Prevent Mould Growth in Your Home with Effective Weather Adaptation Solutions.

Here are 5 areas you can attend to around your home, to make sure that you are in the best position to deal with mould when the weather turns from DRY to WET.

 

Tip # 1 - SORT THE CLUTTER

You know what we are talking about! ‘CLUTTER’. It’s everywhere. Have a look in your wardrobe. Go on, check out how much stuff you have piled up on the shelves and observe the marks that are building up on the walls around the shelves. Fingerprints and stains which lead to bacteria and moisture. It’s there isn’t it? Don’t be embarrassed by this.

The sorting part is quite important because you are bound to discover some things in your cupboards that belong in the land of ‘no return’. Things like old newspaper articles (stuck together), stained linen, faded photographs, coin collections, stamp collections, baby teeth (that you couldn’t throw out), old lunch boxes, old towels, kids toys, teddies, cotton balls, unwanted birthday gifts, wanted birthday gifts, new socks, old and odd socks. The list goes on. You get where I’m going with this, don’t you? You have to sort this stuff out! You don’t need the clutter in your cupboards, especially if you want to invite new joy into your life.

Common Causes of Damage

One of the most common causes of damage to books, paper and photographic emulsion is mould. Mould can weaken paper, making it soft and fragile, and discolour and stain paper and leather permanently.

You’ll need to check out your shoes and leather goods, which could be setting off other items in your wardrobe. The old photographs are a problem, perhaps it’s time to turn to digital!
Once you have established what you want to keep, set it aside, then go back to the area where you are planning to store this stuff and CLEAN IT!  
Start to get things in order by lifting your level of neatness by keeping magazines, books, remote controls and other living room bits in caddies, baskets or boxes.

Summary:

• Sort out the clutter!
• Separate mouldy shoes from your other shoes and belongings
• CLEAN the good stuff.
• Give away what is still good enough to give away.
• Clean out the area before you put everything back.
• Throw away anything that is contaminated or not salvageable.

 

TIP # 2 – CLEAN THE MOULD

It may be dry across most parts of Australia right now, but that makes this the perfect time to go through the cupboards and closets clean up old mould lurking about your home. Many of us can remember the wettest 3 years on record. The legacy of all that moisture is mould... Remember that musty smell in your wardrobe and the “green suede shoes” lurking there? Or the unsightly black growth in your bathroom or on your ceiling and that musty smell that permeates your home when your home is moist?

Mould Spores stay Dormant when dry.

While we may not be troubled by mould in these dry times, if you aren't prepared, mould will be back as soon as the rains come! Mould spores that have been lying dormant or “mummified” during the dry weather will flourish again.

Prevention is Better than a Cure.

We are dealing with prevention and successful prevention will depend on your ability to get rid of some of the old ‘stuff’ that has had mould growing on it.

Let's face it, the most effective way of removing mould is always going to be by manual extraction and cleaning. Lots of 'elbow grease' and being aware of how mould, fungus and mildew can take over if left unchecked.

Tidy up Your Space

Keep your storage space, cupboards, and wardrobes free from clutter. You'll instantly improve your health and mental well-being by having a good cleanout. ;) So, once you have sorted out what you want to keep and set aside what you want to chuck, cleaning the areas with an effective product is the next step. White vinegar and baking soda are age-old solutions that clean without residues and without harming the planet or you.

Our safe solution.

Killing and removing dead mould is a whole lot easier when the weather is dry, so here are some great tips to make the task a whole lot easier.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Spray Away is perfect for killing mould and inhibits future growth for up to 12 months.
It's Biodegradable and Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service Approved (AQIS)
It meets TGA’s requirements for Therapeutic Goods Order No. 54 – Standard for disinfectants and sterilant.
See our previous blog articles:
Sort the Clutter >>Link to more info coming soon
Why doesn’t’ bleach get rid of mould?  (insert link to new Blog post coming soon)

TIP #3 – DRY THE AREAS SUSCEPTIBLE TO MOULD

To dry carpet and backing within 48 hours, remove water with a wet vacuum, pull the carpet and pad off the floor, and dry using a fan to blow air over them. A dehumidifier can be used to reduce the humidity in the room where the carpet and backing are drying, while fans can be used to accelerate the drying process.

The following information will help you understand what you need to do for mould prevention in your home.

