Property Experts Reveal 40p Hack On How To Remove Mould In The Home 

With searches for how to ‘get rid of mould’ up 125% over the past year, it’s clear that households up and down the nation are looking for ways to deal with damp and mould. After a cold, long winter many houses have not been heated as much due to the rise in energy prices, leaving thousands of homeowners to deal with mould and damp issues as they head into the summer. 

With the warmer months being the perfect time to deal with issues caused by damp, the property experts at GetAgent have pulled together a guide on how to deal with it, should you find mould in your home.

Spotting mould in the home and dealing with it quickly is essential, whether a homeowner or renter, it’s vital it’s dealt with in a timely manner. Whilst some instances of damp can be preventable, it can also be the result of something more serious going on, such as leaks in the roof or issues with piping in the home. However, the earlier mould is spotted and dealt with, the better. For those that own their property, it’s important to look into what might be causing the damp, and finding a solution to deal with it. Renters should also report any instances of mould or damp to their landlord as soon as possible so that the property owner can advise on the next steps and resolve the issues.

For those not sure on how to spot damp or mould issues within the home, there are a few signs to look out for. These include a musty ‘damp’ smell, a change in the colour on the walls, excess water droplets on the windows or walls or dark patches of black mould on the walls or near the windows. 

While it might be tempting to see if the problem will go away itself during the summer months, it is important that the issue is dealt with. Not only can damp and mould have serious impacts on your property, but if left unattended, damp and mould can have serious impacts on your health too. Breathing difficulties, allergies and rashes are all common side effects from living with damp and mould, so it is important that issues are dealt with immediately. 

GetAgent’s top tips on how to deal with and eliminate mould

To help homeowners get rid of mould as quickly and efficiently as possible, the property experts from GetAgent have provided the following top tips to tackle issues within the home. 

1. Identify the source of moisture. Mould is caused by excess moisture, so before you try to repair the damage you need to locate the source of the damp, to ensure it doesn’t keep coming back. 
2. Increase ventilation. It’s important to dry out the area of damp as much as you can, so increasing the airflow in your home can help to reduce the amount of moisture building up. Not only can this help to reduce the amount of damp in the walls but it can also help to reduce any smells caused by the mould. Use the warmer summer months to your advantage and keep windows open to help get some fresh air into the home. 
3. Clean up the existing mould using household ingredients. Whilst hiring an expert to deal with the mould is the best way to tackle the issue, there are affordable ways to remove mould yourself at home. Using kitchen staples such as white distilled vinegar (which costs as little as 40p at supermarkets), mixed with water can help to disrupt the growth of a wide range of mould and fungi, thanks to its moderately strong acidic pH. You can either spray the vinegar onto the area neat, and then wash it off 30 minutes later or dilute the vinegar and spray onto the affected area and leave to soak in. 
4. Repair and redecorate. Once you’ve dealt with the mould, redecorating with an anti-mould paint can be a great way to help prevent it from coming back and helps to freshen up the area (especially if you have any house viewings coming up). 

Whilst dealing with damp might be a tedious task, it is essential in ensuring your property remains in a healthy condition, especially if you want to sell your home. Whilst it might not be illegal to sell your property with damp issues, it can hinder its selling potential, especially when it comes to achieving the asking price.

The experts from GetAgent estimate that properties with significant damp issues can see a reduction of around 10-15% in the selling price. As buyers will have to consider the work it will take to resolve the issues, they’ll likely be hesitant to pay the full price, as they’ll want to reserve some funds to fix the damp and repair the damage caused by mould and excess moisture. So dealing with the issues ahead of putting your property on the market will ensure a speedier and more successful sale. 

Colby Short, CEO and co-founder of GetAgent comments 

“After such a long winter, it’s not surprising to see searches for dealing with mould have increased so much as we head into the summer. Spotting damp and dealing with mould as early as possible is key to ensuring the problem doesn’t get out of hand and spreads too far throughout your home. Damp can also have a serious impact on your health, so the sooner you fix the problem the better. 

Whilst calling in the professionals is always the best way to fully eliminate damp issues, summer time is the best opportunity to tackle the problem yourself if you’re on a tight budget, by making the most of the dry weather which can help ventilate your home and dry out the damp. 

If you’re looking to sell your home, it is possible to do so with damp issues if you don’t want to deal with it before you put your home on the market. However, it can be off-putting to potential buyers, especially if the issue looks quite bad. So it’s best to try and address the issues before placing it up for sale, and having buyers attend any viewings. Many buyers will run surveys on the property which will raise any damp issues, allowing them to assess the situation ahead of exchanging contracts, so ultimately there’s no hiding away from the situation.”  

For more information on how to sell a house with damp, visit https://www.getagent.co.uk/blog/selling-tips/how-to-sell-a-house-with-damp 

ENDS