Mould on ceiling and blood stained clothes

[happydutchmummy]

2 totally separate problems here

1. we had a very small water leak from the hot water tank which leaked into the kitchen. I've now noticed that several weeks later mould splodges have appeared on the ceiling, but they are in the hallway and also in the downstairs loo as well as the kitchen. (The main leak happened in the kitchen, but its close to the corner wall that connects with the hallway and loo). So what should I do to get rid of these? Will it be ok to just bleach the areas and then repaint the ceiling, or should I do something more drastic?

2. getting rid of blood stains on clothes? Dd cut her chin and needed stitches. My favourite dress is now covered in her shower of blood, and due to hectic few days I've only just fished it out of the laundry basket and I'm wondering if its ruined forever (I know I should have just checked it in the wash immediately, but just wasn't thinking about it properly). The dress is cotton, and bright blue and it is the only dress in the world that somehow magically hides all my wobbly bits.

Any hints or tips on either problem gratefully received!

1. Dettol mould and mildew spray is magic! You just spray it on and the mould just disappears. Before you redecorate you'll need to make sure the damp has gone completely and, if there's still a water mark, it would be a good idea to use some of that sealing paint (sorry, can't remember what it's called) first.

2. Try soaking the dress in cold water for a few hours before you do anything else, as hot will set the stain. Then pre-treat with some Vanish oxyaction before washing.

Good luck!

the mouild will be from the damp. How sure are you that the leak is completely fixed?

When you get a leak into the gap between floor and ceiling, it is very important to dry it out fast before decay can set in. Usually you lift several floorboards. This can usually be done under the bath and in the airing cupboard, where people are unlikely to fall through the hole. You also poke a skewer through the ceiling in several places so that any lying water can drain out. Persistent damp will make a ceiling fall down.

The visible ceiling will be much better-ventilated and drier than the void, so if the ceiling is mouldy then the void will be worse. Start ventilating it now.

If you have laminate or carpet, it will be damaged by the damp so don't quibble about lifting it.

If the floor is chipboard it will swell, weaken and crumble as it is not water resistant, so don't quibble about cutting out the wet part and later replacing it with WBP ply (which IS water resistant)

Putting the dress with the blood on it straight in a (hot) wash would ruin it for sure. Soak or handwash it in cold water, and it should all come out.