How to Stop moulds on the wall – Know the proven methods and effective strategies
Are you experiencing mould on the walls of your home? In this blog, we will offer useful tips on how to prevent mould on walls. Damp, mould, and mildew get severe in colder months.
They pose all sorts of health risks, especially to infants and elderly people with respiratory concerns, eye irritation, and sinus infections. Besides health implications, damp and mould can affect your furniture and compromise the structural integrity of your building.
Mould found in your house is an airborne spore that flourishes in damp warm conditions. It can form on any surface (warm/cold surfaces), ranging from tiles, painted concrete walls, tiles, plastics, and wooden furniture to fabrics and textiles.
How to prevent mould on walls?
Condensation in your house leads to damp which in turn leads to mould especially black mould that you can notice in the form of little black dots on your surface walls.
Condensation occurs, or damp arises when warm saturated air that has no place to escape outside comes in contact with colder surfaces inside the house, including external/internal walls, window panes, mirrors, doors, or ceilings. It forms tiny droplets of water on the surfaces. It arises due to poor ventilation as the moist air has no place to leave.
Winter is the time for hot boiling kettles, hot baths or showers, drying clothes indoors, and other activities such as cooking. Besides, you tend to keep your door and windows closed to keep out the elements.
That being said, your house lacks proper ventilation, which results in the build-up of humid air. As time keeps passing on, condensation gathers, making ideal damp conditions for mould to grow. So, winter is the prime time for mould infestations.
Identify affected areas in your property
When starting mission mould removal in your house, the first step is to find the affected areas around your property. Check the basement, damp on any window pane or yellowish water stains on the ceiling. Preventing mould and damp from spreading seems to be a simple task.
However, it requires a lot of effort and is a lengthy process. Regardless, you need to look out for damp and mould problems quickly.
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Dry damp/wet areas instantly
Moisture promotes the growth of mould. You need to treat the wet spots instantly for the same reason. If you see any leaky pipe in the basement after the rain or if there is some kind of spill, dry the same instantly.
In situations like a flood, you are unable to dry some things. So, remove them. Some of the very common activities require instant attention. Don’t let any damp items go unnoticed in your house. Apart from it, dry the floor and walls of the bathroom instantly after you take a shower.
Use an exhaust fan or keep the doors or windows open after the shower. Moreover, don’t let the wet clothes stay in the washing machine for long hours as they can be prone to mould spores. Besides, always hang them to dry outside your home.
Enhance proper ventilation
Ventilation is a key component to prevent mould on walls in your home. The routine activities you do in your home give rise to damp and mould problems. Drying wet clothes inside, bathing, and cooking encourage mould growth in the house. Improve the adequate ventilation of the kitchen, laundry rooms and bathrooms to get rid of the mould from your place.
Use mould-resistant products to prevent mould on walls
Promote usage of mould-resistant products whether you’re repairing an old property or building a new house. You can use products such
as mould inhibitors for paints and mould-resistant drywall or sheetrock. The standard drywall contains gypsum plaster in between the paper layers, whereas the mould-resistant one is paperless, making it waterproof. You can use the moisture-resistant drywall in your laundry rooms, kitchen, and bathroom.
Besides, if mould somehow started to appear, just lean mould from walls immediately as you see it with special sprays used for this purpose.
Keep indoor humidity levels in check
Use a moisture meter to measure the humidity levels in the house. The ideal reading is between 30 and 60 per cent as per EPA. Moreover, you can select the exact humidity level, especially the areas you feel are affected by the moisture meter.
If you see any signs of moisture or condensation on pipes, windows or walls, it will lead to mould and damp later on. So, dry such areas and get rid of the source of damp immediately.
Don’t let water accumulate around your building
Look for standing water or chronic damp that may be the reason behind the increasing indoor humidity and ideal conditions for mould to grow. If you don’t have a slope around your property, water may accumulate and enter the building. Moreover, check for damp around hot water tanks, freezers, sump pumps, basements, windows and doors, or see if you have any puddles. Apart from it, inspect crawl spaces for foundation leaks or groundwater damp.
Regularly clean your roof gutters to prevent moulds on walls
Damaged guttering and leaking roof are also the main reasons behind the cause of damp and mould, which can also lead to water ingress problems. You need to keep a check on them regularly. Look for any cracks in the tiles and clean your roof gutters regularly.
Repair them timely. Besides, always keep an eye on any kind of water stains after the rain. Always wear rubber gloves to clean gutters. If you see any damage, repair it as quickly as possible to prevent mould from appearing on the walls.
Improve airflow in your house to prevent mould on walls
The air is unable to hold more moisture when its temperature decreases, according to EPA. The excess moisture in the air starts appearing on floors, windows and walls without good airflow in your building.
Therefore, increase the air circulation by opening windows, and doors, moving timber or other furniture away from walls, and opening the doors of cupboards that are in colder damp rooms. Fresh air reduces moisture and keeps mould away from your premises.
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Check household plants for mould
Besides offering aesthetic beauty to the house, household plants give fresh air. However, they bring mould as well. The soil in plants is damp, and it makes ideal conditions for the mould to thrive and spread all over the house.
One of the quickest and most effective ways to deal with the issue is to add Taheebo tea to the water that you use for plants. It prevents the growth of mould in the soil. You can find this tea easily at your nearby local stores to remove mould from your plants.
How to stop mould coming back
To prevent mould recurrence, ensure optimal indoor humidity (between 40-60%) by utilising dehumidifiers or air conditioners. Regularly ventilate your property, especially after cooking, showering, or drying clothes indoors. Maintain good insulation to avoid condensation on walls and windows.
Use mould-resistant paint or add mould inhibitors to existing paint. Clean regularly, focusing on potential mould hotspots, like bathrooms and kitchens, using products with fungicidal qualities. Lastly, promptly repair any leaks to stop unwanted moisture accumulation.
How to prevent mould in bedroom
To prevent mould in your bedroom, ensure adequate ventilation. Install an extractor fan or regularly open the windows to expel moist air.
Regularly check for leaks or damp. Use a dehumidifier to help control moisture levels. You can use insulation to prevent condensation on cold surfaces. Regularly clean, especially in hard-to-reach and hidden areas. Consider using mould-resistant paint or wallpaper.
Can I get rid of moulds on wall permanently?
While it may be challenging to eliminate mould from walls permanently, you can significantly reduce its recurrence by addressing the underlying causes.
To prevent mould from returning, you’ll need to reduce humidity and improve ventilation in the room. Use dehumidifiers, fans, or air conditioners, and make sure your home has adequate insulation.Regularly check for leaks in your home’s plumbing and roof, as excess water can lead to mould growth. Remember, mould can be a sign of a more serious underlying issue, such as structural damage or health risk, so if the mould reappears or covers a large area, consider hiring a professional to investigate further.
Conclusion
If you are experiencing damp and mould problems in your house, it is imperative to take immediate measures to stop them. Mould will only grow and spread. Mould not damage your home and causes health problems, but it also wreaks your finances.
So, you need to take important steps to prevent moisture and mould problems before it causes any kind of harm to you.
Be vigilant and regularly check your house to keep it mould-free. If the problem persists and you are still stuck on how to prevent mould on walls, call our damp specialists to take a look.
