Mould in Apartments HELPPPPPP

martazk

Hey every one,

not sure if i posting this in the correct place, i was just wondering if any one could help me, i am planning on moving into an apartmetn in dublin city its in ashbrook, howth road, clontarf, dublin 3.

i was talkign to the letting agency as i was concerned about dampness and mould as the house we are currently renting in has a lot of this and we really do not want the same happening in the new place as we have a child etc.

when i spoke to the letting agency girl about mouldness she told me that every where in ireland would have some mould if you dry your clothes inside the house/apartment???

I am nervous about her answer and was just wondering if any one knew if they had any tips about reducing mould or finding mould signs in an apartment or if any one lived in these apartments and had any signs of such.

any help or thoughts would be gratefully recieved

thanks

Thoie

The problem is not so much drying clothes in your apartment - it's drying clothes on radiators etc combined with poor ventilation.

Some buildings may have specific problems with damp, but you'll usually find in those cases water is getting in from somewhere.

In most buildings/apartments, damp often forms in a few ways, with showers and drying clothes being the main culprits.

Bathrooms: When showering etc. it's a good idea to keep a window open a crack to let the steam out. If there's no window, the extractor fan should be extracting the steam - check that the extractor fan is clean and working.

Drying clothes: Tumbles dryers should be vented externally if they're that kind. Condensor dryers should either "drain" into the plumbing, or should have the water collection drawer emptied after nearly every use. Avoid putting clothes directly on top of a radiator, and never put anything directly on top of a storage heater. If you have to dry clothes indoors, put them on a clothes horse somewhere with good venilation.

Cooking: Use the extractor fan or open a window while cooking to reduce steam buildup.

Airing the house: Open all the windows for a while every day - even in winter! Houses/apartments are far better sealed these days with double glazing etc. Even in the depths of winter I open my bedroom and sitting room windows while I shower, then close them before I head out. Depending on how miserable a day it is, I'll usually open them again a bit when I get home in the evening. In the spring/summer I'll leave them open a crack while I'm gone all day (upper floor apartment, so no security concerns - my windows "lock" in an open position).

If you notice mould is starting to form somewhere, look for the source of the moisture first, then eliminate/reduce it (generally by opening windows). Wash down the affected area with a bleach mixture, or a specialist preparation from a hardware store. Depending on the quantity, position etc you might want to wear a facemask while doing so.