Mould on Walls
There are a myriad of causes for mould to grow on walls in a tropical climate. These range from high humidity, water leaks inside walls, lack of ventilation, knowing the correct AC modality to use, air flow, water left sitting in dehumidifiers, lack of AC chemical cleaning .. to name a few. Some situations are more difficult to address, for example a leaking pipe inside a wall cavity, and it will be well and truly set in before mould is discovered on the external wall.
Drying wet clothes inside the house, and steam from hot water increases the humidity in the home. If humidity stays high in your home for periods of time you more than likely will find mould starting to form on your walls.
The best way to decrease the humidity is through airflow… opening windows and doors and using fans. But, you do also need to know When to ventilate the room as you could be compounding your problem. For example.. AC units that run cold overnight can be a major cause of mould if not addressed correctly when the rising sun starts to heat up the room. If your bedroom is cold and you open the doors immediately on waking to bring in the fresh (warmer) air, condensation will develop on the walls.
This is the moisture mould is looking for to grow.
How to know if you have mould on your walls
Discolouration, bulging/bubbling paint and peeling plaster are a few of the easiest tell-tale signs that there could be moisture on or behind a wall. If you notice this on a wall in your home, take a closer look and you might see the beginnings of small amounts of mould growth.
The source of the moisture needs to be determined, is it perhaps coming from the AC unit above? A window sill above that is leaking? Or perhaps if just in that location, is mould growing hidden behind the wall, in the cavity? Seeing small spots of mould on a wall can sometimes be a sign that there is actually a larger mould colony on the other side which is slowly growing through.
Severe dampness is characterized by peeling plaster, visible damp patches on the wall and/or white chalky deposits. Also, if the walls appear to have a yellow tinge, a furry look, black speckles, sight discolouration of paint,
or small mites moving on the wall, these are all significant signs of water damage and mould growth.
Smelling a mouldy odour, suffering allergic reactions, or even just regularly sneezing and sniffles are also good indications there could be mould growth hidden behind a wall in your home. More information on the symptoms caused by mould allergies here
How to remove Mould from walls
Taking the following things into consideration will determine how to tackle mould on your walls:.. the location of mould, the type of material of the wall, the period of time it has been present, and the cause of the moisture.
If the wall is non-porous and your mould is in an isolated small location you can attempt to address this by using a specific mould killing solution (we use and recommend Concrobium Disinfectant, or Mould Control for larger jobs) applied with a microfibre cloth. Read our blog about the best product to use and what procedure to follow.
However if the wall is porous, such as unpainted drywall, then you will usually need to use more drastic measures to completely eradicate the mould problem. This is because mould grows inside the material, instead of just on the surface, and so you cannot remove it completely.
Now it is well and truly time to call in a Mouldgone professional, he will assess the situation, offer advice and write a detailed report with recommendations and a remediation plan.
How to get rid of Mould on your walls permanently
The first step in halting mould growth is removing any mould that is already present. At Mouldgone we use, recommend and sell both Concrobium Disinfectant and Concrobium® Mould Control. For most small household jobs we recommend you start to tackle the problem with Concrobium Disinfectant which will be the first step to a mould free space. It is safe to use around the kids or pets as it is FDA approved, non-toxic, and botanical derived. Use undiluted with a microfiber cloth and follow the instructions on the bottle. This disinfectant can be used to remove mould spores and is highly recommended as a day to day household disinfectant and cleaner.
Concrobium Mould Control is recommended for larger areas or more difficult jobs.. and is used by the team when professionally remediating a home. Mould Control is also a highly effective, chemical-free product that dries on surfaces to create an invisible antimicrobial shield to eliminate mould and fungal spores and prevent new mould growth. After treating with Mould Control, follow up by cleaning your area when required with Concrobium Disinfectant 11 as a regular preventative method.
Both Concrobium products are FDA approved, non-toxic, child and pet friendly and non-staining. If treating the inside of a wardrobe ensure not to re-hang clothes until the entire area is completely dry. Store your hanging items with some space
between each item when possible, this ensures air flow is maintained between the clothing and will help to prevent mould. It is important to keep the inside of your closet dry to prevent mould from forming in the first place.
At Mouldgone we provide a range of tried and tested biodegradable products to protect not only your clothes but also handbags, leather shoes and other valuables in cupboards or closet. Our Thirsty Camel closet hanger 1kg is the ultimate moisture hanger which is designed to be used hanging in your wardrobe. For moisture absorbency inside cupboards we recommend the Thirsty Camel 1kg Pouch for larger areas, or the Thirsty Camel 260gr Pouch for the inside of drawers, photo boxes, small spaces, shoe boxes etc..
Protect your Valuables from irreversible damage by placing the long-lasting biodegradable, Plastic Free pouches throughout your home. Be sure to check periodically (2 monthly) to replace if required. If left full of moisture in the wardrobe they will do Nothing to help in keeping mould at bay.