Handy Housing Hints #2: Avoiding the Mould Monster

Before going to university, I used to think living the student life would be easy. I thought uni housing would have a similar feel to my family home- and that mould only occurred in unkempt, dirty places, like the sinister confines of the chokey, or somewhere in Congregation Hall. How wrong I was.

Beware. This guy can and will ruin your shoes.

One day back in September I found myself rummaging around the furniture of my new room, mostly hoping to clear the dust.

However, what I found was something entirely different. Behind the bookcase was mould. Not the young, easily-cleaned spot mould, but a horrifying furry mass of greeny-white spores looking like a mini island.

I rang my landlord in desperation. He assured me that the real enemy was not the physical presence of mould, but a foe far greater and sly: condensation.

Do not worry, this bookcase survived it’s ordeal.

It’s a problem for all, but the best ways to avoid condensation are:

If you are brave enough to unashamedly bare your ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ knickers, dry washing outdoors, or put it in the bathroom with the door closed and the window open. If you have a tumble dryer (or as I like to call it, magical shrinking machine,) make sure you ventilate it outside.

Just keeping the window open for five minutes a day will help prevent condensation (and therefore mould). It’s a hard thing to commit to when winter is refusing to leave, but with luck we’ll see some sunshine soon.

In teeth-chattering cold weather the best way to avoid condensation is to keep the heating on low all day, even when there is no one in. Some energy-conscious objectors may say this wastes energy, but it does prove to be more cost effective than going hot ‘n’ cold Katy Perry style.

Wet wet wet.

Moisture can come from anywhere, but here are the biggest sources in the home:

The above looks like some sort of twisted version of pub golf. I don’t know about you, but the only pint I want contains something a lot stronger than moisture.

So keep your house dry and you’ll avoid the mould. You might have spend a couple of quid on heating, but it’s better than buying new shoes every two weeks after they’ve rotted away under a green blanket.