Immediate Steps to Reduce Mould Health Risks in Your Home

You Don't Need to Wait for a Professional to Start Protecting Your Health

If you've spotted mould in your home or can smell that distinctive musty, damp odour, there are immediate steps you can take to reduce your exposure while you arrange a proper assessment and remediation.

1. Ventilate the Affected Area

Open windows where possible to improve airflow and reduce humidity. If you have extractor fans in the kitchen or bathroom, ensure they're switched on during and for at least 15-20 minutes after cooking or showering. Cross-ventilation — opening windows on opposite sides of the property — is particularly effective at flushing out moist air.

2. Clean Visible Mould from Hard Surfaces

For small areas of surface mould on non-porous surfaces (tiles, glass, painted walls), you can clean it with a damp cloth using a mild detergent or a dilute bleach solution. Avoid dry brushing, as this can release spores into the air. Always wear rubber gloves and consider a face mask. Dispose of cleaning cloths after use.

Important: cleaning surface mould does not address the underlying moisture problem. The mould will return unless the root cause is resolved.

3. Reduce Indoor Moisture

Every person in your household adds approximately one litre of moisture to the air each day through breathing alone. On top of that, cooking, showering, and drying laundry can add several more litres daily. To manage this, keep lids on pots when cooking, squeegee shower screens after use, dry clothes outdoors where possible, and avoid blocking air vents or trickle vents on windows.

4. Manage Temperature

Cold surfaces attract condensation. Try to maintain a consistent low-level of heating throughout the property rather than allowing it to go completely cold. This keeps surface temperatures above the dew point and reduces the moisture available for mould growth.

5. Move Furniture Away from External Walls

Heavy furniture placed against exterior walls creates pockets of stagnant, cold air — ideal conditions for mould. Leaving a gap of at least 10cm between furniture and external walls allows air to circulate and reduces condensation on those surfaces.

6. Document Everything

If you're a tenant, photographing mould with timestamps, keeping records of when you reported the issue to your landlord, and noting any health symptoms you or your family experience is crucial. Under Awaab's Law — which came into force on 27 October 2025 — social landlords must investigate reported damp and mould hazards within strict timeframes and take action to make the property safe.

7. Seek Medical Advice If Needed

If you or your family are experiencing persistent respiratory symptoms — coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or worsening asthma — speak to your GP. Let them know about the mould in your home, as this context is important for proper diagnosis and treatment.

When to Call In the Experts

If mould covers an area larger than about one square metre, if it returns after cleaning, if it's in hard-to-reach locations, or if anyone in the household has health conditions that make them vulnerable, it's time for a professional assessment. Mould UK provides comprehensive, lab-verified mould surveys that identify species, assess severity and recommend targeted remediation.

Sources

GOV.UK — Awaab's Law: Guidance for Tenants

NHS — Damp and Mould

BSRIA TG 26/2024 — Mould in Buildings (Efthymiopoulos & Aktas, UCL)