The best plants that fight mould and condensation and prices start at £4 each
AS temperatures drop, many homeowners will be starting to notice condensation gathering on window sills and surfaces around their homes.
Condensation can lead to stubborn mould growing in your home, which is an expensive problem to get rid of if left untreated and is also bad for your health.
But some houseplants can act as natural dehumidifiers by absorbing this moisture – and even better, they are cheap to buy and have no running cost.
Plants that are great at tackling humid environments include Snake Plants, Peace Lilies, Orchids, English Ivy and Bamboo Palms.
These plants absorb water from their surroundings through their leaves and release the moisture back out through transpiration.
They also improve the quality and smell of the air in your home by removing airborne mould spores.
An English ivy plant costs just £3.99 from Gardening Express.
Comparatively, it costs £120 at Dunelm for a 12L electrical dehumidifier which plugs into the wall, and these typically cost about 4p an hour to run.
While that may not sound much, if you were running this for just two hours a day, you would spend almost £2.50 a month.
Remember to compare prices by visiting local hardware stores and garden centres and asking a member of staff what’s on offer.
You can also do this online by browsing different retailers and viewing their “cheapest items first” using the “sort by” tool.
And when you have one plant you can make multiple cuttings from it and grow more in separate pots for free.
You could even ask a friend if you could take a cutting of their plant so you don’t need to spend anything at all.
The more plants, the better, as this means more moisture will be soaked up and the air will be fresher, so there is less chance of mould developing.
However, keep in mind that not all plants thrive in a humid atmosphere, so you should double check the
Here are some low-cost plants which will make your home beautiful and fix your condensation problem.
English Ivy
English Ivy is a poisonous plant that should be kept away from animals in your home.
However, its also rated as one of the best plants around when it comes to acting as a natural dehumidifier.
English Ivy grow best in bright light and the soil should be kept moist.
A great way to optimise its ability for air purification while keeping it healthy is to place it in a hanging pot.
This way, it’s also out of reach.
You can buy English Ivy for as little as £3.99 from Gardening Express or £5.99 from Waitrose.
Peace Lily
Peace lillies are also poisonous, like English Ivy, but they can also be great helpers with soaking up moisture in your home.
They grow well in high humidity areas with lots of shade such as your bathroom.
They should be kept away from pets because of their toxicity – so keep yours on a window sill where it is out of reach.
You can buy the plant for £6 in B&Q and £5 in Homebase.
Bamboo Palm
Palm plants such as Bamboo Palms are great at absorbing moisture and keeping mould at bay.
They can grow as tall as three metres, meaning they are great for purifying any airborne nasties in your home.
Bamboo palms cost £14.99 in B&Q.
Other palm plants include Areca Palms, Lady Palms, Dwarf Date Palms and Reed Palms.
You can buy an Areca Palm for £12 from Gardening Express.
Snake Plant
Snake plants grow best in areas with low light or without a window – which means they’re ideal for places like the bathroom which are prone to getting damp.
You can buy one from B&Q for £14.99 or even cheaper at Homebase for £10.
Orchid
Orchids aren’t just pretty to have around the house – they also work hard to keep air clean and healthy.
They reduce humidity in the home and require very little upkeep and maintenance on your end.
You can purchase an orchid for £10 in B&Q or £9 in Ikea.
The cheapest offer around is at Homebase where they are currently reduced from £11 to £5.50.
What is mould and how to get rid of it?
Mould is more likely to grow during the winter months.
Olivia Young, Product Development Scientist at Astonish revealed exactly why this is.
“Unfortunately, mould is a common problem many people face during winter. It thrives in conditions that are warm and damp, so your bathrooms are likely to be the most affected place.
“That said, during the colder months most rooms in your home could be vulnerable to mould growing.
“This occurs primarily from condensation that builds up on your windows when you’ve got your radiators on.
“If you think about it, when windows and doors are closed, there’s not much chance for the air to circulate and the moisture to make a swift exit.
“This build up is what can cause dreaded mould to make an appearance, especially in bathrooms, as it creates that warm and wet environment that is a breeding ground for mould.
“If left untreated, not only is it unsightly but it can also pose a serious risk to your health, so it’s really important you treat it.
“The key to tackle mould is to act fast.
“Try to come into as little contact with it as you can. So, grab your gloves, tie up your hair and get to work to remove any signs of mould as soon as you notice them.
“To keep mould at bay, there are some simple solutions you can introduce throughout home.
“The first is keep it ventilated. Yes, even in the cold winter months try to leave your bathroom window open for at least 10/15 minutes post shower or bath. This will get rid of any excess moisture quickly preventing mould gathering.
“If you’re having a repeat problem with mould in one particular area, it might be because the humidity levels are too high. You can get a dehumidifier that will help keep the levels low and reduce the risk of mould returning.
“The golden rule to remember when dealing with mould is the quicker you can treat it, the better. If you leave it, it will only get worse so never ignore it!
“To successfully get rid of mould every time, I recommend opting for the UK’s No 1 Mould & Mildew Remover, that effectively removes mould and mildew stains almost instantly, with no scrubbing necessary.”
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