Three-step guide to ‘kill mould’ in your home so it will ‘resist growing back’

As mould can have a huge impact on property value, it’s no surprise then that mould can cause concern for many, with 47 percent of homeowners in the UK worried that mould and damp will impact their ability to sell their property.

It was also found that 53 percent of the population is afraid about the damage it will cause to the property too, according to experts at Dryzone.

Their worries are justified as mould is a common household problem, and it becomes more difficult to deal with the longer it is left.

But, while often thought to be a winter issue, mould spores, much like the summer breeze, “circulate more vigorously during the warmer months”, claimed Dr Jonathan Kirby, a mould expert from Dryzone. 

Indeed, more than a quarter of Britons report that they’re currently struggling with mould outbreaks, finding it mostly in their bathrooms, bedrooms, living spaces and kitchens.

Unbeknownst to many, these stealthy spores can discreetly infiltrate homes, settling on walls and biding their time until ideal conditions arise. 

Then as the weather gets cooler, a seemingly sudden and visible black mould predicament may manifest.

For those worried about the cost of paying professionals to get rid of recurring mould, households needn’t as there are ways to tackle the issue yourself.

Jonathan said: “While you may find that black mould wipes away quite easily with a wet cloth and a supermarket bleach can remove the stain, it always returns within a week or two. This is because you are treating the stain and not the fungus. 

“This approach actually makes the problem worse, the invisible tendrils of the black mould actually feed on the moisture left from the bleach product, allowing it to grow back.”

In order to get rid of recurring black mould on walls and ceilings, the expert recommends this three-step process:

1. Wash the area

Start with a bleach spray to clear the stain, wash vigorously until the stain is clearly gone, and then leave it to dry overnight.

2. Kill mould with an anti-fungal wash

Jonathan suggested that households apply an anti-fungal wash, otherwise known as a biocidal treatment.

He said: “The biocidal formulation gets to the embedded hyphae of the spores and kills the mould where traditional cleaners would just eliminate the surface mould.”

3. Paint with mould-resistant paint

Once the mould has gone, households should repaint the wall with mould-resistant paint to ensure the surface “doesn’t harbour mould growth again”. 

Households don’t need to use a specific paint and change the whole look of their room. 

Just mix an anti-mould additive into all types of paint and the mould will “resist growing back” for at least three years.