My house was covered in mould due to damp but a 10p hack saved me – and it’s better than using bleach
AS the weather turns colder and wetter, homes with poor insulation or no heating are bound to feel damp.
With energy prices rising and the cost of living increasing, many Brits are doing their best to keep their homes warm without relying on expensive electricity.
However, this often leads to common problems like mould, which thrives in damp conditions.
As of recent reports from Citizens Advice, around one in two people in the UK are dealing with some form of mould or damp in their homes.
And this issue has increased due to rising energy costs and colder, wetter weather, with studies showing that around 25 per cent of UK homes suffer from mould or damp-related problems.
One mum is struggling with exactly this issue, and took to Mumsnet to share what she had been going through and how she managed to get around the issue without spending a fortune.
The mum, who remained anonymous, explained that she had an “excessive condensation problem” in her bungalow.
She explained that buying a dehumidifier from Aldi helped, but “understands” that the Meaco range “is the best” and is “not expensive to run,” whilst also recommending to “get the biggest one you can afford.”
The mum also urges people who are suffering with mould in their house to check the gutters, and to see if there “could be a leak from the wall outside.”
She also wrote: “I had to have all the floors ripped out here and weeks later mould was growing on the skirting board.
“White vinegar kills some mould completely, try that instead of bleach.
“I’m leaving windows open all the time so the air circulates through the bungalow, and use the extractor over the oven on the rare occasion I boil something.”
The mum also suggested to those suffering with these issues to post on the Money Saving Expert website.
She continued: “There is a DIY forum and they regularly have people posting about dampness.”
Someone else joined onto the same Mumsnet thread and also suggested: “In the first instance, get some of the plastic dehumidifiers with sodium crystals in, Amazon etc will have them, they do help with dampness.”
For a longer term fix, they also suggested putting an “extractor fan outside the wall.”
Previously, we revealed the top ten cities in the UK that are the most blighted by mould.
Birmingham tops the list for mould-related searches, with an average of 710 monthly queries such as ‘how to get rid of mould’ and ‘remove mould’ combined.
When it comes to buying property, mould and damp are Birmingham’s second-biggest concerns, with 47% of residents saying they’d be put off by a property affected by these issues.
Following closely are Bristol and Manchester, with 370 and 330 monthly searches respectively.
Both cities also rank mould or damp as their number one property dealbreaker, with 52% of people in Bristol and 50% in Manchester saying they’d avoid making an offer on a home with these problems.
Leeds ranks fourth with 320 searches per month, while Liverpool follows with 260.
Edinburgh sees 250 searches, and Glasgow comes in seventh with 230.
Sheffield and Newcastle round out the top ten with 220 and 180 searches respectively, while Coventry sees 160 searches.
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.”