You're now more likely to have mould than a 50-inch TV at home – five cheap ways to get rid of it NOW
Six million homes have problems with mould, while an estimated five million homes have TVs with screens larger than 50 inches, according to new analysis of the Centre for Ageing Better.
1
Mould can wreak havoc on your home and health including worsening asthma, eczema and allergies, and in the most severe cases, death.
The charity's report, which looked at owned homes in England, said poor housing quality hits older people the hardest, with 31% of those over 55 living in unsafe, non-decent homes.
This is defined as one with a hazard or immediate threat to a person's health, not in a reasonable state of repair, without modern facilities or not effectively insulated or heated.
There's a postcode lottery of housing quality across the country, with older homeowners in the East Midlands twice as likely (21%) to live in a non-decent home than those in London (10%).
The highest number of non-decent homes owned by someone aged 55 and over is in the North West (212,000), followed by the South West (195,000), the South East (184,000), the East Midlands (176,000) and Yorkshire and the Humber (162,000).
Meanwhile, older homeowners in the poorest 20% of the income distribution are twice as likely to live in a non-decent home as those in the richest 20%.
Dr Carole Easton OBE, chief executive at the Centre for Ageing Better, said: 'Too many people are living in homes that have mould, or are damp and cold, putting their health and wellbeing at risk.
'This risk is intensified for older residents who are more vulnerable to the health consequences of living in damp, cold, and hazardous homes which can worsen conditions like asthma, heart conditions, and falls in the home, and lead to life-changing or life-threatening repercussions."
How the quality of homes varies across the UK
BELOW is the percentage of owned homes with a household head aged 55 and over that are non-decent.
North East - 12%
North West - 18%
Yorkshire and the Humber - 18%
West Midlands - 14%
East Midlands - 21%
London - 10%
East of England - 12%
South West - 18%
South East - 12%
How to get rid of condensation
Condensation occurs when warm air hits a cooler surface and creates moisture.
Left alone, it can create mould and mildew.
To tackle mould, you want to prevent condensation from occurring in the first place.
Keep your home well-ventilated
We may be in the middle of summer, but you'll likely still be having a warm shower from time to time.
To avoid steam clinging to your bathroom walls, make sure you open any windows and turn on any extractor fans.
Keep the bathroom door closed after you've showered as well, to stop any excess steam escaping into the rest of the house.
You can use the trickle vents on windows or keep a quarter light open for background ventilation.
Trickle vents are small vents that can be added to the top of windows and allow a constant stream of air in and out.
Dry clothes outside
Hanging your wet laundry inside can create condensation as the moisture from them escapes into the air.
Instead, hang your clothes up outside, even if there's a slight chance of rain.
Alternatively, you can use a closed room with the window open.
Try using tech
If you've done everything you can to avoid excess moisture escaping into the air, try using tech such as a dehumidifier to get rid of it.
They remove excess water from the air, helping to combat condensation and prevent mould growth.
You don't have to spend a fortune on them either, with Dunelm selling a one litre option for just £25.
You can buy moisture absorbing tabs too, and they cost as little as £6.99 for a two-pack from Screwfix.
They work by absorbing any excess moisture, neutralising bad smells and can last for months.
How to get rid of mould
Use household items
If it's too late, and any condensation has had a chance to flourish and turn into mould, you can start removing it for nothing.
Experts say a few drops of washing up liquid mixed with warm water can work on smaller areas of mould on hard surfaces like walls or floors.
Simply use a sponge, cloth, or brush to work the soapy solution in small circular motions over the mould.
If you're trying to remove particularly stubborn mould, try a 1:1 solution of white vinegar and warm water and pour it into a spray bottle to target the affected area.
If you've got a bit more in your budget, you can try a mould or mildew remover spray from your nearest supermarket or retailer.
You can get it as cheap as £1.24 at Asda or £1.49 from Wilko, at the time of writing.
Call in the professionals
You can usually treat smaller patches of mould yourself, but if the problem has gotten out of hand, you might need to call someone in.
Checkatrade says it costs £25-£35 per hour or £200-£400 per room to call someone in for mould removal.
Meanwhile, if you want a specialist to come and take a look to inspect for any mould, that will cost you around £50-£300.
How can I remove mould if it's already there?
THERE are several easy and low-cost ways to remove mould from your home.
Bleach is usually all you need if you neither own nor want to buy specialised cleaning sprays and paints.
