Removing mould

Just removing mould is not enough, you also need to stop the dampness that is causing it. If you don't, the problem will keep on happening. Please read and follow our advice on how to prevent damp.

You can easily remove the mould yourself if:

  • The area affected is less than one metre squared (3ft by 3ft)
  • The dampness was not caused by sewage or other contaminated water

If the area is larger, or the dampness was caused by contaminated water, you may want to get a specialist to remove the mould.

To remove mould yourself you will need:

  • Goggles
  • A mask that covers your nose and mouth (ask for a dust mask at a local hardware/DIY store if you are not sure)
  • Rubber gloves
  • A bucket
  • Washing up liquid (chemical disinfectants are not usually necessary)
  • A few cloths or rags
  • A plastic bag
  • A vacuum cleaner (fitted with a HEPA filter if possible)

How to remove mould from your home

  1. Fill up the bucket with warm, soapy water
  2. Close doors to prevent mould spores escaping to other parts of the house
  3. Open windows in the room(s) to let mould spores out
  4. Put on goggles, mask and gloves
  5. Wipe the affected surface clean with wet, soapy cloths, then put these into the plastic bag to throw away
  6. Wipe the surface dry with another cloth and put into the plastic bag to throw away
  7. Clean the rest of the affected room and surfaces with a different damp cloth and a vacuum cleaner to catch any mould spores that have escaped
  8. Leave the windows open and the door to the affected room closed for at least half an hour after you have finished cleaning
  9. Throw away the cloths that you used to clean the mould
  10. Wash the clothes that you were wearing during cleaning as soon as possible

Preventing mould coming back

Even after the mould has gone, you need to stop the damp that was causing it. Please follow our advice on preventing condensation, if this was the cause of the damp.

Page Last Updated: Wednesday, 19 April 2017 at 09:02 AM