What can I do? Everything in my home going mouldy

[AngeloMysterioso]

I live in a 2 bed flat on the ground floor of an Edwardian house. We’ve had problems with condensation for a while- we only have single glazed windows (double glazing going in this week after a 6 month wait) and we don’t have a tumble drier so until now, unless the weather has been nice enough to hang laundry outside we’ve had to dry it indoors.

We first noticed a problem when I realised that some of my shoes and boots which are kept on shoe shelves in the bottom of my wardrobe were going mouldy. Then it was the clothes which I keep in the drawers under my bed. I’m 6 months pregnant and DH and I have just checked the pram bassinet which was in its travel case under the changing table in DS’s room- mouldy. A cooler bag in the cupboard under the stairs- mouldy. Clothes of mine in a drawer in another wardrobe- mouldy. Stuff I’ve already washed once when it got mouldy has gone mouldy again.

I’m at my wits end. My shoes all stink because I’ve had to spray them with white vinegar. There’s piles of shoes and clean laundry everywhere because I’ve got the mould out of them but I’m too scared to put them away in case they go mouldy again (which they will, it’s already happened once). We’ve bought a bunch of those little disposable dehumidifiers that you put in drawers and on shelves which appear to have made no difference at all. I’ve bought a heated airer with a cover and plan to use that to dry clothes (with a small electric dehumidifier turned on underneath) but with things like the bassinet, I can’t put that in the washing machine so will have to find some other way of cleaning it.

What else can I do? We hoped that the new windows would help solve the problem but we spoke to our neighbour in the other downstairs flat the other day and it’s a big problem for her too, and she already has double glazing. I’m terrified that when I get out our next 2 me cot from under DS’s cir or the old baby clothes from his wardrobe that they’ll all be mouldy as well. Clothes can be washed, but how do I deal with the things that can’t? We can’t afford to replace everything.

Help!!

Yes but @MurielSpriggs the landlord could be checking/cleaning the gutters and ensuring the the flat has adequate ventilation/extraction in the kitchen and bathrooms for example.

@wedwewerpink

Why have you not answered the own/rent question *@AngeloMysterioso*? If you rent your landlord needs to be helping you out and if you own then you need to either get a tumble fryer SOMEHOW or get a home loan to carry out improvements to try prevent the moisture...have you checked out the guttering on the building? Are they leaking down the side of building and causing damp to build?Etc etc...

The OP referred to a previous owner doing dodgy wiring to the extractor which she has disconnected so I think they own.

Which means if the flat wasn't damp when they bought it, it's been caused by doing that and drying laundry in it.

I used to share a flat with a woman who didn't put the extractor fan on in her en suite because she didn't like the noise. She got mould in her room.

They're there for a reason.

Definitely investigate installing a wall-mounted PIV unit. This will make an enormous difference.

Of course, also continue to do everything you can to reduce the amount of moisture generated and remove moisture from the air. A tumble drier will be a big help, even if it has to go in your living room!

Not in the uk, so I realise it may not be a thing there, but nobody has mentioned home ventilation systems. There’s basically a fan in the loft which pushes air into the rooms, creating positive air pressure, pushing air outside, which completely gets rid of damp. Are they not a thing in the uk?

Is their condensation on your windows in the morning. If so, buy a window vac and vacuum the water off your windows in the morning. You should also use it in the bathroom after a bath or shower. Keep windows open as much as you can.

@wedwewerpink

Why have you not answered the own/rent question *@AngeloMysterioso*? If you rent your landlord needs to be helping you out and if you own then you need to either get a tumble fryer SOMEHOW or get a home loan to carry out improvements to try prevent the moisture...have you checked out the guttering on the building? Are they leaking down the side of building and causing damp to build?Etc etc...

Good luck with the landlord helping! The flat I lived in was one of ten, in what had previously been a children’s home. The whole place needed a new damp course and drainage and repair works. The management committee, which consisted of the the owners had got three quotes and were ready to proceed, but my LL wanted to use their own builders. The others said this was impossible and against their contract and that they’d have to provide their insurance, qualifications etc. My LL stalled so much, nothing was done by the time I moved out. The lady next door told me this, as her DD and SIL owned her flat.