If using bleach, mix four parts of water with one part of bleach.
You'll also need a stiff brush, a bucket of water with cloth, and another cloth for drying.
Apply your solution to the affected areas, including a few inches around the visible mould to kill any mould not yet visible.
Scrub it firmly with a strong brush.
Wait as long as possible or until the mould disappears from sight and rinse the treated areas thoroughly.
Pat dry the area and allow it to completely dry before moving any furniture or placing items in front of it.
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YOUR home is more likely to have issues with mould, condensation or damp than to have a large screen TV. Six million homes have problems with mould, while an estimated five million homes have TVs with screens larger than 50 inches, according to new analysis of the Centre for Ageing Better. 1 Mould can wreak havoc on your home and health including worsening asthma, eczema and allergies, and in the most severe cases, death. The charity's report, which looked at owned homes in England, said poor housing quality hits older people the hardest, with 31% of those over 55 living in unsafe, non-decent homes. This is defined as one with a hazard or immediate threat to a person's health, not in a reasonable state of repair, without modern facilities or not effectively insulated or heated. There's a postcode lottery of housing quality across the country, with older homeowners in the East Midlands twice as likely (21%) to live in a non-decent home than those in London (10%). 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How the quality of homes varies across the UK BELOW is the percentage of owned homes with a household head aged 55 and over that are non-decent. North East - 12% North West - 18% Yorkshire and the Humber - 18% West Midlands - 14% East Midlands - 21% London - 10% East of England - 12% South West - 18% South East - 12% How to get rid of condensation Condensation occurs when warm air hits a cooler surface and creates moisture. Left alone, it can create mould and mildew. To tackle mould, you want to prevent condensation from occurring in the first place. Keep your home well-ventilated We may be in the middle of summer, but you'll likely still be having a warm shower from time to time. To avoid steam clinging to your bathroom walls, make sure you open any windows and turn on any extractor fans. Keep the bathroom door closed after you've showered as well, to stop any excess steam escaping into the rest of the house. You can use the trickle vents on windows or keep a quarter light open for background ventilation. Trickle vents are small vents that can be added to the top of windows and allow a constant stream of air in and out. Dry clothes outside Hanging your wet laundry inside can create condensation as the moisture from them escapes into the air. Instead, hang your clothes up outside, even if there's a slight chance of rain. Alternatively, you can use a closed room with the window open. Try using tech If you've done everything you can to avoid excess moisture escaping into the air, try using tech such as a dehumidifier to get rid of it. They remove excess water from the air, helping to combat condensation and prevent mould growth. You don't have to spend a fortune on them either, with Dunelm selling a one litre option for just £25. You can buy moisture absorbing tabs too, and they cost as little as £6.99 for a two-pack from Screwfix. They work by absorbing any excess moisture, neutralising bad smells and can last for months. How to get rid of mould Use household items If it's too late, and any condensation has had a chance to flourish and turn into mould, you can start removing it for nothing. Experts say a few drops of washing up liquid mixed with warm water can work on smaller areas of mould on hard surfaces like walls or floors. Simply use a sponge, cloth, or brush to work the soapy solution in small circular motions over the mould. If you're trying to remove particularly stubborn mould, try a 1:1 solution of white vinegar and warm water and pour it into a spray bottle to target the affected area. If you've got a bit more in your budget, you can try a mould or mildew remover spray from your nearest supermarket or retailer. You can get it as cheap as £1.24 at Asda or £1.49 from Wilko, at the time of writing. Call in the professionals You can usually treat smaller patches of mould yourself, but if the problem has gotten out of hand, you might need to call someone in. Checkatrade says it costs £25-£35 per hour or £200-£400 per room to call someone in for mould removal. Meanwhile, if you want a specialist to come and take a look to inspect for any mould, that will cost you around £50-£300. How can I remove mould if it's already there? THERE are several easy and low-cost ways to remove mould from your home. Bleach is usually all you need if you neither own nor want to buy specialised cleaning sprays and paints. If using bleach, mix four parts of water with one part of bleach. You'll also need a stiff brush, a bucket of water with cloth, and another cloth for drying. Apply your solution to the affected areas, including a few inches around the visible mould to kill any mould not yet visible. Scrub it firmly with a strong brush. Wait as long as possible or until the mould disappears from sight and rinse the treated areas thoroughly. Pat dry the area and allow it to completely dry before moving any furniture or placing items in front of it.
