Rodney Stevens
In the aftermath of severe weather events such as cyclones or floods, the environment is an ideal petri dish of heat, humidity, and water to promote the growth of toxic mould that can pose health problems.
People with asthma, sensitivities, allergies, or other health conditions, breathing in, touching, eating, or drinking mould can cause complications.
To prevent the risk of mould related health problems occurring, people are encouraged to air out their homes by opening doors and windows as soon as possible after the severe weather has passed and using fans if available to speed up the process.
Mould can be visible on walls and surfaces, but if you can’t see mould and suspect it may be present, it can be identified by a musty, unpleasant odour.
It can be black, white, grey or green in colour and can grow on a variety of surfaces.
The best way to prevent and control mould growth is to reduce the amount of moisture in your home, which can be done by repairing leaky plumbing, roofs, gutters, and other fixtures as soon as possible.
If you have plants growing on or close to external walls of your home, they have been found to promote mould growth, so ensure your walls and weep holes are clear of plants and soil.
When you are repainting your home, there are a variety of paints available from hardware stores that contain mould inhibitors, or anti-mould solutions to help the paint slow down any mould growth.
The Government advises to throw away any absorbent items that can’t be easily cleaned such as mattresses, carpet, leather goods, and insulation, that have been wet for more than 2 days.
If you do discover mould in your home, never use an abrasive cleaner like a dry brush to try to remove it, as this can release spores into the air, potentially causing adverse health affects and spreading mould to other areas.
Before you begin to try to remove any mould, ensure you are wearing protective gloves, a face mask to prevent breathing in any spores, and eye protection.
Using bleach is not recommended as an effective mould killer, but bleach will help to eliminate other disease-causing organisms that may have been present in flood or stormwater.
A common and effective solution is a quarter of a teaspoon of clove oil mixed with a litre of water to clean mould from hard surfaces.
Other products recommended for non-toxic mould removal include a mixture of equal parts of white vinegar and water, on non-porous surfaces a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water left to soak for 10 minutes or mix 20 drops of tea tree oil with 2 litres of water in a spray bottle and spray on a surface for 60 minutes before wiping clean.
For more information visit https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/factsheets/Pages/mould.aspx#