Latest news with #mould
The Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Sun
The £1.50 hack that removes green algae off fences without scrubbing or washing – just spray and leave
GARDENING fanatics certainly take pride in their gorgeous green spaces, and with good reason. But some are finding their gardens are being ruined by mouldy and weather-beaten fences - but there is a cheap and easy solution to this dilemma. 2 2 Removing mould can be a huge chore, but don't worry there's a super effective way to get it looking as good as new. Jennie Trowbridge posting in the Gardening On A Budget Official Facebook group said: "I can't remember where I saw this tip originally so apologies if it's already been shared here. "Cheap as chips mould and mildew spray to get rid of green algae on fences. "This fence has bugged me since we moved in. I painted it but within a few weeks it was green again. "Someone suggested the mould and mildew spray and I was sceptical so thought I'd try just a few slats to see if it made any difference. "Did it last week and promptly forgot all about been to check and its amazing! "Much cheaper than any fence treatment I've seen and/or hiring a jet washer!" Members of the group were quick to respond to the tip and one said: "It's really good much better than more expensive ones .I use it all the time." Another added: "I did this last year, works well! I used it on the concrete plinths at the bottom of my fences , came up like new!" "This stuff is amazing x," said another fan. Garden shed glow-up 101 While another fan added: "My jet wash broke and like you I have reoccurring moss etc on patio, fence pots etc. "I found this in my garage, OMGOODNESS what a game changer. No more back breaking for me. "This literally removes it practically overnight. Fabulous, I've just bought and extra 3 while its so cheap." Astonish Mould and Mildew Blaster Spray is available for £1.49 at The Range and Savers and for £1.50 at Iceland. How to get algae off fences ABS Fencing shared a list of do's and don'ts when it comes to cleaning green algae off your fence. Don't use household mould or mildew remover sprays as these are generally intended for use on hard surfaces indoor. Don't use bleach in the garden, it kills a lot more than the mould. Don't try sanding back the top surface of the wood, as algae will just regrow back. Don't bother with power hosing – that only opens up the timber grain and allows more water inside, making the problem worse down the line. Do use white vinegar mixed with hot water in a spray bottle and work it in with a brush, leave for 30 mins or more, then hose down. Do repaint when dry with good quality fence paint. It is described as a practical cleaner that will rid your home of mould and mildew, making your home safer and cleaner. It's also said that the spray visibly removes mould in 2 minutes and prevents spore regrowth so that your surfaces stay clean and mould and mildew are kept at bay. However, other posters came up with alternative suggestions and one member said: "Bleach and water does the same thing!!" "I've seen ppl use Pool Chlorine tablets in a spay bottle," said another. "That algae would come off with some hot water and a scrub. Or there are more eco friendly products that would do the same job." While another explained: "Better of jet washing then using an oil stain like decking on it the green shouldn't come back." "White vinegar kills mould so that could be an option. X." added another group member. Amazon also has a £14 privacy buy summer. Another privacy fence is also available from Amazon, for just £5. B&Q has an affordable privacy fence currently on sale, and you can put it up yourself.
