Black mould around your windows, in the corners of a room or behind furniture is a common sign that you have a condensation problem. It often becomes more noticeable during autumn and winter, when outdoor temperatures fall, windows stay closed for longer and moisture generated inside the home has fewer opportunities to escape.

If you’re wondering how to get rid of condensation mould, there are really two jobs to tackle. First, you need to safely remove the mould that’s already there. Then you need to reduce the excess moisture that’s allowing it to grow.

Here’s where to start.

Is Your Mould Being Caused by Condensation?

Before treating mould, it’s worth establishing why it’s there.

Condensation happens when warm, moisture-laden air comes into contact with a colder surface. This is why you often see water collecting on windows on cold mornings.

If those surfaces regularly remain damp, mould can begin to develop.

Signs that condensation may be responsible include:

• Black mould around windows and window reveals
• Mould appearing in the corners of rooms
• Water regularly collecting on the inside of windows
• Mould developing behind wardrobes, sofas or other furniture
• Problems becoming worse during colder weather
• Musty smells in poorly ventilated rooms

However, not all mould is caused by condensation. Leaking pipes, damaged roofs, penetrating water and other forms of damp can also cause mould growth.

If you have obvious water staining, consistently wet walls or another indication of a leak, deal with the underlying problem rather than assuming condensation is responsible.

How to Get Rid of Condensation Mould

Once you’ve identified a small area of condensation mould, don’t simply paint over it. The mould needs to be properly treated and the surface allowed to dry.

1. Ventilate the Area

Before you begin, open a window where practical and keep the room ventilated.

Avoid aggressively brushing or scrubbing dry mould, as this can disturb spores. Wear appropriate protective equipment such as gloves, and follow any safety instructions provided with the cleaning product you’re using.

If mould covers a large area or you’re unsure about dealing with it safely yourself, consider getting professional advice rather than attempting to remove it.

2. Use a Suitable Mould Treatment

Use a product specifically intended for treating mould on the type of surface you’re cleaning.

Different products have different application and contact-time instructions, so follow the manufacturer’s guidance carefully rather than mixing your own cleaning chemicals.

Pay particular attention to common problem areas such as window frames, window reveals and cold corners.

3. Let the Area Dry Thoroughly

Once the mould has been treated, allow the surface to dry properly.

Don’t immediately cover the area with paint, wallpaper or furniture. If the wall remains damp, you’re simply hiding the conditions that allowed the mould to develop in the first place.

And this brings us to the most important part.

Why Does Condensation Mould Keep Coming Back?

Removing mould doesn’t necessarily solve the moisture problem.

Everyday activities can release a surprising amount of water vapour into your home. Cooking, showering, drying clothes and even simply having several people in a room all add moisture to the air.

During autumn and winter, we also tend to close windows and doors to keep warmth inside. Meanwhile, windows and external walls become colder.

The result is a combination of more moisture trapped indoors and colder surfaces for it to condense on.

Unless you reduce that moisture or improve ventilation, you may find yourself cleaning the same patches of mould repeatedly.

How to Stop Condensation Mould Coming Back

Once you’ve removed the existing mould, a few changes can help reduce the chances of it returning.

• Use extractor fans: Run bathroom and kitchen extractors when showering or cooking and leave them running long enough to remove humid air.
• Ventilate strategically: You don’t necessarily need to leave windows open all day in winter. Short periods of ventilation can help release moisture without allowing the entire property to become extremely cold.
• Be careful when drying washing indoors: Wet laundry releases moisture directly into your home. Where possible, dry it in a well-ventilated room and avoid spreading washing throughout the property.
• Keep furniture away from cold walls: Leaving a small gap behind wardrobes, sofas and other large pieces of furniture can improve airflow and reduce pockets of stagnant, damp air.
• Deal with wet windows: If you’re regularly waking up to water running down the glass, wipe it away rather than allowing it to sit on frames and surrounding surfaces.
• Keep rooms reasonably warm: Very cold surfaces make condensation more likely, so maintaining a relatively consistent indoor temperature can help.

Can a Dehumidifier Help Prevent Condensation Mould?

If excess indoor humidity is the main cause of your condensation, a dehumidifier can be a useful addition to the measures above.

Rather than waiting for moisture to collect on windows and walls, a dehumidifier extracts excess water from the surrounding air. This can help reduce indoor humidity and therefore reduce the amount of moisture available to form condensation on cold surfaces.

This can be particularly useful in properties where ventilation is limited, during particularly wet periods, or where drying clothes indoors is unavoidable.

You don’t necessarily need to purchase one permanently either. Dehumidifier hire can provide a temporary solution during the wetter months or while you’re trying to bring high humidity levels under control.

A dehumidifier isn’t a cure for every type of damp, however. If water is entering your property through a leaking pipe, damaged roof or another defect, that underlying problem will still need to be repaired.

When Should You Get Professional Help With Mould?

Small amounts of surface mould caused by everyday condensation can often be tackled by improving ventilation and controlling moisture.

However, it’s sensible to seek professional advice if:

• Mould covers a large area
• It returns very quickly after cleaning
• Walls or ceilings remain persistently wet
• Plaster is beginning to deteriorate
• There are obvious water stains or signs of a leak
• There’s a strong damp or musty smell that doesn’t improve
• You’re unsure where the moisture is coming from

Finding the actual source of the problem is much more effective than repeatedly treating the visible symptoms.

Remove the Mould, Then Tackle the Moisture

If you’re searching for how to get rid of condensation mould, the most important thing to remember is that cleaning is only half the job.

Treat the existing mould appropriately, but then look at why the affected surface keeps getting wet. Better ventilation, sensible heating, managing moisture from cooking and washing, and reducing excessive indoor humidity can all make a difference.

Where high humidity is contributing to the problem, Chilly Pepper Hire offers temporary dehumidifiers that can help remove excess moisture from the air and create a drier indoor environment, particularly useful as we head into the colder, wetter months.