Date Published: March 3, 2022, Last Updated on September 5, 2023 by Brian Doherty
The prospect of dealing with mould in your Melbourne premises can be daunting. However, keeping on top of regular cleaning and reducing moisture can go a long way to preventing moulds in bathrooms and kitchens.
What is mould?
Belonging to a family of fungi, mould appears as a stained smudge over a surface. These mainly thrive on decaying organic material, and wet areas/moisture provide the optimum environment for moulds to spread.
Mould can trigger serious health problems. Since these produce air-borne spores, it causes headache, nausea, cough, and other respiratory problems if inhaled. Long-term exposure can also cause severe allergic reactions.
Besides leading to health concerns, toxic mould can weaken the structural integrity of buildings. Greenish-yellow spots appearing on surfaces of kitchen/bathroom walls/ceiling, or brownish spots on absorbent wooden fixtures (such as beams on the ceiling or insulating materials), indicate the occurrence of mould.
If you have recurring and persistent mould issues / concerns, make sure to call in professional help from plumbers like Doherty Plumbing Solutions, who can assist you with the right advice.
How to tackle mould?
Preventing mould indoors/outdoors should be the primary objective, by reducing the source of a mould. You can take a few simple and consistent steps to achieve this.
- Reducing moisture levels is key, particularly inside the bathroom. Besides keeping windows open when possible, installing an exhaust fan and using it regularly can also make the ventilation better in your kitchen/bathroom.
- A dehumidifier lowers humidity levels indoors. These machines extract the moisture content from the air as it passes through the system, which keeps the immediate environment drier.
- Regular plumbing maintenance is another important step. This includes clearing away debris from pipelines and box gutters, and attending to any plumbing leaks as quickly as possible. Leaking water across blocked plumbing fixtures (such as gutters and downpipes) accumulates moisture, which gives way to mould.
- Thorough vacuuming (using a HEPA-fitted model, i.e., High Efficiency Particulate Air filter) and cleaning of carpets inside the household or workplace is another trick, which aerates the carpets and prevents growth of mould.
Removing mould
In the case you notice mould in your bathroom or kitchen surface, steps must be taken to immediately remove the mould.
Consider taking precautions before removing a mould. This includes wearing adequate safety gear (such as goggles, gloves, head cap, suitable footwear, face masks, etc.). If you feel any adverse physical symptoms while dealing with mould, do not delay in seeking medical help as soon as possible.
You can use several simple but effective homemade remedies to combat mould nuisance in your kitchen/bathroom, using common household materials.
- Vinegar and baking soda solutions can work well to clean mouldy spots.
- Spraying hydrogen-peroxide directly onto the mould can help remove it from the source.
- Borax mixed with water can also act as an efficient mould-removal solution.
- Bleach is one of the strongest anti-mould solutions, which also helps to disinfect surfaces. A blend of bleach and baking soda can work particularly well for more stubborn mouldy spots.
Where can I get professional help to tackle moulds?
Dealing with the source of a mould is the most effective way to stop it; more so if you have recurring problems with mould in your kitchen or bathroom.
For plumbing problems (such as leaks and blocked gutters) that could cause long-term mould issues, reach out to Doherty Plumbing Solutions for a quick response.
Our experienced plumbing professionals will work with you step-by-step to provide the right advice regarding implementing the right steps to address growth of mould in your building.
