How much of a problem is this for you and how often do you treat it with bleach? Lately I've noticed it takes about 3 months for black ceiling mould spots to appear towards the back my flat outside the shower room and I'm now I'm noticing a fuzzy white/green layer forming over my gym equipment and weights too that aren't being used. I inspected even further by looking in my small walk in wardrobe and noticed mould forming on some clothes I don't wear often so I pulled the bed away from the wall and found a thick layer of green fuzz along an entire section of skirting board. There are no other obvious signs of mould forming anywhere else in my flat so this problem seems focused on the back end where there's no windows but I'm not sure what to do. I'm spraying the rear carpets with bleach today in case the spores are on the floor but I don't know what else to do after that or how regularly I treat for mould or if I complain to the landlord?
Indoor Mould
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Soldato
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The worst thing you can do is continue living there. Move for your health. Speaking as someone who had their life wrecked by mouldy rental accommodation.
Soldato
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I agree it is a serious issue. It could be caused by insufficient ventilation (probable if you have no windows). There could also be water ingress into the building making the walls damp. Rooms should be dry with adequate ventilation, so yes, bring it up with your landlord and see what they have to say.
Fundamentally, you should have conditions in which mold cannot grow, i.e. dry and well ventilated.
In the meantime, do what you can to prevent excess moisture from the shower increasing the problem. Hard to say without knowing the layout, but ventilate shower with fan, and open window afterwards, close shower room door, limit shower time, have as cool a shower as you can to reduce steam etc.
Fundamentally, you should have conditions in which mold cannot grow, i.e. dry and well ventilated.
In the meantime, do what you can to prevent excess moisture from the shower increasing the problem. Hard to say without knowing the layout, but ventilate shower with fan, and open window afterwards, close shower room door, limit shower time, have as cool a shower as you can to reduce steam etc.
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Mold is pretty bad for your health. It can cause respiration problems, and mold spores are not good for the body. You probably need ventilation in the back bedroom, e.g. fan to exterior air (if possible). If the landlord doesn't take it seriously, that itself is a serious issue that you shouldn't take lightly. You aren't being unreasonable at all, it is a serious issue.
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Don't use bleach, use a Mould and Mildew remover. Highly recommend Astonish brand, can get it from pound shops, Home Bargains, B & M etc. only about £1.20 and will get rid of the Mould in a few minutes. Not a permanent solution but for short term.
Also, not viable as a long term solution though due to running costs, can use a dehumidifier to lower humidity level.
Also, not viable as a long term solution though due to running costs, can use a dehumidifier to lower humidity level.
Need to get to the root of the problem really and see if there is anything you can do to avoid it...
I'd agree with G_Wizz above use a proper product or worse comes to worst though it isn't really supposed to be used for this scenario Green Gone as a nuclear solution.
I'd agree with G_Wizz above use a proper product or worse comes to worst though it isn't really supposed to be used for this scenario Green Gone as a nuclear solution.
Firstly, you need some data, so pickup a few Thermopron TP357 Hygrometers. About a tenner each and will show you what your room humidity levels are. Data is stored internally and you can bluetooth in with your phone to download it easily.
You want humidity to be around 55% or 50-60%.
There's either a ventilation or a water ingress problem. Check the walls outside for cracks or water entry points, check the gutters are sound and clean, make sure water drains away from them properly when it rains. But for now, you need to ventiliate and get windows open at the front and back of the flat so you get some airflow through it.
Kill the mould, ventilate and check for water ingress.
You want humidity to be around 55% or 50-60%.
There's either a ventilation or a water ingress problem. Check the walls outside for cracks or water entry points, check the gutters are sound and clean, make sure water drains away from them properly when it rains. But for now, you need to ventiliate and get windows open at the front and back of the flat so you get some airflow through it.
Kill the mould, ventilate and check for water ingress.
Thanks for the advice everyone. I've done a thorough deep clean of the property including all the nooks and crannies and even the carpets and I'll be leaving my lounge window open everyday now for at least 8 hours to get fresh air in. I've taken photos too so if the mould pops up again I'll have some evidence to show the Landlord as I know 100% it's not me that is causing the problem by drying wet clothes indoors or taking lots of hot showers etc. I get the feeling that the mould problem existed before I moved in and the landlord has done a poor job of cleaning and just put a fresh coat of paint on the walls/ceilings.
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Seems like a good start, but please hear my warning, if it isn't completely resolved quickly don't continue to live there, it's worth taking the financial hit to protect your health.
Well I've done as much as I can do for now and I can't see any signs of water coming in so I'll carry on getting plenty of air in the main living space and see if the mould pops up again in a few weeks/months. It's an open plan flat with no internal doors except the shower room so there's nothing stopping the air getting to the back of the flat where the mould was starting to build up. Fingers crossed! I don't want aggro with the Landlord over this and I don't want the hassle of moving either.
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it will come back, there's a leak somewhere which hasn't been repaired
You may not see water getting in to the flat itself. But water getting into the fabric of the building absolutely causes damp.
It can be as simple as a blocked gutter meaning water is running down the side of the outer bricks, that can cause damp in almost any property regardless of age and if it has a cavity wall or not.
The other is rain landing on a path built next to the property and bouncing back onto the walls above the DPC. There should be a decent void between any hard surface such as a path the the building and be 2 bricks below the DPC if possible.
Super common problems and easily fixable. More difficult problems to chase down can be actual leaks in the roof or flashings etc or if the wrong product has been used somewhere such as cement mortar which should have been lime.
The other issues are often referred to as ‘lifestyle’ issues (lack of heat, drying clothes inside, showing with bathroom doors open or other activities which add a lot of humidity) or no extractor fans (or they are not used) in kitchens and more importantly bathrooms.
You need to contact the landlord, it will come back.
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If you have damp air and cold walls, you'll get moisture forming which will mould over time.
You need to control the humidity and ventilation to stop it. In old buildings without well insulated walls you will get mould if you don't take a few steps.
Most important things :
Shower ventilation - avoid very long hot showers, and if you do, make sure you have a decent extractor fan and keep the door shut to stop the humidity getting into the rest of the house until the extractor has fully cleared the bathroom after your shower.
A decent extractor on the hob. Don't boil water without a lid.
Open the windows regularly on dry days on all sides of the property to get dry air through.
Zap any mold that appears with a mildew killer spray.
Do not dry clothes on radiators.
Buy a dehumidifier, absolutely essential if you don't have a proper drier for clothes. Run the dehumidifier regularly in winter.
Avoid lininv furniture up such that it forms stagnant air against exterior walls.
Sounds a lot but it's actually quite straightforward. I live in a hundred year old terrace and it's just how you manage an old house like this. You need to ventilate.
You need to control the humidity and ventilation to stop it. In old buildings without well insulated walls you will get mould if you don't take a few steps.
Most important things :
Shower ventilation - avoid very long hot showers, and if you do, make sure you have a decent extractor fan and keep the door shut to stop the humidity getting into the rest of the house until the extractor has fully cleared the bathroom after your shower.
A decent extractor on the hob. Don't boil water without a lid.
Open the windows regularly on dry days on all sides of the property to get dry air through.
Zap any mold that appears with a mildew killer spray.
Do not dry clothes on radiators.
Buy a dehumidifier, absolutely essential if you don't have a proper drier for clothes. Run the dehumidifier regularly in winter.
Avoid lininv furniture up such that it forms stagnant air against exterior walls.
Sounds a lot but it's actually quite straightforward. I live in a hundred year old terrace and it's just how you manage an old house like this. You need to ventilate.