Permanent removal of black mould

[Illstartexercisingtomorrow]

Well isn’t this just a fine start to Tuesday morning.

We have black mould growing on the ceilings/walls junction in a few bedrooms, plus back mould on windows.

Despite cleaning it numerous times it always returns and I’ve contacted several companies for a permanent solution now.

However each company gives me a totally different reason why there is mould and a totally different (expensive) solution as follows:

• i need to have an electric ventilator system fitted into the loft (no physical cleaning of the mould)
• They will clean and then fog the affected rooms - not the whole house
• They will fog the whole house otherwise spores will be floating around
• They will put ventilation bricks in the walls
• i should pay for a survey to find out the cause

Each one of these is a suggestion from a different company. No one seems to do all of it.

Has anyone had any experience with this issue and most importantly what is the actual most effective way to get rid of it and make sure it doesn’t come back?

Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation.
Just open the windows as much as you can.
We have had the same issues in our upstairs rooms and were offered a variety of expensive options but in the end it has significantly improved with more window opening. I also use those granule boxes that absorb moisture.

Dehumidifier, comparatively cheap to run and easier than structural changes. Wash off the mould with sugar soap and paint with mould resistant paint, the dehumidifier should keep the RH down so the mould doesn't come back. Did this a few months ago for mould mainly on the bathroom ceiling, the bathroom is ventilated but gets used a lot, so I think was never fully drying out. So far no sign of mould coming back. The dehumidifier is in the hall outside the bathroom and collects a remarkable amount of water!

Bedrooms could be ventilation needed but also get your windows looked at - years back I had this problem and it was caused by damp through sad windows , once they were replaced ( my gunking round wasn't enough ) it went away

( we also tried increased ventilation and dehumidifier first )

And yes I would use a strong mold killer to wash everything - check behind beds and wardrobes - and you can get anti mold paint just for belts and braces
And yes need to check if any source of damp eg leaking gutter

You need to ventilate your house - everyday - even in the depths of winter.

Thanks everyone.

Will get dehumidifiers and leave windows on latch.

So how do you balance between letting in cold vs keeping ventilated?

Getting that balance right is why it's important to try and track down what is happening

Old house - keep windows open 24*7 and dehumidifier running and despite the hearings best effort it was often cold and still needed to treat mold regularly
Then changed windows and only needed them open for half an hour a day

Dehumidifier and the cilit bang black mould spray got rid of ours

We had this problem in our bathroom and we cleaned it off and used outdoor masonry paint instead of bathroom paint and 18months later it hasn't come back.... might be worth a try. We cover it loads of times previously and this was the only thing that kept it away.

1. Clean with a mould cleaner product

1. Repaint with an anti-mould paint (this is the best, it's specialist stuff - https://www.acslimited.co.uk/anti-mould-emulsion-paint they also sell additive to put in your own paint and mould cleaning products)

1. Fit a loft mounted PIV unit to ensure adequate ventilation/air exchange so the mould doesn't come back. .

You need a combined approach otherwise either the existing mould will still be there, or you've still got the same conditions that will cause it to happen again.

From where you've said it is, it's almost certainly to do with high indoor humidity levels, but there is always a chance there's a leaky gutter or penetrating damp causing the wall to be wet (and cold) so if the above doesn't work then get a survey

Clean it with vinegar diluted in water. It works better than any other solution.

you need a humidity and temperature monitor and then to ventilate and dehumidify.

check your gutters, roof and any pipes to make sure the walls and ceiling aren’t staying wet because they have failed.

if you live in a pre ww2 house you might find a book by Peter ward called ‘the warm dry home’ valuable. Lots of info on his website too.

Thanks everyone
@Grumblebees That’s really useful - companies are charging £1000+ for
essentially the same thing.

Since it's on the window-to-ceiling junctions in multiple rooms, this is almost certainly condensation, not a leak.

• Ignore the "fogging" guys: That is just an expensive clean. The mould will grow back in weeks because the moisture is still there.
• The "Loft Ventilator" (PIV) is the real fix: The company suggesting the unit in the loft is right. It pushes fresh air in and forces the damp, stale air out. It cures the cause, not just the symptom.

If I were you, I would skip the expensive surveys and look at The Damp Store. They specialize in the actual ventilation equipment (like those loft units) and proper treatments to stop it coming back, rather than just cleaning services.