Black mould in your home can wreak havoc on your health – THIS is how to remove it

Whether it’s damp or mould, the first thing to do is find the cause. 

Usually, it’s caused by excess moisture in buildings, which can result from leaking pipes, rising damp in basements or ground floors, or rain seeping in because of damage to the roof or around window frames. 

In a newly-built home, damp can occur if the water used when the house was built is still drying out. 

A common place for mould to grow in your home is the bathroom. 

The causes of this are lingering moisture caused by lack of ventilation, leaky toilets, sinks and plumping pipes and damp cellulose materials such as rugs, paper products, wood, wallpaper, grout, drywall and fabric. 

So how can mould affect your health?

According to NHS Choices, damp and mould in the home can cause respiratory problems, infections, allergies and asthma, and it can also affect the immune system. 

Inhaling or touching mould spores can cause three types of symptoms: 

Allergic reactions are the most common. When mould spores are inhaled, the immune system creates an allergic reaction due to the fact it’s trying to defend against foreign/unknown particles entering the body. 

Mould infections can occur when mould spores are breathed into the body, allowing mould to grow inside them. 

In most cases, the infection can be treated with medication. The symptoms of a mould infection include skin irritation, excess mucus, athlete’s foot and nail infections. 

There are a few dozen moulds that are particularly toxic to humans, and these moulds release highly toxic chemicals called mycotoxins. 

In order for intoxication to occur by these toxic moulds, significant quantities are needed to intoxicate. 

Once you’ve identified and fixed the source of moisture, how can you remove the mould?

NHS Choices says you may be able to remove the mould yourself, or you may need to get a professional to remove it. 

Only remove mould yourself if it’s caused by condensation and covers an area less than one metre squared (1×1 metre or 3×3 feet). 

Don’t try to remove the mould yourself if it’s caused by sewage or other contaminated water. 

Protect yourself from mould spores by wearing goggles, long rubber gloves and a mask that covers your nose and mouth. 

Open the windows but keep doors closed to prevent spores spreading to other areas of the house. 

Have a plastic bag ready to take away any soft furnishings, clothes and soft toys that are mouldy. Soft furnishings should be shampooed and clothes professionally dry cleaned. 

Fill a bucket with water and some mild detergent, such as washing up liquid or a soap used for hand-washing clothes. 

Use a rag dipped in the soapy water to carefully wipe the mould off the wall. Be careful not to brush it, as this can release mould spores. 

When you’ve finished, use a dry rag to remove the moisture from the wall. 

Afterwards, put the rags in a plastic bag and throw them away. 

All the surfaces in the room should be thoroughly cleaned be either wet wiping or vacuuming to remove any spores.

These are the signs to look out for when spotting damp in your home.