Moisture indoors is impossible to prevent when everyday activities like showering, drying laundry, and cooking contribute to moisture levels. Add to that even more trivial things like breathing, sweating, and condensation seems unavoidable – especially in winter.
But Stuart Smith, Indoor Air Quality Expert at Zehnder Group UK, says there is an easy fix for households now that spring is underway. Because condensation occurs when warm, moist air meets cooler surfaces – for example, a steamy bathroom and cold windowsill, the simple act of ventilating your home is very effective against humidity. Stuart explained: “The most effective natural method of purging excesses humidity that can lead to mould outbreaks is simply opening windows.”
The expert continued: “This allows natural air flow around the property, helping to remove and extract the moisture that creates the ideal environment for mould to thrive.”
Without adequate ventilation, moisture gets trapped indoors, and this is much more likely when households keep windows sealed shut and the heating switched on in colder months.
Allowing mould to fester around windowsills, walls, ceilings, and even behind tightly packed furniture can be extremely toxic, not to mention bad for our health and wellbeing.
Stuart suggests that a good starting point to rid your home of mould and condensation is to ensure a continuous air circulation system comprising window vents and continuously running extractor fans, ideally with a humidity boost, in wet rooms throughout the home.
Using the two in harmony forms an effective whole-home ventilation system. Together, open windows, even if just constantly vented, allow a continuous flow of fresh air into a property and “work in tandem with the extractor fans, which efficiently remove the stale, moisture-laden air”.
Kitchens and bathrooms are important areas to focus on, and extractor fans will likely be installed. Stuart said: “Check for clear air paths into the property for ventilation systems to work properly, bringing fresh air in while extracting stale and humid air.
“Window vents or undercuts on the doors are good natural ventilation points but make sure these aren’t blocked by new carpets or furnishings or kept closed.”
Nicholas Donnithorne, UK Technical Manager at Rentokil Property Care, advises that households “open windows and doors for at least 10 minutes a day, especially after cooking or showering”.
Additionally, drying clothes on radiators should also be avoided. This has two bad outcomes for your home: it blocks the heat, prevents the air from circulating, and releases large amounts of water vapour into the home as the clothes dry.
Instead, Nicholas suggests drying clothes outside whenever possible but says that if you must dry clothes indoors, use a drying rack or airer in a well-ventilated room.
According to Stuart, home decor is another helpful remedy for mould and condensation. He said: “Certain houseplants can help reduce humidity levels indoors. Plants like Peace Lilies, Snake and Spider plants, aloe vera, and Boston Ferns are known for their ability to absorb moisture from the air.”
Strategically placing these in your home “can help reduce excess humidity in rooms where mould might thrive”.
But Stuart warned that while houseplants can be a natural way to manage humidity, they shouldn’t be relied upon as the primary solution to prevent mould growth as “consistent airflow around the property is key”.