Damp Damp can be a major issue in the home. Find answers to questions or post your own here.

[princess]

Help please!


I have damp at the corners of the windows inside, and this morning I noticed it had gone black, is there something I can put on it to treat it and stop it coming through again? It is cold in the room but I do have the vent open in the winter and the window open in the summer.

[stoneyboy]

princess,
Apply neat bleach (real bleach, not environmenally friendly type) to the mouldy areas, leave for a while, wash off and repaint if necessary.
end

[rigga]

A safer way to treat this problem is to use Milton sterilising solution used in small spray bottle. Spray onto the mould making sure it is well away from you're face and leave do not wash off or wipe off, as you want to keep the mould spores contained in one place. If you wash off there may be some spores that have not been killed by the bleach they will then start to grow over a larger area, use regularly even when no spores are present to stop mould from forming, also neat bleach will crystallize on plastered surfaces and can damage the surface of the plaster, it can also damage the seals on sealed units.

[rosebery]

I agree bleach is not a good idea - use a steriliser. Despite your having the vent open in winter and the window open in summer you still have a ventilation problem.

Thisis, I'm afraid, par for the course in modern homes. Before double glazing and central heating people put on another jumper and were still warm and happy. We've reduced the air circulation in houses in the interests of saving energy but introdced other problems (like this) as a result.

If you have condensation forming on the inside of your windows the best way to keep this at bay is to clear it up each and every morning.

[rigga]

Totally agree rosebery a man of my own thoughts, nice to have all these modern facilities but boy do they cause some problems in older properties.