If stains suddenly appear on the walls in your own four walls, you need to take careful action. Because mold not only looks unsightly, it can also have health consequences. But how does mold actually arise and how can you remove it properly?
-An information from our cooperation partner Checked4you-
How mold occurs
Mold thrives particularly well in the cold season because it always grows where there is moisture and little air circulates. Just from cooking, showering, drying laundry and breathing, several liters of water enter the air every day. If the room is not ventilated properly, mold can easily form due to the moist air. After all, an apartment offers everything mold needs: mild temperatures, moisture and good nutrients. Hair dandruff and dust, for example. But moisture and mold damage can also occur through leaky pipes, roofs and windows.
Mold in the apartment is usually harmless at first if you are healthy. Nevertheless, it must be removed as it can also affect your health in the long term. It can even be really dangerous for people with asthma or severely weakened immune systems, for example as a result of chemotherapy.
Inform landlords
If it is a rented apartment, you must immediately report the mold damage to the landlord or landlady in writing. They should take care of repairing the damage. It also makes sense to e.g. B. to document it through photos. Sometimes this also leads to disputes if the renovation takes a long time, your living situation is affected or you have to find the cause of the mold. You can get advice from the NRW consumer advice center .
Eliminate mold
You can remove small, superficial mold damage yourself, but only if the building is not damaged and you are completely healthy. As a precaution, you should always wear protective gloves, a face mask with a fine dust filter and safety glasses.
Removing mold yourself only makes sense if you know the cause of the moisture damage and can eliminate it, otherwise the mold will keep coming back. The damage should not be more than half a square meter - if the damage is larger, a specialist company take care of it. Regardless of whether you do it yourself or a specialist company comes, moldy material must be completely removed! Even dead components can still have an allergy-triggering effect or smell musty.
Minor damage
If the infestation is small and only on the surface, a sponge and a normal household cleaner are sometimes enough, especially for smooth surfaces. Under no circumstances should you stir up dust or even spread it around the apartment when you remove mold. For porous surfaces, 70 to 80 percent ethyl alcohol (e.g. appropriately diluted denatured alcohol) is also suitable. Attention: Only use with the window wide open and keep away from sources of ignition, otherwise there is a risk of explosion!
Anti-mold agents are generally not necessary and do not completely remove the biomass of mold damage. On the contrary, some products can cause lifelong contact allergies. Since their active ingredients are usually found in house dust or in the air, you are also exposed to these substances.
Big damages
However, if the mold has already spread or invaded the plaster, not only the affected wallpaper often has to be removed and replaced, but also the underlying wall layers. Experts who know the dangers and the necessary protective measures during renovation and are familiar with the current regulations must be at work here
What can I do to prevent it from happening in the first place?
- Heating and ventilation – but correctly !
- Replace the room air several times a day
- In addition, open the windows wide after cooking, showering, bathing, etc
- In winter, ventilate several times for about five minutes with the window wide open - ideally with a draft; in summer the process may take longer
- In winter, heat after airing to quickly warm up cold walls
- Heat all rooms to at least 16 degrees Celsius
Still questions? The North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Center answers all questions about mold formation in the home quickly and easily. You can also make an appointment for individual advice in your area here
Source: Checked4you
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