ARTICLE

How To Get Rid Of Mould Once And For All!

September 12, 2022 - 4 min read

Mould – that public enemy number one – thrives in damp and airless spaces and is always gunning for a good old Aussie storm (or rain bomb) so it can set up camp in your home. It’s not just extreme dampness that opens the door to this common household menace though. Given the right conditions, mould (and its cousin mildew) can sneak into your ceilings, walls, bathroom or laundry – especially your laundry. Fight back with our action plan for preventing and killing mould – and the appliances that can help end the mould war, forever.

Why Mould Is Bad

“This nasty fungus has no problem spreading to household fixtures, appliances and anything else that its spores can reproduce on,” says professional cleaner Delah Gomasi of Maid For You. “That’s why it’s extremely important once sighted, to get on top of your mould outbreak before it gets on top of you.”

“Not only does mould make your home unsightly and smell musty, it’s also a health hazard that can trigger respiratory illnesses and allergies,” warns Delah. “Left untreated, it can also damage your home and contents and reduce your resale value, so it’s well worth learning how to prevent mould in the first place.”

“Not only does mould make your home unsightly and smell musty, it’s also a health hazard that can trigger respiratory illnesses and allergies. Left untreated, it can also damage your home and reduce your resale value.” Delah Gomasi, professional cleaner

Identify Your Danger Zones

Is there no window in your bathroom? A ceiling stain from a persistent leak? Do you regularly put dampish clothes away in your wardrobe? Mould is a living organism that feeds on warm, moist environments so audit your home and be vigilant. Mould isn’t always easy to spot: it can be black, green, white, orange, grey or brown, depending on age.

“Unfortunately, if you already have visible mould in your home, there will be more that you can’t see,” says Delah. “That's why you need to identify the sources of moisture, and remove or control them so mould problems don't reoccur.”

Laser In On Your Laundry

Laundries by nature can be humid and poorly ventilated spaces and are often ground zero for mould invasions. But there’s a crafty new weapon to halt mould in its tracks: The heat pump dryer!

“Heat pump dryers are at the frontline of the battle against mould,” says Peter Simic, The Good Guys Buyer – Laundry. “This amazing new energy-efficient appliance doesn’t need outside ventilation and works by extracting the moisture out of your clothes and condensing it – so you don’t wind up with a really humid laundry and a potential mould threat.”

Shop Heat Pump Dryers For Every Size Household

Solt 7kg Heat Pump Dryer

Haier 9kg Heat Pump Dryer

Asko 10kg Logic Heat Pump Dryer

Minimise Moisture

“The best way to remove excess moisture and humidity from your home and prevent mould growth is with a dehumidifier,” says Delah Gomasi. “They literally suck moisture from the air around them.” Choose a small model for single rooms, or a larger capacity machine for open-plan areas or an apartment.

Shop Dehumidifiers

DeLonghi 16L Aria Dry Multi Dehumidifier

Breville The Smart Dry Plus Dehumidifier

DeLonghi 25L Aria Dry Multi Dehumidifier

Blitz Your Bathroom

Mould’s favourite power couple? Closed windows and hot showers. Delah advises leaving the exhaust fan running for 15 minutes after your shower to give steam time to clear the room and less chance for mould to colonise. “And make sure bath mats and towels aren’t left to sit damp after use,” she adds.

Also pay attention to keeping your exhaust fan clean. A clogged exhaust fan will expose your bathroom to mould. Consider replacing an inefficient fan with a powerful new model like the Schweigen Silent Multi-Purpose Exhaust Fan.

Boost Air Circulation

Is it often too cold – or too rainy – to crack the windows? Think about upgrading to an air conditioner with a ‘dry function’ to recirculate dehumidified air, without affecting your home’s temperature. Some split-system air conditioners also have built-in air purifiers and filters, which help to capture and break down mould.

Shop Mould-Busting Air-Conditioners

Dimplex 2.5kW Portable Air Conditioner with Dehumidifier

Olimpia Splendid Unico Pro Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner

Panasonic C8.0kW H9.0kW Reverse Cycle Split System and Air Purifier

How To Get Rid Of Mould?

Mould already made an appearance? Here are Delah’s expert mould-management tips:

“A lot of clients ask me, ‘Does vinegar kill mould? The answer is yes! White vinegar is the simplest home remedy for mould because this mild acid gets right to the source of the fungi, and actually kills spores, rather than just concealing them like bleach,” she says.

Got a more serious home invasion? “Advanced mould is best left to the professionals. They’ll be able to diagnose the cause and provide specialist remedies to make sure your mould outbreak is completely fixed,” advises Delah.

The final word on mould?

“Prevention is always better than cure, so your best mould strategy is to look at your home’s airflow, invest in a dehumidifier and locate and eliminate sources of excess moisture,” says Delah.

Show mould the door for good! Visit The Good Guys in store or online for expert advice and the best range of mould-busting appliances at the best prices.