IF you are looking for an effective way of keeping mould at bay in your home there are seven plants that could help.
Retailers such as Ikea, B&Q and Amazon all stock useful additions for your home, and you won’t have to spend a fortune.
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If you are sick of spending your cash on sprays and other gadgets to combat the mould in your home, then you might want to opt for a plant.
Some plants work similarly to a dehumidifier, but they have the added bonus of being completely free to run.
You don’t necessarily have to be green-fingered either as some of them do not need to be watered often, due to the moisture they absorb.
Mould experts at Advanced Damp have recommended seven plants that are great at absorbing toxins in the air as well as suppressing spores that can lead to mould.
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We searched for some of these plants online and found variations in Ikea, B&Q and Amazon.
However, shop around at supermarkets and garden centres too as when it comes to living plants, you will probably get a wider selection in-store.
Here are the seven plants that could help you combat mould in the home.
Peace Lilies
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The Peace Lily is a great option for dehumidifying damp spaces as it thrives out of the sunlight.
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Peace Lillies love humid conditions and can even grow under fluro lights, according to experts.
When kept in low light lilies will produce more leaves and look like a traditional foliage plant, whereas when kept in sunlight, lilies will flower more often.
These plants can be a great option for people with allergies or asthma, but the plant with the white flowers can also be toxic to pets so it is recommended that it is kept out of reach.
If you want to get your hands on a Peace Lily you can pick one up from DIY chain B&Q for £3.
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Palms
Palms also absorb moisture through their leaves and are a great choice to help control humidity and keep mould at bay.
Palm varieties like areca palms, bamboo palms, the lady palm, dwarf date palm and reed palm are the best for sucking up condensation.
Experts recommend for ideal health, these plants should be kept lightly moist but not waterlogged and positioned in areas with indirect sunlight.
When we checked online we spotted some Palms starting from £30 on specialist garden websites.
Spider plants
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This lovely plant is a creeping vine with pointed leaves that is excellent at purifying the air of mould and mildew.
According to experts, it’s a great plant to have in your home because it not only removes harmful pollutants but is also easy to care for.
The other good news about this plant is that it’s pet-friendly, so animal lovers need not worry about keeping it out of the way of their furry friend.
Amazon has a wide selection of spider plants and we found one complete with pot for £12.99.
Snake plants
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This succulent plant keeps excess water in its thick leaves and is very hardy and adaptable.
Snake plants are great starting plants for beginners as they are pretty low maintenance.
You only need to water the plant every week or two and it will survive even if you forget a couple of times.
The snake plant grows best in bright light and warm temperatures and comes in leaf shapes and colours.
You can get miniature snake plants in Ikea for just £5.
Boston ferns
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Boston ferns are popular houseplants known for their lush, feathery fronds but are also great at reducing mould spores and toxins through their leaves.
When caring for a Boston fern, a good rule of thumb is to check the soil moisture regularly and water when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Experts also recommend misting the plant occasionally, as this can help increase the humidity around it and keep its fronds looking fresh and vibrant.
B&Q also had some Boston Ferns on its website starting from £14.99.
English ivy
The English ivy can remove airborne mould from humid spaces and other nasties too.
It’s a great choice for tiny spaces and cramped bathrooms.
This plant thrives in bright, indirect light and somewhere with airflow and needs regular watering.
Hanging baskets are ideal for this plant – and they serve another purpose too – as it’s toxic to pets.
It’s worth noting that these plants are vines and can extend up to 50 meters in length, with growth booming particularly in the third year.
We searched online and found some potted Ivy plants for £4 online with Ikea.
Orchids
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If you’re aiming to combat mould and condensation but also want something pretty to look at, orchids are the way to go.
In addition to enhancing your home decor, they also contribute to lowering humidity levels indoors.
These plants derive all their nutrients and moisture from the surrounding air.
To thrive, orchids need regular watering and misting, but experts recommend doing so with rainwater or boiled water rather than tap water.
Marks and Spencer has some orchids online for £20.
Other mould solutions
You can purchase mould sprays that are quite effective at stopping mould in its tracks.
B&M has one called Killrock mould spray that costs just £1.50.
One user raved about the product on Facebook saying it was “brilliant” and lots of other fans agreed.
Another cheap hack for getting rid of mould is simply washing up liquid.
A few drops of washing-up liquid mixed with warm water can work well when removing smaller areas of mould on hard surfaces like walls or floors.
One cleaning expert also recommends white vinegar as the key to stopping mould from coming back.
Cleaning expert Laura Harnett said: “White vinegar has antifungal and antibacterial properties and will remove mould in an eco-friendly and cost-effective way.”
She added that it can kill up to 82% of mould types including black mould on porous and non-porous surfaces.
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If you have a bit more cash to splash you might want to consider buying a dehumidifier.
We have put 17 of the best dehumidifiers to the test.
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
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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
