answering the question ‘How can I control mould in my house?’

To prevent mould, fresh air should constantly be introduced into your dwelling daily, as it helps to regulate temperature and reduce condensation. Introducing fresh air can be as simple as having a ventilation routine, or installing extractors or PIV systems. Almost all of this is facilitated by ducting.

I-Sells is here to provide the answers you need whilst also supplying you with all the information you need to combat mould and have a well-ventilated home.

Explaining Mould

Mould, otherwise known as damp, is a fungus that grows on wet surfaces. Mould comes in a variety of colours: Black, Green, Brown, Grey and White. It can be difficult to identify mould by colour as it can occur in many shades. Some of the most common mould strains in the home are:

Black Mould – Also called Stachybotrys chartarum, Black mould is commonly found in bathrooms and wet rooms but can also occur on cold exterior walls in habitable rooms such as the bedroom or living room.
Cladosporium – Commonly found in bathrooms, under sinks, and around faucets but it can grow on surfaces like carpets, furniture, walls, and floors.

Mould reproduces from tiny spores. The spores float through the air and deposit on the surfaces. Under adequate temperature, moisture, and nutrient conditions, the spores can form new mould colonies.

Mould can severely affect your immune and respiratory system, as the spores are easily breathable and not obvious to see through the human eye.

If you have found mould in your home, you need to assess if this is your landlord’s responsibility (for example it could be from a leaking roof that needs repairing). Or if the damp is caused by improper ventilation. To assess your options, click here.

What causes mould?

Mould is caused by condensation, as a fungus, mould thrives in humid environments, hence why areas with constant condensation can become mouldy if left untreated.

Is mould dangerous?

Yes, mould is dangerous. As its spores can travel without us noticing, and thrive in humid environments, our lungs provide a somewhat suitable environment for mould to affect our respiratory system, as well as further affecting those with respiratory issues, compromised immune systems and allergies to mould.

If it can be helped, stay away from mould as much as possible, this includes furniture and clothing, towels etc. Unless these items are cleaned and treated, mould spores can spread and grow on these items.

Are there mould removal services?

Yes, there are services available with qualified experts who can identify, treat and remove mould from your home. These services are expensive, and may result in additional costs if there are structural issues causing the mould, but it is worth it.

A simple search online can help you locate local mould treatment services.

How can I control mould in my house?

Controlling mould can be defined as removing its presence and maintaining an environment that doesn’t allow it to come back. So lets understand both of these factors.

Removing its presence comes in the form of using mould removal products, and/or treating the area that is causing the mould (like from a leak for example.)

Maintaining a mould free environment comes in the form of following a daily ventilation routine.

A ventilation routine is spending at least 20 minutes a day with windows open in the home. Houses with more than one floor should have windows open on each floor, and each floor should have windows on opposing sides of the house open, this will result in a cool breeze being able to flow freely through the house.

This helps to regulate the temperature within the house, therefore making it less prone to condensation.

In condensation hotspots such as the kitchen and bathroom, open the window when cooking or showering respectively, this allows excess steam to escape rather than accumulate to create condensation.

Are there mould treatment products?

Yes, In conjuction with the aforementioned ventilation routine, here are some things you can invest in to prevent the growth of mould.

Extractor systems, for the bathroom and kitchen
PIV systems
Dehumidifiers
Invest in a hygrometer, this monitors humidity levels wherever it is placed
New ducting for existing extraction systems
Fully functioning heating systems
New windows and doors

Additionally, here are some products we supply to help treat mould in our mould control section.

Note: Any instance of cleaning or dealing with mould, one should at the very least, wear a mask and gloves.

Kair Anti Mould Paint 1 Litre White

&

Kair Anti Mould Paint 1 Litre Magnolia

Kair Anti Mould Paint is an excellent, premium quality, low odour anti mould coating guaranteed to protect against unsightly and unhygienic black mould even when there is persistent condensation.

The unsurpassed performance is achieved by combining modern paint technology with highly advanced, proven biocides. The anti-mould biocide is combined throughout the paint film, which is formulated to impart toughness, elasticity, water resistance and durability to the finish. You’ll find with this product that it is:

Easy to use
Fast Drying
Low Odour
Ideal for walls and ceilings
Long-lasting protection
Matt Finish

For best results, you should wash mouldy surfaces with Kair Anti Mould Surface Cleanser Concentrate. Specifically designed to clean and treat mould growth areas.

Kair Anti-Mould Additive For Emulsion & Gloss Paint – 50ml

Our unique Anti-Mould paint additive contains a fungicidal additive that allows you to secure anti-mould properties to:

Emulsion paint
Eggshell paint
Tile grout
Gloss Paint
Wallpaper paste
Coatings

This means alongside having anti-mould paint in colours, you can also secure your tiling grout making your shower, kitchen or bathroom anti-mould, alongside your wallpaper.

Simply apply one 50ml bottle to any 2.5L bucket of paint that fits within the parameters mentioned above and mix thoroughly.

Is there a mould-cleaning kit?

Yes, we offer the Kair Mould Control Pack, a bundle with the previously mentioned surface cleaner, and two additional 50ml anti-mould additives, saving you 15% more than if you were to buy individually.

Are there alternatives to mould treatment?

The most recgonised natural mould treatment is using distilled white vinegar, although some find bleach viable too, distilled white vinegar is less abrasive to occupants of the house, whilst being able to penetrate deeper than bleach.

Although this type of vinegar has been known to destroy mould, it must be noted that this method is only effective against 82% of mould species, meaning it isn’t going to work all the time.

Please consider that if the mould returns after any treatment, it may be a structural issue causing the mould.

Mould control suppliers

We at I-Sells endeavour to make sure our customers have all the information they need before choosing to invest in our mould solutions. Be sure to visit our blog page to gain knowledge on the wide array of factors and issues surrounding ventilation, mould, condensation, and much more.

We hope to have answered the question ‘How can I control mould in my house?’

We understand you may have more questions, Do not hesitate to contact us for more information with regard to whatever you need our help with. If you’d like to send us an email, click here. For other contact options, see below:

Call us on 020 8463 9696

Visit us at our showroom:

*OPENING TIMES*

Monday – Friday: 8:00 am to 5:30 pm

Saturday: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Sunday: Closed

15 St John’s Parade

Sidcup, Kent

DA14 6ES

United Kingdom