Mould on walls

Damp is the ideal breeding ground for mould

All the ways in which mould forms have one thing in common: they’re the result of damp problems. Mould spores float around us all day long and attaching to our clothing and shoes, therefore ending up in our homes. Alone, mould spores are not harmful to humans; however, it becomes a different story when they come into contact with damp. In such cases, the mould spores develop further, creating a layer on walls or ceilings. Mostly, this layer results in black mould. This type of mould can have a considerable impact on people’s health, especially if they already suffer from allergies or respiratory problems. Be careful not to underestimate the health risks of different colours of mould.

Different damp causes

The occurrence of damp problems can generally be divided into the following three categories: condensation, penetrating damp and rising damp. With condensation, the damp accumulates in a room because it simply has no way out or because it attaches itself to cooler surfaces. Condensation occurs in kitchens and bathrooms, for example, where steam from hot water evaporates into the air. Condensation also occurs in the bedroom; a person loses around two litres of moisture per night through perspiration and breathing. In order to prevent problems with condensation, it is very important that you ventilate these kinds of spaces well. Condensation also occurs because an outer wall becomes too wet and does not dry out in time before the bricks become wet again, for example because of rain.

Penetrating damp is observed if, due to subsidence or other causes, cracks occur in outer walls which can cause damp to seep in. The same applies to cases where cracks appear in water pipes and cause leaks.

Finally, rising damp is often found in older houses. Because of the outdated building technology, these types of buildings do not yet use a so-called damp proof course, which causes walls to absorb soil damp and result in wet bricks.

All three types of damp can be present separately or combined, either way, these will all be helpful in creating a great environment for mould to breed. Therefore, it is important to solve damp problems before or whilst resolving the mould issues in the home. If the damp problems are not resolved, mould will constantly return.

Cleaning mould spots

If you detect mould on your walls, it is very important that you remove it as soon as possible. If you don’t, there is a good chance that the problem will only get worse. In addition, quick removal will help prevent health problems. It may sound a bit contradictory because mould grows on damp spots, but it is very important that you only remove mould with the help of damp material. If you would choose to clean the mould spots with a dry cloth or a dry brush, there is a very good chance that the mould will spread further, so you will be confronted with mould on your walls again.

With light mould you can use a baking soda solution that consists of about 6 grams of baking soda per litre of used water. Scrub the mould off the wall with this liquid. If you are dealing with more stubborn mould spots, the use of bleach is a more suitable method to get rid of the mould problem. Instead of water and baking soda, mix 250 ml of bleach with a bucket full of water (10 litre). Finally, you can also clean the mould spots using special agents that you can buy at the supermarket or DIY stores. These often have the added advantage that they are provided with ingredients that prevent new mould from forming. Be sure to quickly wash your clothing and cloths used for the mould removal to ensure mould doesn’t spread.

DryBricks relieve you of damp and mould problems for good

As you have read in this article, damp in walls is the main cause for mould problems. There are several ways to solve this kind of situation and even prevent it. The most effective method in this context is the SmartDry DryBrick. A DryBrick is an invention created by SmartDry that is placed in the outer wall and then naturally ensures that the damp in walls is removed, much more quickly and easily than other products. SmartDry has been the specialist in damp control and the installation of this type of DryBrick for many years and has therefore helped countless customers to solve and prevent their damp and mould problems. We conduct surveys across England. Contact SmartDry today for more information.