@Clymene There’s three people- me, DH and DS. Soon to be 4 when baby comes in December. We’ve dried laundry in the flat ever since we moved in which was Dec 2019, only noticed stuff going mouldy last October.

At the moment we haven’t been able to open the windows much as they’re very old sash windows with all manner of insects living in the frames which all come inside when we open them. That issue at least will be solved when we get them replaced this week.

@cocktailclub we are in Kent funnily enough, but no outside walls we could put a dryer against without losing a kitchen cupboard, which I guess we could do but would mean cramming even more stuff into all the other cupboards…

You can vent a dryer hose out of a window. I do. If you own I would definitely look into PIV system. I know funds are tight at the moment but you would save on heating and damaged stuff.

Apologies- we own but it’s leasehold, and we’re not allowed to do anything that alters the appearance of the outside of the building.

All those saying keep the windows open, sometimes that increases the moisture in the house. We have an air purifier that socks fresh air from the loft but works better with the windows closed. Same with dehumidifiers, if you open the windows you end up removing the moisture that is coming into the house

If you rent then move.

I feel your pain! I live in an old house and have had this problem. Mould everywhere on clothes, suede boots.
So the best thing to get it off is dettol mould and mildew spray. It literally melts away.
I bought a dehumidifier, meaco the amount of water it pulls out of the room is actually unreal.
We got an extractor fan for the kitchen hob and that has helped. I now open the windows so much more I bought a window vac and use it for condensation in the morning.
My wardrobe was too tight to the wall and that created extra mould so make sure all furniture is pulled out a bit from the wall.
I know you haven't got room for a tumble dryer but I'd loose a cupboard space if you have to. If not put the dryer in a room with the humidifier and door closed.

Canesten hygiene laundry rinse. It is antibacterial and antifungal. It will kill the mould spores in your clothes and hopefully be preventative.

You also need to kill the mould spores in your home or it will just keep coming back and spreading. I use vinegar too but I am not convinced that it kills mould spores. So, research some cleaning products and clean walls, floor, furniture affected by mould.

Another vote for opening windows as much as you can.

I bought one of those heated airers (recommended on Mn!) and that started our mould issues. We live in a flat. We dumped the airer and bought a dehumidifyer instead. It helps to dry clothes alongside keeping moisture at bay. Yes to opening windows as much as possible. We have had to replace all our furniture over some years depending on finances. We replace rugs regularly too. Febreze is your friend.

We also have crappy windows, double glazed but wood! There isn't a decent seal around the windows anymore so damp leaks in at the bottom of the french windows and mould is caked around the panes. I clean it regularly but it keeps coming back. Our laminate flooring near the French windows has rotted. We have appealed to the freeholder (A WELL KNOWN HOUSING PROVIDER IN LONDON) over and over to get tbe windows replaced (it will be to OUR cost) but they keep stalling.

We have recently been redecorating. You can buy expensive anti-mould paint online. You can also buy a spray from BnQ to combat damp plaster patches. Just apply, leave to dry, and paint over it. I had a damp patch above where we used to keep the heated airer and it covered it up a treat.

As others have said, airing your flat is key.

We have a karcher vacuum which we use if there’s window condensation.

Dehumidifier is a Homemaxs 700ml dehumidifier.

I'm sorry, I didn't realise you had another child already living there. But please prioritise getting this sorted in that case even more.

Honestly I do feel for you. I had a leak under the floor in my slightly subterranean flat and I lost all my old photos and negatives and loads of clothes. The only thing that sorted it out was a massive bloody dehumidifier (like the size of half a washing machine) and keeping all the windows open.

Getting the extractor fan fixed will really help as a first solution.

Similar to prior posts, it’s clear your mould problems are self inflicted through condensation. You need to stop drying clothes and wet towels from showers indoors unless it’s in a tumble dryer. Look into AO.com as they offer interest free instalment plans to buy them. Open windows as much and as often as possible. Double glazing will make ventilation worse, not better. You need to get the extraction fan fixed, disabling it was a mistake. Always run your hood fan over your hob when cooking and also while a mopped kitchen floor is drying. The plastic dehumidifiers are really only to tell you if you have damp, they don’t actually fix it. So you need to buy a good dehumidifier or two and run them at least half the day.

