How to Get Rid of Mouldy Smells in Your Home
By Ruth MacEachern
Product Manager
Nov 06, 2024
Mould is an all-too-common household problem, and if it is not dealt with properly, can lead to unsightly damage to walls, unpleasant odours, and even cause long term damage to the health of you and your family. Understanding the causes of mould, how to clean it effectively, and the importance of improved ventilation can help you maintain a fresh and healthy home environment.
Where does mould come from?
Mould patches grow from tiny spores that are found almost everywhere but remain dormant until they find a suitable environment. Common household moulds thrive in environments that are warm, damp, and poorly ventilated.
High humidity levels in a home – excess moisture in the air – which leads to condensation forming on surfaces. On porous surfaces such as walls and ceilings, condensation can soak through into the underlying material where it forms damp patches. These damp patches are the ideal environment for mould to grow. Once the mould spores activate, they start to use the material in the wall for nutrients, and over time, break down the plaster. Mould patches can form and spread relatively quickly.
Most moulds do not have a strong odour, however mildew, which is closely related, has a distinctive musty smell that can spread throughout your home.
Initial removal of the mould and mildew from surfaces will help to get rid of the immediate smell, but you will also need to take action to remove the conditions that cause mould to grow.
Cleaning mould
When cleaning mould, it is important to protect yourself. Wear a facemask, gloves, and eye protection to avoid inhaling the spores as they can damage your health.
Open any windows in the room where you are cleaning the mould to keep the air fresh.
There are many different ways to clean mould. Bleaches and special fungicides are the most effective way to kill mould, but common household solutions like baking soda mixed with water, tea tree oil, and white vinegar can also be effective.
Spray the cleaning liquid onto the mould that you want to clean and leave it for 30 seconds to a minute to act before wiping the surface down. This will remove the surface mould. After wiping the surface, rinse it to remove any residue. More stubborn patches of mould may require some light scrubbing.
Once you have finished cleaning, dispose of any cloths or brushes you have used in the bin to avoid contaminating other parts of your home, and wash the clothes you were wearing.
Unfortunately, cleaning mould away is only a temporary measure. If you don’t deal with the underlying problem, the mould will return in a few weeks.
Improved ventilation: the best long-term solution
While cleaning can remove existing mould, preventing future growth requires addressing the underlying causes. Improved ventilation is the most effective long-term solution to keep mould at bay:
The main sources of moisture in your home are cooking, bathing, and drying clothes indoors.
There are simple steps you can take to reduce humidity. Ensuring that you use pan lids and close the kitchen door when cooking stops excess steam escaping into the air, while avoiding drying clothes indoors or on radiators will also reduce moisture levels, however the best way to deal with mould is through ventilation.
Ensure that extractor fans are fitted in kitchens, bathrooms, and utility rooms. Modern systems such as the EnviroVent Cyclone 8 extractor fan feature a humidity sensor that will automatically detect water vapour in the air and adjust power levels appropriately to remove the moisture as quickly as possible.
If you find mould in rooms away from an obvious source of moisture, whole house ventilation systems can be an effective choice. Positive Input Ventilation systems such as EnviroVent ATMOS draw air into your home from outdoors and filter it to remove contaminants. This air is then distributed to displace the humid air which escapes through the natural ventilation of your home.
Find out more
If you’ve discovered mould in your property, it’s important to act quickly to protect your health. Enter your postcode below to find a ventilation expert in your area. They can visit your home and perform a free survey that will identify the causes of condensation and high humidity then provide you with personalised advice about the best way to deal with it.
