How to Kill Mould in Your Office
That dark stain in the corner of your office window or on the edge of your chair may be doing more harm than you think, which is why it is important to kill mould as soon as you see it.
Yes, no one wants to put in the time and elbow grease to get rid of mould in the office. But not only is mould hard to kill and harmful to your health, but oh man, it’s ugly.
So, let’s get into why mould can be dangerous and how to kill mould fast.
Why Is It Important to Kill Mould ASAP?
Other than making your building an eyesore, mould can cause over 30 different health problems. Moulds produce allergens, irritants and often toxic substances.
The nasty stuff that mould releases can harm the health of your staff. Mould triggers a reaction from your immune system, causing respiratory illnesses like obstructive lung disease and symptoms like eye irritation and asthma attacks. Even worse, certain types of mould can even cause mould poisoning and memory loss.
Your building is another victim. Mould eats into organic building materials like wood and furnishings made out of leather and cotton, causing damage that can get seriously expensive to repair.
How to Prevent Mould
The ideal conditions for indoor mould and mildew growth are temperatures between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius, humidity between 62% and 93% and the presence of organic material that mould feeds off of, such as wood.
So, what can you do to avoid mould growth?
- Control Humidity Levels
Humid environments allow mould and mildew to thrive, which is why it is important to keep your humidity levels under control. One way you can do this is through an HVAC system. These systems move heated and cooled air throughout your office space to ensure adequate ventilation and filtration.
- Keep It Dry
Excessive moisture of any kind can cause humidity in your office space that is unbearable to humans but delightful to mould. That’s because the humidity is a measure of the amount of water vapour present in the air. Moisture can travel around your office space as water vapour and absorb into building materials and furnishings, providing an ideal place for mould to grow.
- Get a Dehumidifier
If all else fails, you can install a dehumidifier to zap away excess moisture in your office space. A dehumidifier is effective with both employee comfort and mould prevention.
How to Kill Mould and Mildew Yourself
Cleaning mould yourself can expose you to all the nasties that mould has to offer. To reduce the risk to your health, make sure to wear protective gear, including an N95 respirator mask, gloves and goggles.
- Assess The Damage
The amount of elbow grease required to remove mould depends on the quantity of mould and the type of material the mould is growing on. Removing mould from non-porous surfaces like plastics should be an easy task. On the flip side, super-porous materials like furniture or fabrics may be extremely hard to completely clean and may need to be thrown out. Semi-porous surfaces like wood or concrete are somewhere in between.
- Pick Your Weapon
Your choice of cleaning tools depends on your damage assessment in the previous step. In general, you can find success using diluted vinegar, bleach or mould removal spray. An important thing to keep in mind is not to use a dry brush. Dry brushes can flick mould spores into the air, which is a health risk to you and anyone in your vicinity. Instead, use a soft brush or slightly damp microfibre cloth.
- Dry The Area
After rinsing, completely dry the area. Leaving it damp can promote further mould growth.
- Prevention
Once you have completed the cleaning and have dried the area, go back to the ‘How to Prevent Mould’ section. This will help you avoid the reappearance of mould growth in the future.
How to Get Help Removing Mould
If dealing with mould sounds like a time-consuming task that requires getting covered in filth, hey, we get it. We’ve been cleaning mould for years and know how difficult a job it can be. But our experience in cleaning mould has equipped us with the best practices to get mould gone fast.
If you want to solve your office mould problems but need help getting the job done, contact the Cleantastic team.