I feel your pain, my wedding dress has mould stains on it from our previous (Edwardian!) house. I agree with all the suggestions of getting a decent dehumidifier. IIRC ours was £90 from Argos six years ago. You need to remove as much moisture from your house as possible and prevent it coming in. We live in a tiny flat and have a washer/dryer combo. It's great, they've come on tremendously in the last ten years! I'd seriously, seriously consider getting one, on 0% credit if need be. Get a new bathroom fan installed (can't imagine that'll be too costly and it'll make a huge difference). Buy a squeegee so you can move the water from the cubicle walls towards the plughole (will help enormously with lime scale as well). Consider getting the extractor fan in the kitchen replaced or at the very least clean it thoroughly.

I appreciate you said money is tight, but this is your health and your property getting damaged. If at all possible, try to implement some of the changes mentioned here, even if it means borrowing (but be smart about it and look for 0% offers). The dehumidifier would probably be the best cost-impact ratio at the moment for not a tremendous amount of money.

It sounds like you have a damp problem. Slugs like damp environments. We had them when we had a leak under the floorboards from the water supply pipe. Also check whether the ground level outside isn't higher than the damp proof course and that drains and gutters aren't blocked.

@Clymene I think you may be right about the bathroom extractor being the catalyst - that was cut off in April last year and I first found things going mouldy in October.

We also put the wardrobes in in April last year- they’re fixed to an internal wall for support so we can’t move them but there’s a radiator between them and the external wall. We could make a few holes in the backs and sides to let a bit more air flow and see if that helps.

If you're drying clothes indoors and not running extractor fans then it's no surprise that you have a damp problem.

You need your windows open (at least on the latch) pretty much constantly - we never ever close ours unless the wind is so bad it keeps us awake, which is maybe 4-5 nights a year at most.

Dehumidifiers work wonders too. We run one daily in the bathroom to dry towels and to get rid of the condensation from showers. All clothes are either tumbled or line dried - a heated airer (in my experience) will only make things worse as it does nothing to get rid of the moisture created by drying the clothes indoors.

And get your extractor fan fixed! They're not installed for fun - you really need to use them during and after showers or baths, as well as when you're doing things like boiling pasta or cooking on the hob.

I've owned a mouldy early victorian house, and currently rent a 1940’s mould prone house. The Victorian was a mix of damp and condensation, my current one just condensation.
Have you had the walls checked for damp? Does the external wall have a damp proof course? Is there anything externally that could cause damp internally eg a path/garden butting up against the external wall that is higher than it should be, cracked or blown rendering etc?
With the windows...sorry double glazing will not help. Might make it worse if they don't have vents on them!
Ventilation is important. We were told to open all the windows for 10 minutes a day even in winter. We got a powerful extractor fan installed in the bathroom, and really needed to install one in the kitchen too, but never got round to it. I have a good dehumidifier-it has to be suitable for dehumidifying your entire flat. Mine is suitable for 3 bed but i wished I'd gone one up. I've got a meaco- it is good and in winter it is on 24 hours a day just about! Having the dehumidifier on downstairs stops my tiny bedroom getting mouldy upstairs-the bed slats were getting mouldy before I started using it (not envy)
We have a tumble drier. In my previous house I had a socket put in a cupboard and put it there (condenser). If I have to dry clothes naturally indoors I stick the dehumidifier right next to it and put it on the laundry setting.
I also put damp catchers in cupboards and wardrobes (no wardrobes at the moment). Ecozone ones are quite good- our food tins we're going mouldy and they stopped that. Cracking down on the first spot of mould visible helps too. I used to call it “mould patrol”. I'd go round the house once a week with Dettol Mould spray in hand, squirting any sign of it. With furniture etc I had to make sure sofas etc weren't against the external walls and that all sides were hoovered/cleaned regularly. Items like shoes would need to be checked and wiped over/dusted every so often.

@Claraboochuffing

ventilation is key......I live in an old house..keeping my windows either open or locked open makes an enormous difference

Same. Oodles of condensation and damp corners until I started opening the windows a crack, especially overnight.

Your dehumidifier is far too small. You need one that extracts AT LEAST 20 litres a day!

Save your money on the double glazing- it will make it worse. You need to address the cause of the moisture which is your activities.

Double glazing will stop water consenting on the glass, but it will go to the new coolest spot. Likely behind furniture.

You need to ventilate and get a dryer.