The most common colour of mould found in UK homes is black mould. Black mould will always start as little black dots, and if the right conditions are continually present, these tiny black dots grow until it covers the area in an unsightly, dirty looking, smelly legion of black mould.
In this article we’ll take a look at what black mould is, how it can affect your health, and how you can get rid of it quickly and easily.
Below is a handy table of contents. If you want to read a certain part of the article, click on the heading below, and it will take you directly to the place on the page that you wish to read. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Table of Contents
What Is Black Mould?
Black mould is a fungus. The most common form of black mould found in UK homes is Stachybotrys Chartarum, according to Wikipedia.
The conditions in which humans live naturally encourage this type of mould to grow and flourish, and will often be found in bathrooms, kitchens, near to windows and on walls and floors.
Structural problems also cause black mould. If you have rising damp, leaky windows or damaged guttering or pipe work in or around your home, then this will also cause mould problems.
Why Is Black Mould So Common?
Black mould is common in UK homes because our homes, especially in winter time, have ideal conditions that promotes and encourages the growth of mould.
Normally between the months of November to March, it’s cold, wet and windy in the United Kingdom. In these conditions, we have the central heating on with all windows and doors closed.
This is great for our personal comfort, but unfortunately, it’s also great for encouraging mould growth.
When windows and doors are closed, and our homes lack ventilation, humidity (the amount of water in the air) rises. When there is too much water in the air, it causes a problem, because when it then comes into contact with a cold surface (like a window or a wall), it then turns into moisture, giving mould a chance to grow.
You’ll notice mould in the winter more than you will in summer for these very reasons.
Is Black Mould Harmful?
For some people with weakened immune systems or other respiratory conditions such as asthma, black mould, as well as other types of mould when left untreated and present for sustained periods of time, can cause health problems according to the NHS.
Even for people without these problems, mould can often lead to sniffly or blocked noses, itchy eyes and itchy throats, so it’s essential that when you spot the first signs of mould growth, you deal with it immediately.
From my own personal experience, I suffered from this first hand. I would often wake up in the morning with a blocked or runny nose, and itchy eyes. I discovered mould growing on the windowsills, and took action to rectify the problem, as well as opening the bedroom window more frequently.
It solved the problem, and I now wake up without those problems.
Where Will I Find Black Mould In My Home?
The most common places for black mould to appear are on windows, window sills, walls next to windows, in the bathroom and in the kitchen.
However, black mould can form wherever conditions are suitable.
Suitable conditions for mould growth are:
- Moisture present (either through leaks/damp or in the air due to ventilation).
- A suitable temperature between 16c – 26c.
- Nutrients available.
Unfortunately, we can’t really do anything about number 3 on the list, but we can do something about number 1 and 2 on the list, and if we can remove these elements from your home, then we remove the mould problem in your home.
Early Intervention: How To Remove Black Mould
Whatever the colour of the mould in your home, it’s important to get on top of it right away.
Left untreated, mould can grow and spread rapidly.
Simply wiping away mould from an area with a wet cloth will remove the mould from the surface, but it is advised to get a specialist product that you can buy at supermarkets or on Amazon.
The best product to reomve black mould is Cilit Bang Black Mould Remover.
Cilit Bang Mould Remover |
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- Gets rid of mould fast (3 Pack) |
If it is present on a painted wall or wall tile, simply spray the Cilit Bang just above the mould so it runs down past the mould site.
If you need to spray directly onto the mould site, do ensure you are wearing a mask as a minimum, as spraying directly onto a mould site will kick up the mould particles which you could inhale – which in some people, causes runny noses, itchy throats and even breathing problems.
How To Stop Black Mould Returning
We’ve already looked at the three conditions needed for mould to grow.
To stop mould returning, you need to ensure that your home is:
- Adequately heated and not left cold for long periods of time.
- Adequately ventilated, to stop moisture in the air from hitting surfaces.
- Proper ventilation is used when cooking.
- Drying clothing indoors is kept to a minimum.
- Windows are left open when in the shower or bath.
- Windows and extractor fans are used when cooking.
There’s a number of other things you can actively do to stop black mould returning.
Monitoring humidity levels in your home is a good start, because high humidity levels (i.e moisture in the air) is a big factor in whther mould returns or not.
If you do have high humidity levels (recommended: keep humidity levels at 50% or less), then the next step is to open doors and windows more frequently.
You could also buy some cheap, manual dehumidifiers that absorb excess moisture from the air and keep it contained.
Links And Sources
Here’s all of the products listed on this page:
- Cilit Bang Mould Remover (Amazon.co.uk)
- Humidity Monitor (Amazon.co.uk)
- Manual Dehumidifiers (Amazon.co.uk)
Here’s a selection of articles from our website that you might find useful:
- Why Cooking Causes Mould & How To Stop It
- What Is Mould?
Here’s the sources used in this article:
Please feel free to leave any questions or comments in the section below.
Stay Safe. Stay Secure.
Tags: What Is Black Mould
