CONDENSATION and mould can cause serious health issues but there are ways of keeping them both at bay.
Condensation occurs when warm air hits a cooler surface and creates moisture.
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Left alone, it can create mould and mildew which is both a pain to get rid of and can cause havoc with your health including worsening asthma, eczema and allergies.
Luckily, there are a number of ways you can tackle both condensation and mould and save yourself issues further down the line.
The Sun spoke to Nicholas Donnithorne, UK technical services manager at damp proof company Peter Cox, Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch and Natalie Hitchins, home products and services editor from Which?, who revealed their top tips for keeping them both in check.
How to get rid of condensation
Keep your home well-ventilated
The weather might be getting hotter, but you’ll likely still be having a warm shower from time to time.
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To avoid steam clinging to your bathroom walls, make sure you open any windows and turn on any extractor fans, Nicholas said.
Keep the bathroom door closed after you’ve showered as well, to stop any excess steam escaping into the rest of the house.
And, Nicholas added: “Use the trickle vents on windows or keep a quarter light open for background ventilation.”
Trickle vents are small vents that can be added to the tops of windows and allow a constant stream of air in and out.
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Dry clothes outside
Hanging your pants and socks up inside can create condensation as the moisture from them escapes into the air.
Instead, hang your clothes up outside, even if there’s a slight chance of rain, Nicholas said.
He added: “Alternatively, dry clothes using a tumble dryer or in a closed room with the window open.”
Try using tech
If you’ve done everything you can to avoid excess moisture escaping into the air, try using tech to get rid of it.
Ben, from Uswitch, said: “You may want to consider getting a dehumidifier if you regularly dry your clothes inside.
“They remove excess water from the air, helping to combat condensation and prevent mould growth.”
You don’t have to spend a bomb on them either.
You can buy moisture absorbing tabs too, and they cost as little as £6 from Screwfix.
They work by absorbing any excess moisture, neutralising bad smells and can last for months.
How to get rid of mould
Use household items
If it’s too late, and any condensation has had a chance to flourish and turn into mould, you can start removing it for nothing.
Natalie, from Which?, said: “A few drops of washing up liquid mixed with warm water can work on smaller areas of mould on hard surfaces like walls or floors.
“Use a sponge, cloth, or brush to work the soapy solution in small circular motions over the mould.
“If you’re trying to remove particularly stubborn mould, try a 1:1 solution of white vinegar and warm water and pour it into a spray bottle to target the affected area.”
If you’ve got a bit more in your budget, you can try buying mould or mildew remover from your nearest supermarket or retailer.
You can get it as cheap as £1.20 from B&M or £2.50 from Dunelm, at the time of writing.
Call in the professionals
You can usually treat smaller patches of mould yourself, but if the problem has gotten out of hand, you might need to call someone in.
Natalie said: “If you find new mould growing quickly in other areas of your home, or the affected area becomes too large to handle, it may be time to get professional help.”
Checkatrade says it costs £25-£35 per hour or £200-£400 per room to call someone in for mould removal.
Meanwhile if you want a specialist to come and take a look to inspect for any mould, that will cost you around £50-£300.
How else to tackle condensation and mould
Making sure your home is insulated is one major step you can take towards battling condensation and mould in your home.
You might be able to get it for free too via the Great British Insulation Scheme.
The scheme offers free or cheap insulation, including cavity wall, loft and underfloor insulation, to households in specific council tax bands.
To qualify, you must live in a home between A-D, if you live in England, and A-E if you are based in Scotland or Wales.
Your home must also have an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of D or below.
An EPC tells you how energy-efficient a property is, with A being very efficient and G being inefficient.
How can I remove mould if it’s already there?
THERE are several easy and low-cost ways to remove mould from your home.
Bleach is usually all you need if you neither own nor want to buy specialised cleaning sprays and paints.
If using bleach, mix four parts of water with one part of bleach.
You’ll also need a stiff brush, a bucket of water with cloth, and another cloth for drying.
Apply your solution to the affected areas, including a few inches around the visible mould to kill any mould not yet visible.
Scrub it firmly with a strong brush.
Wait as long as possible or until the mould disappears from sight and rinse the treated areas thoroughly.
Pat dry the area and allow it to completely dry before moving any furniture or placing items in front of it.
You can check your eligibility by visiting https://www.gov.uk/apply-great-british-insulation-scheme.
Resealing window edges with silicone sealant is another good way of keeping condensation in check.
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It also prevents moisture from reaching the areas behind the adhesive, where mould can thrive.
You can buy silicone sealant for as little as £5.69 from retailers such as Screwfix.
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