2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Ellen Jenne)
Mould is a common issue that can affect anyone's house - but we may be making it worse by trying to get rid of it Mould can thrive in the cold and damp nooks of our homes when ventilation becomes scarce. Letting mould fester can lead to serious respiratory ailments and other health implications. A study by Homebase revealed a shocking statistic: Among 2,000 participants surveyed, a staggering 85% have battled mould in their bedrooms.
Many of us believe we're managing the problem by wiping away those unsightly patches, but we might just be exacerbating it, according to specialists. Offering essential advice for keen DIYers, Jimmy Englesoz highlights a familiar blunder homeowners commit in their mould-fighting efforts. Speaking to The Express , Jimmy said: "It's a common mistake for people to use anti-mould paint and then paint over [it] with a colourful paint.
"Anti-mould paint needs to be your topcoat with the biocide protecting the surface of your walls to work correctly. If you paint over it, you're painting over the protective barrier and giving mould a surface it can live on." The danger mould poses cannot be underestimated; it's capable of creating allergens, irritants, and occasionally toxic substances.
Contact or inhalation of mould spores might trigger allergic responses like sneezing, runny noses, red eyes, and rashes and possibly provoke asthma attacks, reports Gloucestershire Live . Jimmy shared four straightforward steps, including the proper application of anti-mould paint, to ensure effective eradication. Four steps to get rid of household mould: Treat any damp issues first, as this can be a driving factor for the development of mould.
Then, remove any visible mould by wiping down walls and surfaces with a fungicidal wash, which can be left for 24 hours on the affected and surrounding areas. Thoroughly rinse the mould patch with clean water. Use anti-mould paint as a topcoat and reapply periodically to keep mould away.
Laundry experts at In The Wash issued a stark warning about the potential dangers of air-drying clothes indoors, especially during colder seasons. They said: "Keeping moisture-filled laundry in your living spaces doesn't just encourage mould and dampness, it can also lead to respiratory issues, and wet laundry can be a bit smelly too. The bedroom is one of the rooms you spend the most time in.
" According to these laundry experts, it's crucial to avoid leaving damp clothes in bedrooms because: "Given the fact that wet laundry encourages mould growth, dampness and potential health issues it would be better to keep it out of a room you spend a lot of time in." They point out that bedrooms often lack proper ventilation , which exacerbates the risk of mould. The advice from In The Wash continues with further caution, as they added: "Drying laundry in such an ill-equipped environment could enhance higher chances of getting a mould infestation.
In turn, this could lead to more serious health complications for the bedroom user, damp could give rise to several structural problems in the bedroom, and said problems could be costly to put right." If you want ideas and inspiration to plan your next UK adventure plus selected offers and competitions, sign up for our 2Chill weekly newsletter here.
