Are your clothes and soft furnishings smelling a bit musty after a long summer, or you’re coughing and struggling with allergies? This could mean that there are mould in your home. Mould is a type of fungi that are naturally occurring organisms playing a major role in the earth’s ecosystem. Mould grows best in damp and poorly ventilated areas, and reproduces by making spores.
The heat and humidity create damp and mould. And mould brings with it a host of problems. Mould can enter your home through windows, vents, doorways and air-conditioning systems and you might not even have noticed it because mould spores are tiny – half the width of a human hair. However, touching or breathing in mould spores can cause sneezing, a runny nose, red eyes and skin rashes.
Mould can also cause asthma attacks, affect your immune system, and even cause depression and anxiety.
Moulds are present virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors and can grow in and on materials such as food, furniture, fabrics, carpets, walls, paper, timber and plumbing.
Having mould in your home is a nightmare, not only does it smell and look unpleasant in the house, it also affects your health along with your family. However, according to Solenco South Africa it does not have to be a nightmare having mould in the home as there are ways to prevent mould or even banish it forever.
Trevor Brewer, Director of Solenco South Africa, explains that dehumidifiers remove moisture and humidity from the air, which results in less condensation on windows and floors. They also help to prevent the build-up of mould, ‘bubbly’ paint and musty smells.
While a standard air conditioner cools and dehumidifies the air by removing excess moisture, it switches off after it has reached the targeted temperature, and therefore cannot control humidity effectively. Using your dehumidifier in conjunction with an air conditioner is therefore most effective at reducing humidity.
“For those worried about energy consumption,” says Brewer, “Solenco’s range of dehumidifiers are energy-efficient, consuming much less energy than an air conditioning system, thus contributing to lower living costs – and with our electricity at a premium and our inflation rate on the up, this is an important factor to consider. Our dehumidifiers also have different price points, bringing a solution within range of everyone’s budget.”
Trevor adds that Solenco’s range of dehumidifiers offer options for all interior areas, from small bedrooms all the way up to a six-bedroom single story house, as well as light commercial applications.
He also advises that you check your bathroom and kitchen first if you suspect that your home is damp and mouldy:
“Check around leaking taps and under sinks. Mould loves to grow behind appliances such as the dishwasher or fridge, in cupboards, and in other areas where condensation and humidity are high.”
Here are tips to prevent or banish it forever according Solenco South Africa:
- Once a year, seal your tile grouting with a standard sealer to stop moisture from leaking through into the walls.
- After you’ve had a bath or shower, use a squeegee to a remove the excess water from the bathroom walls. This will help cut down the amount of extra moisture in your bathroom by as much as three quarters.
- If you have mould on soft furnishings or clothing, they should be shampooed and dried outside in a sunny spot or professionally dry cleaned.
- For damp in walls, use a product like Plascon Dampseal.
- Ensure that fresh air can flow freely through your home by opening windows to create cross-draughts.
- Invest in a quality dehumidifier – dehumidifiers can assist in decreasing the level of moisture in the atmosphere and preventing the growth of mould.
Also see: Reasons why you sweat during your sleep