The Guardian
7 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
‘It feels like there's no communication': a social tenant's struggle for safe housing
Kerianne Wilson and her son have been taking it in turns to sleep on the sofa in their crammed living room since 2022, when a leak caused major damage to their two-bedroom home in west London. For years, they have battled with mouldy ceilings, walls and floorboards, sodden wallpaper, collapsed ceilings and buckets on the floor. Her 20-year-old son has been unable to sleep in his damp bedroom, with all of his belongings piled up in boxes around the flat. 'I'm really tired now. This has been going on for so long,' said Wilson. 'What else can I do? We're living in this. I'm paying the rent, I work full-time and everything is paid by me, so why am I paying to live in such conditions? 'I'm worried for the safety of my son and for me with the mould – the floorboards are soaking wet, that is a hazard in itself, and they just seem to dismiss it.' She is awaiting the results of blood tests to see if she and her son have been affected by the mould in the home, and said her son is 'constantly coughing'. Wilson is one of thousands of social housing tenants across the country who have struggled with substandard living conditions. She has filed multiple complaints, and taken her issues to the Housing Ombudsman Service, which has reported a 474% increase in complaints about poor living conditions since 2019-20. Richard Blakeway, the housing ombudsman for England, has warned the level of anger over poor-quality housing has reached such a point that it risks resulting in broader social tension. Wilson first moved into the two-bedroom flat in Notting Hill two decades ago when her son was four months old, and they immediately encountered problems with a rodent infestation, antisocial behaviour and frequent leaks. In her time there, the property has been managed by three different housing associations, and is now owned by Peabody, one of London's largest housing associations, with evermore than 100,000 homes. Peabody said it had sent contractors to carry out repairs on Wilson's flat on Wednesday. 'We're sorry Kerianne has had problems in her home and for how long the repairs have taken,' it said. 'Some of the issues were caused by a leak from a neighbouring flat, which we've now fixed. We're currently finishing the repairs and we'll be making sure she's happy with everything.' Wilson said she was still concerned about water residue in the bathroom and hallway, and was frustrated at how long it had taken to get repairs. 'It just feels like there's no communication. They don't answer the phone. So you can't even speak to anybody. The only way you can get things done is by putting in a complaint, and then it takes weeks for them to respond – they never meet their own deadlines,' she said. When the flat was damaged by a major leak in 2022, the pair were temporarily moved to a hotel for three weeks. Wilson said the flat had still not been fixed when they returned, the leak was still there, and workers simply 'painted over the problem'. She says the leak has been intermittent ever since, and she has had to fight to get repairs done to mouldy flooring and ceilings. She has struggled to get the time off work to be at home to allow access for the work to be carried out, and on one occasion the contractors never turned up. The family live in the shadow of Grenfell Tower, where there is growing anger over the hundreds of families living in poor-quality social housing so close to where people lost their lives after the voices of residents were dismissed. Wilson's son, who lost a number of friends in the blaze, has been particularly affected. 'He's had a lot of disruption in his schooling and in his life,' Wilson said. 'It's not easy for young people to buy somewhere or to move out, so in a sense he feels stuck in here. 'He's rummaging through all this stuff daily, having to find his uniform, having to find this and that, not having anywhere to hang things properly. He's living out of boxes, basically. No one wants that. It's not a way to live.' Joe Powell, the MP for Kensington and Bayswater, where the family live, has recently launched a safe and healthy homes campaign to pressure housing associations and local councils to sign up to specific commitments, including faster repairs and better communications. 'The system has to change so it delivers better for residents,' he told a packed-out residents' meeting next to Grenfell Tower last month. 'Residents who raised concerns about their conditions [in Grenfell] were described as a nuisance or worse. And sadly, seven and a half years later, that attitude is still too common. We know this area is one of the wealthiest parts of the country, and yet we have far too many homes which have damp and mould.' Wilson said she hoped the campaign would create more accountability but was sceptical about whether it would lead to immediate action. 'OK, they might apologise, admit in some sense that they've mishandled things, but then how do you get them to change their ways?' she said. A spokesperson for Peabody said: 'We're spending around £1m a day looking after and improving residents' homes and have introduced dedicated local repairs teams to improve the service we provide. While we're making progress, we know there's more to do – and we're committed to making things better.'
