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Black Mould Growing

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cassa333 | 20:55 Sat 11th Jan 2025 | Home & Garden
1 Answers

Hello Peeps,

I have had a really dank, musty old smell in the front bedroom forever.

We found recently that is is probably a leak from the bathroom where the water seeps through the old cracked grouting. I'm looking to get that fixed.

The plumber who found the problem took off a hidden panel in the wardrobe in the bedroom and the wall on the bathroom side is quite obviously damp.

I have a dehumidifier going and a bit more heat in the room. But since the panel has come off the mould has spread like wildfire (not LA wildfire though).

I know obviously the problem needs sorting but I have two questions if anyone is able to help with an answer.

1. WHY has the mould spread now that I've opened it up to dry out?

2. What can I use to kill or mitigate the mould till the fix can be made?

Ive tried the stuff you get at the supermarket but it doesn't seem to touch the sides.

Also, while I have your attention ...

The original problem was a proven toiled cistern pipe. Now fully fixed. The bathroom wooden floorboards were damp from the leak. Again I had the dehumidifier going and it now feels dry. However strangely there is a creeping darkness to the boards. There doesn't appear to be a leak and it's only happens ing where the carpet has been taken up (due to the leak). 
 

It just seems that the bathroom is playing silly *** and lives in a parallel universe 😳🤣

Thank you

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Mould is fungal. It produces spores which land somewhere damp and cold to grow. I can only guess that opening the panel has exposed more of an area for spores to circulate. 

More exposure would normally help towards creating a better airflow, thus reducing the problem. So it does seem as though you have a pretty serious amount of cold damp surface. If you're not going to raise the temperature of these surfaces permanently, then proper 'through the wall' ventilation would be even more help than heating alone.

 I've always found that vinegar or especially diluted bleach are all you need to treat mould.

As for the floorboards Cassa, they've become stained within the wood fibres. There's nothing worse than water-staining. Even industrial sanding does'nt remove it since it's now in the heart of the timber.

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