Mould is a growing, living organism that can be found in all areas of the home. Excessive mould can potentially deteriorate your home as well as cause significant health problems.
We ask the ventilation experts about the most common mould myths they hear from the general public. Read on to learn more about this incredibly frustrating – and in some cases – harmful element in your home.
MYTH 1: MOULD ONLY GROWS AND THRIVES ON ORGANIC MATERIAL (WOODS, COTTON ETC)
Fact: Mould spores eat organic material, but they can grow anywhere. This is because mould will grow where moisture, warmth and food are present. You may wonder why mould is growing on a dry non-organic surface, this is because moisture is present in the air. Therefore, it is so important to reduce moisture levels in the air, effectively reducing mould growth.
MYTH 2: MOULD IS ONLY PRESENT IF YOU CAN SMELL OR SEE IT.
Fact: Mould is present everywhere, no matter how hard you try to eliminate it. You may have thought that mould is not present in the home as long as there is no stale smell in the air or that there are no dark green blotches in the sealant of your bathroom. In reality, mould spores are present in the air almost all the time. The real concern is when the concentration of the mould becomes so high that it poses a health risk for you and those living in your home. The aim is to reduce the mould as often as possible before it reaches an unsafe level.
MYTH 3: BLEACH WILL KILL/ELIMINATE MOULD
Fact: As bleach is water-based, it will encourage faster mould growth and will only kill the mould on a surface level. An expert says that bleaching will only remove the colour from the mould. Therefore, don’t be surprised if your mould resurfaces after several weeks as it was always there to begin with, just momentarily invisible.
What we do suggest is using vinegar when cleaning mould in your home. It is both non-toxic for the environment and humans. Unlike bleach, it kills the mould by penetrating the structural integrity of the spore.
MYTH 4: YOU DON’T NEED A PROFESSIONAL TO HELP GET RID OF MOULD
Fact: If a mould infestation becomes greater than three metres, it is recommended you have a professional cleaning specialist to remove the mould with their advanced cleaning equipment and techniques. In some cases, you may mistakenly increase mould growth. Best leave it to the professionals when your mould gets out of hand.
MYTH 5: THE MOULD WILL BE GONE FOR GOOD ONCE YOU ELIMINATE IT
Fact: Unfortunately, mould is ever-present given it has the environment to thrive in. If you are seeing a recurring mould concern in your home, we suggest tackling the root cause of the mould, whether it be a plumbing, water or moisture problem. We recommend that “Prevention is better than cure”.
TACKLE MOISTURE LEVELS AND REDUCE MOULD GROWTH WITH RITEFLO
Mould can be a result of poor air circulation and therefore, it is important to have fresh air flowing through your home as much as possible. Riteflo offers a multitude of solutions to help you reduce the rate of mould growth in your home with their ventilation systems. We offer self-propelled fans that help you take a step closer in preventing mould from becoming out of control. If you’d like to know more about how you can combat your mould concern with Riteflo, contact us today