How to remove water from affected areas

Floors

Water can be removed from concrete or timber floor surfaces with a water-extraction vacuum. The drying also can be accelerated by using dehumidifiers, fans and heaters.

Hard surface flooring

(such as linoleum, ceramic tile, and vinyl) should be vacuumed or damp wiped with a vinegar solution and allowed to dry. They should be scrubbed clean, if necessary. If the under-flooring is wet, it should be dried using a vacuum or by exposing it to the air.

Furniture

Water should be removed from upholstered furniture with a water-extraction vacuum. Fans, dehumidifiers and heaters may be used to accelerate the drying process. Completely drying upholstered furniture within 48 hours may be difficult, so if the piece is valuable, you may consider consulting a restoration or water-damage professional who specializes in furniture.

Many people make the mistake of thinking that they can just buy a dehumidifier and put it in a room where there is mould, and after a few hours, the mould will be gone.

WRONG!! There is no way that a dehumidifier will take away mould on its own. You must first clean the area, as previously pointed out, where the mould is contained, then place the dehumidifier in the clean environment and thus begin the process of drying moisture and reducing humidity below 60%. You have just read about the cleaning in the previous solution, so you should have a clean environment by now. So let’s keep that clean environment dry. Why not try a dehumidifier?

After inundation by water

In many places in Australia, it's not uncommon for water levels to flood into your house or property. Sometimes it's foreseeable and others it's just the weather and it can catch us off guard at any time of the year.

Having a plan and being prepared for such events is wise and understanding what needs to be done if this does occur, is essential to getting on with normal healthy life.

Commercial cleaners or remediation experts have specialised equipment for these event cleanups.

Summary:

• The area must be clean before you employ a dehumidifier.
• Keep area below 60% humidity.
• Use a dehumidifier as a cheaper alternative for drying clothes.
• Use a Dampp®Chaser rod dehumidifier for smaller contained areas – cupboards.
• A dehumidifier uses less power than an air conditioner.
• Use Air Movers or Scrubbers for large cleanup jobs.

Tip #4 - CLOSE WINDOWS WHEN IT RAINS

Pay attention to weather predictions before you go out and if it does look like it’s going to rain, shut up your windows, and put the fans on full. Depending on how long the rain lasts will determine if you need to bring your dehumidifiers back into action. Closing the windows is crucial to keeping the mould under control. When the sun comes out and the sky is blue, then open the windows up again and ventilate the area. Let the sunshine in!

Here’s a little less known fact about lightning…… Dr Elvin Mendez is a certified Allergist from Fort Charlotte USA. His studies have shown, lightning, during thunderstorms causes mould spores to surge tremendously. This means that you are bound to have more mould developing not long after a lightning performance. All the same rules apply when you notice lightning.

So, when you see lightning, be mindful that the ‘mould surge’ has just begun. Turn on your fans and dehumidifiers and watch the lightning show!

Summary:

• Close the windows when it is raining.
• Lightning is known to trigger mould spores.
• 90% of the time the weatherman is right!

Tip # 5- MAINTAIN YOUR ENVIRONMENT

You have come a long way to understanding how to deal with mould and prevent it from dominating your life.

To best maintain your living and working environment so you can continue to keep it free from a mould infestation, you must keep it clean and dust-free. You must remove sweaty clothing from wardrobes and wipe down surfaces, weekly if you can, with the latest micro-fiber cleaning cloths. Use Spray Away where mould has taken shape on hard surfaces.

Maintaining a dry, clean and healthy environment in your home is essential if you are to keep your home free from mould. Ventilate rooms with fans during the wet periods and install dehumidifiers if humidity is over 60% RH.

Dehumidifier Operation

• Keep your dehumidifier maintained by cleaning the filter monthly by washing it in warm soapy water.
• Always handle your dehumidifier filter part delicately as the frame can break.
• Remove water from the tank when full,
• Do not allow the water to sit for several weeks, as it will go off just like stagnant water in a dam and unhealthy organisms can and will grow.
• When going away for short or long periods of time, you can run a hose from most of the larger units (which have a purpose-built drain hole in the back) and allow the water to drain out into the garden or into a bathtub or bathroom drain hole.
• NOTE**If you do use a bath, remember to remove the plug!

call us for more information 0493 702 407

May you have a Happy and Healthy Home