FREE MOULD PREVENTION PLAN
How to prevent mould in your home
Mould on the Gold Coast and across the Northern Rivers is most commonly a climate problem, not always a hygiene problem. We have the moisture, the warmth and the low winds, meaning less natural air flow for much of the year, which is why homes grow mould no matter how clean they are.
In our climate most household mould is atmospheric. That means it is driven by humidity and condensation in the air rather than a leak or a burst pipe, and it tends to return whenever the conditions suit it. The good news is that there are a handful of habits to help keep it under control, and none of them involve renovating your home.
This plan sets out what to do, room by room and season by season. Work through it and you prevent the conditions mould needs to colonise from ever building up.
The one thing to remember. You cannot remove every spore from the air, and you do not need to. Control the moisture and the mould wonβt have the right conditions to take hold.
1. Why it keeps coming back
Mould needs three things: moisture (humidity), still air to help it settle on a surface, and a food source, which in most homes is often household dust. While mould does not need warmth to grow it helps certain species thrive. In our climate the moisture is almost always present, especially through the wetter months. To make it worse, our wetter months tend to be in warm times of the year which helps it thrive. It appears first in the spots where air does not move: the backs of doors, inside wardrobes, behind furniture against an external wall, and around window reveals in corners and on ceilings. Keep the humidity down and the air moving in those spots, and growth is far less likely to start.
2. Keep the humidity down
High indoor humidity is the main driver. The aim is to keep the air drier and moving, especially in the rooms that make the most moisture.
Aim for under 60 per cent humidity. A small hygrometer in the living areas and bedrooms makes it easy to keep an eye on the level. Run a dehumidifier through the humid and wet stretches of the year.
Run the exhaust fans. During every shower, bath and cook, and for at least twenty minutes afterwards, so the damp air leaves the room rather than settling on cool surfaces.
Air the house on dry days. Open the windows and internal doors to let the damp air out and fresh air through. Pay particular attention to bedrooms, wardrobes and any room on the cool, shaded side of the house.
Dry washing outside. A single load of wet washing can release several litres of water into the air indoors. Vent the clothes dryer to the outside, never into the room.
3. Keep the air moving
Mould favours the still, cool corners that air does not reach. A little movement makes a real difference.
Leave a gap behind furniture. A small space between beds, wardrobes and lounges and the external walls lets air move and keeps the wall surface dry.
Use ceiling or pedestal fans. They break up the still, cold pockets that form in corners and along external walls.
Let wardrobes breathe. Avoid packing them tight, leave the doors ajar from time to time, and keep a moisture absorber inside.
Do not store damp items. Dry shoes, boots and clothing fully before they go away. Enclosed damp items grow mould quickly.
4. Keep the dust down
Dust is a food source. It is the third thing mould needs, alongside moisture and still air. Household dust is largely broken-down organic matter, so a spore that lands on a dusty surface with moisture in the air has everything it needs to take hold and spread. The more dust builds up, the easier mould finds it to colonise. Keep the dust down and you take the food away.
Dust the spots that get missed. The tops of wardrobes, skirting boards, window reveals and the areas behind furniture collect the dust mould feeds on, and they are the same still, cool spots where mould tends to start.
Vacuum with a HEPA filter. A HEPA vacuum traps the fine dust and spores instead of throwing them back into the air the way an ordinary vacuum can.
Wipe rather than dry-dust. A damp microfibre cloth lifts the dust off the surface, where a dry duster mostly moves it around.
Clean more often through the wet season. Dust and humidity together are what get mould going, so the damp months are when regular cleaning does the most good.
5. Deal with condensation
Condensation forms where warm, moist air meets a cold surface. Wiping it away before it sits is the simplest habit on this list.
Wipe down cold surfaces. Window reveals, sills, frames and corners, before the moisture has time to settle.
Manage windows that fog up. Older or single-glazed windows collect condensation overnight. Wipe it off in the morning and avoid leaving them open during rain.
Keep wet areas dry. Wipe the bathroom, kitchen and laundry down after use and keep them as dry as you reasonably can.
6. Fix the building causes
Some moisture problems are built in. These are worth sorting properly, because they keep feeding mould no matter how well you air the house.
Vent exhaust fans to the outside. A bathroom or laundry fan that discharges into the ceiling cavity only moves the damp air out of sight, where it can grow mould above the ceiling. It should discharge to the outside air.
Check the roof cavity insulation. Good insulation keeps the ceiling and wall surfaces above the dew point, which is the strongest long-term defence against condensation. If yours is missing or thin, topping it up makes a lasting difference.
Check the roof and gutters after heavy rain. Clear the gutters and look for any sign of water entry. A small roof issue can show up as a ceiling stain weeks later.
7. Catch it early
Caught early, mould stays small and easy to manage. Build a quick check into your routine, especially after a wet spell.
Keep an eye on the usual spots. Check wardrobes, window reveals, ceilings, wet areas and the backs of doors for any sign of growth.
Watch for the early signs. A musty smell, a speckled or splotchy look in the paint film, or light discolouration can all be growth before it is obvious.
Wipe small spots away promptly. A small area dealt with early is far easier to manage than growth left to spread.
Call us if the mould appears or keeps coming back. If mould takes hold, returns no matter what you do, or you suspect it is inside a wall or ceiling cavity, get in touch and we will take a look.
8. A management plan keeps it in check
Atmospheric mould growth is very common in our climate, and sometimes it still takes hold no matter how well you manage it. Staying on top of it is easier on a schedule than in a scramble. A management plan keeps surface mould and indoor air quality under control with a recurring treatment and fogging, at a discounted rate, instead of waiting for it to take over. It suits homes that grow mould every wet season, and owners who would rather not think about it.
Ask about a management plan. We will set the schedule to suit your home and let you know what it costs up front.
Treatment and remediation
We are an IICRC certified firm and we work source first. We find the cause of the moisture, treat the visible mould and the air in one visit, and write it up. If your home needs full remediation to the S520 standard, we will tell you straight.
Free treatment quote within 24 hours. Call us on 0435 219 425 or request a quote online.