The Sun
28-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
The 95p hack that stops mould in your bathroom – and why opening the window DOESN'T work
THE cold and damp winter months may be behind us for now, but many households are still suffering from mould. And people are being warned that opening the window after a shower could be the reason for condensation and spores growing in bathrooms. 2 According to specialists at Shutter Store, opening the window after a shower can create the perfect breeding ground for mould. Especially when the air outside is cooler than it is indoors, as this allows the cold outdoor air to mix with the warm, damp air from the bathroom - in turn, causing water vapour to condense quickly on surfaces. It's even estimated that the likelihood of finding mould in a bathroom is two to three times higher than in bedrooms or living rooms. After a hot shower, humidity levels in a bathroom can increase massively - especially in small or poorly ventilated spaces. This moisture clings to tiles, mirrors, ceilings, and windows, and if not properly managed, mould can begin to grow within 24 to 48 hours. And while opening a window after a shower may seem helpful, it can disrupt the airflow created by extractor fans and introduce cold air that accelerates condensation. This leads to more moisture settling on surfaces, exactly what mould needs to thrive. Instead, experts at Shutter Store have recommended a simple 95p mould-prevention tip that don't involve opening the window. They said: "By applying a small amount of shaving foam to a mirror's surface and wiping it clean with a towel or microfiber cloth, a barrier is created between the steam and the glass. "This method can keep your mirror steam-free for several weeks." A tin of shaving foam costs as little as 95p in Aldi, making this a very affordable hack. Wiping down all surfaces is also important, as they continued: "After a hot shower, moisture clings to walls, mirrors, windows, and even ceilings. "If left to sit, this moisture can feed mould growth. To prevent this, use a towel or squeegee to wipe down tiles, glass, and countertops. Focus on corners and grout lines, where mould tends to settle." Other options include investing in underfloor heating and leaving the extractor fan on for a full 30 minutes after you've finished your shower. "It's also important to clean the fan every few months to remove dust and lint buildup", the Shutter Store team add. Moisture absorbers like silica gel, calcium chloride crystals, or desiccant containers can also help prevent mould. These passive tools draw excess humidity from the air and are especially useful in smaller bathrooms without windows or with poor ventilation. Sam Tamlyn, Managing Director at Shutter Store, commented: 'Opening the bathroom window after a shower can reduce the effectiveness of your extractor fan and create cross-drafts that spread moisture. "Instead, focus on wiping down surfaces and letting your fan do its job. Understanding how ventilation works is key to keeping mould at bay.'
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
The area of the UK where you're likely to be living with 'silent killer' that slowly destroys the lungs
An alarming new study has revealed the parts of the UK with the highest numbers of residents affected by deadly house mould. Topping the list were homes in the North West, with nearly four times the incidences of severe mould and damp, compared to the least affected area—the East Midlands. London was a close second, with more than 6,000 complaints of severe mould and damp made by both private and social housing residents in 2024. The research, which analysed freedom of information requests made to local councils, also revealed a staggering rise in recurring mould and damp over the last year across the UK. Between 2023 and 2024, reported cases of unresolved problems more than doubled to 13,781. In total, local councils in Britain received 25,134 complaints about mould and damp in 2024, marking a 35.06 per cent increase from the previous year. In response to the lack of progress in tackling Britain's 'mould epidemic', experts have called for the health impacts to be taken more seriously. Inhaling mould spores can trigger allergies, asthma attacks, respiratory infections that cause lung disease and, in severe cases, death. Those most at risk of the health impacts of mould are those most at risk in society: babies, children, and older people. In December 2020, two year-old Awaab Ishak died after prolonged exposure to mould in his Rochdale home. He lived in a one-bedroom flat with his father and stepmother. The family reported the mould problem to the housing association that provided the flat—Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH)—three years before the little boy's death, but was advised to 'paint over it'. In June 2020, Awaab's father hit the landlords with a legal claim over the recurring mould, but repairs had to wait until the case was settled. Awaab was taken to Rochdale Urgent Care Centre on 19 December that year with shortness of breath, and died a few days later. Speaking of the new findings, Dr Alexis Missick, a GP working with online prescription service UK Meds, which collected the data, said: 'Mould is more than just an eyesore, it can be extremely harmful, especially for children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions like asthma. 