Dealing with damp and mould

Moisture in your home is the result of everyday activities. Even just breathing adds moisture.

It’s amazing but true that just one person asleep over one night can add half a pint of water to the air in the room and twice this amount when active during the day.

If you cause less moisture, you will reduce condensation in your home.

What can you do?

• Where possible, dry your clothes outside (even on cold days - if the ground looks dry, your clothes will dry too!)
• If drying clothes inside, hang it in the bathroom with the door closed and the window open - and if you have one, turn your extractor fan on.
• If you use a tumble dryer, make sure it is vented to carry moisture outside.
• Cook with the pan lids on. Use the minimum amount of water to cook vegetables and turn down the heat once the water has boiled.
• When filling a bath, run the cold water first, then top up with hot water. This simple rule reduces steam by up to 90% - which prevents condensation.
• Never use bottled gas heaters. They are a safety risk and produce excessive moisture so using them in your home is against your tenancy agreement.
• Never use a gas cooker to heat your kitchen. 
• If you use sterilising equipment (for baby bottles and other items) make sure a window is open.

Ventilation (air flow) reduces condensation by removing moist air and replacing it with drier air from outside.

What can you do?

• Reduce overnight condensation by ‘cross-ventilating’. This means opening windows as far as the first notch on the handle, on opposite sides of your home (or upstairs and downstairs). Do this for at least 30 minutes each day to allow dry air through.
• If you have modern windows, lock them in the latch position to allow air through a small gap.
• Place all furniture away from walls, including beds, so air can move freely.
• Leave a gap between the curtains and the wall during the day.
• Open room doors throughout your home.

Remember! If you go out, make sure all the windows are shut and secured.

In the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom:

• Ventilate the kitchen when cooking, washing up or washing clothes by hand. A window slightly open is as good as one that is wide open.
• If you have a cooker extractor hood or extractor fan, turn it on whilst cooking.
• Keep your kitchen and bathroom doors closed to prevent moisture escaping into the rest of your home.
• When you’ve finished in the kitchen or bathroom, open the window for about 20 minutes.
• Leave your bedroom window slightly open at night - unless the window can be easily reached by an intruder.
• If your windows have trickle vents, make sure the vents are open and that they are not blocked up.

In all our rented homes, we will make sure you are able to ventilate your property and that you have a heating system which, if properly used, will reduce condensation.

Warm air hangs on to moisture. Cooler air deposits drops of moisture. Think of air like a sponge: the warmer it is, the more moisture is held in it.

If you heat one room to a high level and leave other rooms cold, condensation is likely to be much worse in the unheated rooms. That's why we recommend keeping radiators on low in rooms not in use when you have your heating on. 

If you’re struggling to heat you're home due to rising utility costs, see if your entitled to any money support at: thrivehomes.org.uk/money-help

You can also find out more about how to heat your home with as little energy as possible at: thrivehomes.org.uk/heating-guides

Removing moisture will prevent mould growth.

• Dry your windows and windowsills every morning.
• Wipe dry all surfaces in your kitchen and bathroom that are wet.

Fight mould

Wipe walls and windows or spray them with a fungicidal wash (available at your local supermarket or DIY store). Always read the manufacturer's instructions as some require you to leave the treatment on for a period of time before wiping it off.