Mould

Rain, rain, rain, La Niña > mould, mould, mould here in Sydney. La Niña is continuously ensuring large parts of eastern Australia are drenched with water over the summer, autumn and winter, according to the experts, the wet weather bomb is likely to continue into summer 22/23. Currently, as I write there is a big storm and a cruise ship is in the middle of it.

I am over it. Mould on the ceilings, walls, windows, glazing, doors, skirtings, clothes, leather jackets, leather belts and would you believe on the vinyl WC seat in the garage? I can’t breathe. Dry cleaning costs are up. I am over having to set up ladders and planks to clean the mould off the surfaces.

There is humidity and dampness in the air and on the walls of the house.  The relentless moistness has ensured that even people in homes and businesses not devastated by flooding are now battling serious mould and mildew problems.

For those not used to dealing with rampant fungi, it’s proving tough to get rid of, with tips flying all over social media about the best methods.

Lisa Bentley — of Lisa’s Eco Cleaning on Brisbane’s westside — has been gathering tips on the best way to remove mould for 17 years. Through extensive research and experimentation, this is the effective formula she’s come up with.

Ohh I had to do some mould cleaning at my mother’s house as well.

How to remove mould from walls and other hard surfaces

Ms Bentley says clove oil is key to killing the mould spores.

While some cleaners will use bleach, which simply discolours the mould for a while so it’s no longer visible, but it’s likely to return.

She says this technique will work on most surfaces, excluding limestone or marble:

Put 1/4 teaspoon of clove oil into a litre of water — no more clove oil is necessary as it can discolour

surfaces

Use a spray bottle to lightly mist it onto the mould, then leave it for 24 hours

After a day, wipe the surface over with a white vinegar and water mixture (three parts vinegar, two parts water)

A 1-litre bottle of the formula should last about a year for the whole house.

Treating mould on leather or timber:

Mix 1/4 teaspoon of clove oil into 250 millilitres of baby oil and shake

Apply very lightly to leather and timber surfaces to kill the mould

Do not overuse it! — this small bottle should also last about a year.

Getting mould out of soft surfaces and fabrics:

Put 1 kilogram of non-iodised cooking salt into a 9-litre bucket of water

Stir with your hands until it dissolves

Put the mouldy item of clothing into the solution and soak it overnight

Take the soaking wet item and hang it on the clothesline to slowly dry

The slower it dries the better — as the salt crystals reform, they expand in the fibres, pulling the mould out

When it’s dry, brush off the mould.

Canvas awnings/umbrellas, etc:

Dip a broom into the salt solution above and slather over the surface

Wait for it to dry then brush off.

Preventing mould

Prevention is always better than cure, of course, but sometimes that’s easier said than done.

Removing the dampness and humidity is the key to stopping mould, as it needs moisture and nutrients to grow.

Safety tips

The Queensland Health website says to take precautions when cleaning mould, as it can be dangerous to breathe in.

It suggests you “obtain personal protective equipment, including half-face disposable respirators with P1 or P2 filters, to avoid inhaling mould spores when cleaning.

“You’ll find these at hardware stores.”

It also says to place drop sheets on the floor and to make sure others are not around while you clean if they don’t need to be.

They say not to put dirty clothes back into your cleaning solution, and “always use a different cloth with each process and throw them away after, or the mould spores will spread and mould will reappear”.

Other formulas to remove mould

Queensland Health has a few different suggestions:

A solution of 3 parts vinegar and 2 parts water

A solution of 70 per cent methylated spirits and 30 per cent water

A solution of tea tree oil and water

commercial products from the supermarket but ensure to follow the safety instructions to protect your eyes and skin.

Where to find clove oil?

Products like clove oil and white vinegar can be tricky to find at the moment, with so many people battling mould problems.

Clove oil — which one retailer described as “like liquid gold at the moment” — can be found, when available, at some chemists, health food and organic shops or through online retailers.

Source – ABC NEWS 27/5/2022 & the blog owner.

Ohh no, over the weekend, I just finished cleaning the mould. Now, as of 14/9/22, the Aussie Bureau of Meteorology declared a La Niña event is underway in the Pacific. This means more rain and more mould.

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