'Prolonged exposure to damp and mould can lead to persistent coughing, wheezing, and skin irritation. In more severe cases, it can cause long-term damage to lung health. 'With complaints rising so sharply, it's clear that action is needed at both local and national levels. 'We urge councils, landlords, and tenants to prioritise early prevention, proper ventilation, and swift intervention where mould is discovered.' The study analysed data from freedom of information requests to councils about mould and damp complaints in both private and social housing. The researchers found a stark difference between regions regarding the number of complaints, as well as the number of unresolved cases. The culprit behind mould is too much moisture and in buildings this can be caused by several factors. This includes leaking pipes, rising damp in basements or ground floors, rain seeping in because of damage to the roof or around window frames, and condensation. Mould and damp are commonly found in old buildings, but a newly built home may be damp if the water used in the plaster on the walls is still drying out. This latest study follows several high profile cases in which mould resulted in life-threatening complications. Matthew Langsworth, 32, has developed a potentially deadly infection after inhaling mould spores that were 'hidden' in his home In January this year, reports surfaced of a 32 year-old man who developed a life-threatening blood infection caused by mould, after living in a fungus-infected property where spores were 'covered up' with paint. Matthew Langsworth, from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire became so breathless 'he could barely walk'. The condition called invasive aspergillosis can be caused by inhaling fungal spores which consequently spread from the lungs to the blood and other areas of the body. Last year, it triggered a collapsed lung which resulted in potentially-deadly sepsis. He said he spent a decade flagging black mould in the bathroom, kitchen and bedroom to his landlord, which he claims was 'redecorated over'. Mr Langsworth claimed that doctors suspect mould exposure is behind his health issues. He said he's faced with the choice of 'dying or being homeless'—as the flat, which is subsidised by the local council, is deemed 'fit for living' by officials. The social housing provider in his case, Stonewater, claimed they replaced the 'entirety of his bathroom and kitchen' following a leak in 2023 and more recently installed new flooring. They said a survey done in January this year, found mould on the shower curtain, the bathroom sink waste overflow and in the washing machine powder drawer They also discovered that the extractor fan in the bathroom wasn't working, but claim that had not been reported to them previously.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Mouldy Northolt flat is health risk, claims elderly resident
In Karoon Islaaw's living room, mould spreads from the ground to the ceiling on almost every 67-year-old said she avoids having guests in her 24th storey Northolt council flat because she does not like people seeing the mould, which plagues almost every room. Even in the summer, the state of the windows means her flat in Academy Gardens gets extremely cold. She said she "feels the cold worse, because of my age, also my arthritis… I can't walk much, my bones are sore when I'm colder. It gets complicated." She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) she believed the mould problem originated from leaks, poor ventilation and outdated windows. Between the panes, evidence of condensation indicates the window seal had failed, allowing heat to escape.A few weeks ago, Mrs Islaaw's radiators broke, forcing her to buy portable said: "Sometimes I would have people over, and they see that mould … I don't like that, I don't like having people see that in my home."She said she feels at risk from the scale of the mould in the property and when she wiped it away, it simply came claimed Ealing Council has not helped her, despite reporting the issues on numerous occasions. She said recent calls have gone "unanswered". "I don't get any help, it can cost a lot to have the heating on a lot. Life isn't what it used to be like… I don't even want a new place, I just want the repairs. I don't have an answer for why they [Ealing Council] didn't do anything for years." She told LDRS: "I called the council around two years ago, they sent someone to come and have a look at the flat, but they didn't do anything. It's been seven years since any repairs."It was actually worse than this, it's disgusting. Compared to before this actually looks okay, it was that bad."An Ealing Council spokesperson said they were "sorry to hear of the issues that Mrs Islaaw has faced" but said their records indicate they have not been reported to the added that they have arranged for a local surveyor to visit her, and a housing officer to make contact and "ensure we are offering the right support".They also said that residents should raise repair issues "as soon as possible so we can take the appropriate action".
