Five ways to prevent mould in your home and the best ways to clean it

Regular surface cleaning is one way to help prevent mould in your home. (Adobe Stock) Link copiedShareShare articleWinter is here, and with it comes the increased risk of mould in homes, particularly in colder parts of the country. And although often dismissed as an issue to be dealt with later, mould can quickly get out of hand and can also pose a health risk. To prevent mould growing in your home, it helps to understand what it is and what it needs to survive. Perth/Boorloo mycologist Heike Neumeister-Kemp explains that mould includes many different species, and is a type of fungi that feeds on organic matter and reproduces by releasing tiny spores. Heike Neumeister-Kemp is based in Perth. (ABC North Queensland: Nathalie Fernbach) "Mould is always already there ... it floats around in the air, and every surface contains a couple of spores," Dr Neumeister-Kemp says. When it comes to household mould, common types are often referred to by their colour, such as brown, green, and black mould. But Jason Chapple, a Brisbane/Meanjin-based master water damage technician and co-founder of The Mould Group, says the colour of mould can't tell you how harmful or what species it is. "We can't identify what sort of mould it is [with certainty] … without a lab." Stachybotrys chartarum, sometimes called black mould, has a reputation as particularly toxic to humans. However, other mould species can also release mycotoxins that cause serious harm. The good news is that the basic prevention strategies are the same for every species. David Lark says water and access to organic matter to grow, and controlling these in your home can help prevent it. (Supplied: David Lark) NSJ Envirosciences principal mycologist David Lark, from Newcastle/ Mulubinba, says mould spores need water, food, oxygen and the right temperature to reproduce. "Then the square is complete, and it grows," he says. When and how mould becomes an issue differ depending on the climate where you live, but all three experts say preventing it is fundamentally about limiting potential food and water sources. Here are five ways they recommend doing it. To grow, mould needs organic matter to feed on, and skin cells, dirt and bacteria will do the job. "We say microscopic food source because a handprint is good enough," Mr Chapple says. For this reason, the experts say regular home surface cleaning is essential. Cleaning your walls and widows at least once a year can help keep mould at bay. (Unsplash: CDC) In addition to weekly floor, benchtop, and bathroom cleaning, Mr Chapple says all walls, ceilings, and windows should be wiped down every 12 months. "You only need to use washing-up detergent [well-diluted in water]," Mr Chapple says. "Since mould is a winter issue [in many places], that's when you should clean it — before it actually becomes an issue." Once you've cleaned, Dr Neumeister-Kemp says there are also commercial products containing plant saps that will protect surfaces that are prone to mould, for example, in bathrooms. "The product needs to be non-toxic [and] it should be TGA approved," she says. Household mould often kicks off in winter in cooler parts of Australia. (Supplied: Jason Chapple) Put simply, relative humidity is the amount of water vapour in the air. There are several ways to measure it, but one of the cheapest is a basic hygrometer ($10–20). Ever plan to wear your favourite jacket, only to pull it out of the wardrobe to discover it has a weird smell and is covered in mould? We explain how to remove it, and stop it from happening again. Once you've got something to measure humidity with, Mr Lark recommends keeping the relative humidity in your home below 60 per cent to prevent mould. While Dr Neumeister-Kemp questions the value of domestic dehumidifiers, Mr Chapple and Mr Lark believe they can be effective. Mr Chapple says tracking the relative humidity in parts of your home and moving your dehumidifier as required can work. But he says larger spaces with higher water volumes may require more than one dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers can be a helpful solution for those battling mould and dampness at home. (Flickr: HS You, CC BY-ND 2.0) Window and wall condensation can become a major problem in winter, particularly in colder parts of Australia where indoor heating is necessary. Jason Chapple is a master water restorer, specialising in assessing, mitigating, and repairing complex water damage. (Supplied: Jason Chapple) "What happens is when the warm air hits the cold windows … moisture appears on the inside," Mr Chapple says. And the issue is often the worst in bedrooms. "While we're sleeping, per person that's in that room, we're adding … moisture to the air [when we breathe]," Mr Chapple says. Wet window sills are a hotspot for mould. (Supplied: Jason Chapple) Some everyday activities can inadvertently "dump litres of water vapour" into the air inside your home, Mr Sparks says. Bug infestations, walls cover

Five ways to prevent mould in your home and the best ways to clean it

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