Ways to prevent and get rid of mould in your home

Follow these steps to manage condensation and remove mould in your home.

Why mould grows inside our home

Mould will grow in homes if it has the right conditions to live in. For example, in areas that:

You often see it in bathrooms or kitchens where extraction fans are not used to extract moisture from showers or cooking.

Mould can be black, grey, green or white. It often looks like a stain or smudge and may smell musty.

You can help prevent mould if you improve air flow and reduce condensation:

Open windows and doors every day wherever possible.
Make sure clothes and shoes are dry before storing them.
Wipe condensation off walls and windows when it occurs.
Make sure there is enough fresh air throughout the home. Open windows and leave a small gap where possible.
Clean the wet areas of the home regularly.
Use extractor fans to remove steam when cooking, using the shower and clothes dryer.
Clean exhaust fans regularly.
Let the sun into the home by opening curtains.
Dispose of any wet, musty smelling items.
If water spills, dry the area quickly.
Do not stack items against walls. Dry air needs to move throughout the room to stop mould growing.
Hang washing outside.

Treat mould as soon as you notice it. It is much harder to remove if left to grow.
Do not dry brush the area. This may release mould spores into the air which can spread throughout the home.
Wash down areas with a mould remover made of 20% water and 80% white vinegar (best used from a spray bottle).
Do not use bleach. It has a high pH that only whitens the mould spores instead of killing them.
Use a clean cloth to wipe all surfaces with the mould remover.
Change the cloth often to prevent spreading mould spores.
Put used cleaning cloths in a plastic bag in the bin.

Repeating this treatment will help prevent mould regrowing.

If you’ve followed these prevention and cleaning steps but still have mould, call the Maintenance Call Centre on (02) 62071500.

You will pay for repairs if Housing ACT finds that mould in your home is from your activities. For example:

For more information, contact your housing manager on 1800 950 255.