REVEALED: London has the WORST mould outbreak in the UK

REVEALED: London has the WORST mould outbreak in the UK

January is here, and many householders face rising threats of a ‘mould epidemic’ due to Britain’s cost of living crisis, which has caused energy builds to skyrocket.

The National Association Of Property Buyers is warning of the tragic consequences mould infestation will bring this Winter. It is reported that approximately 4.7 million private renters have battled mould issues at their homes in the past year, and since, dehumidifiers have become essential to improve homes and health.

With this in mind, spokesperson Ivan Ivanov of End of Tenancy London provided some tips on the air-purifying devices.

Tips to keep your dehumidifier clean:

1. Always wipe the exterior

Dehumidifiers actively suck in air, meaning all the dust and dirt that’s in the air follows suit. Sometimes, the dust doesn’t make it all the way through to the filter, settling on the exterior of the dehumidifier instead. Using a damp sponge or cloth, wipe down all sides of the unit, paying particular attention to the area around the suction pump.

2. Empty the waste in the sink

Inside the device, there will be a large fluid reservoir. This will need to be removed and emptied as the moisture caught in the air will deposit leftover liquid into the plastic reservoir. This must be emptied with every cleaning session.

3. Wipe the interior of the reservoir

Use a soapy sponge to wipe down the interior to ensure any mould buildup will be removed, resulting in a healthier dehumidifier. Leave it to dry.

4. Remove the bucket filter

There may be a tiny filter inside the reservoir called the bucket filter. Remove this, rinse this with warm tap water and leave it to dry alongside the reservoir.

5. Clean the air filter

This is one of the most important parts of the dehumidifier. The filter purifies the air coming out of the unit, however, filters clog up fast— especially if you have a pet-loving home. Remove the filter from the unit and use a vacuum cleaner to suck up the remaining dust.

It is recommended to clean your dehumidifier every other week if the device is used regularly, if not, a monthly clean will be suitable.

Dr Govind Desai confirmed that mould can be deadly: “Mould is a fungus that is found everywhere and most commonly in a damp environment. The allergic response may include rashes, watery eyes, fever or difficulty breathing.

It can also lead to Mould-induced asthma, Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, Hypersensitivity pneumonitis and Allergic fungal sinusitis.”

If you have recently become a victim of the ongoing mould crisis, End of Tenancy London recently found that there are other simple ways to safely remove and prevent mould whilst also protecting yourself from the health hazard:

1. White vinegar

Due to white vinegar’s acidic nature, it kills mould on porous and non-porous materials easily by slowly breaking down the structure. Incorporating sodium bicarbonate, or salt as a scouring agent can enhance the removing power. However, it is not safe to use on some surfaces such as natural stone, cast iron or aluminium, and waxed wood because of its acidity

2. Baking soda

Baking soda is completely safe for humans and pets, is moisture absorbing and it acts as a deodorizer. The latter helps to remove that musty smell mould can leave behind. It has a high pH that inhibits the growth and survival of mould, however, remember baking soda cannot eradicate the bacteria entirely and is less effective on porous surfaces.

3. Don’t paint over it

Mould will eventually become visible because paint is just a wall covering. It will soon reappear on the surface after growing into the paint; even if you keep painting over it, the spores will still release into the air and disperse throughout the house. It is merely a short-term solution and won’t completely eradicate the mould.

4. Mould and Mildew cleaning sprays

Anti-mould spray is a simple and effective way to remove mould and any remaining stains from your surfaces. They work great for mould suppression, prevention, contents, rooms, and appliances. They eliminate odours and disinfect surfaces, but also have been formulated for indoor use meaning there are no health or allergen issues for concern.

5. Wear protective clothing

Mould is considered a ‘silently fast killer’: touching and inhaling mould spores can trigger extreme health problems therefore, wearing a mould safety mask is extremely important and even using gloves when coming into close contact with the bacteria.

Leicester TV

Red launches NEW EVO PRO Waterproof Changing Robe, with now industry leading 15k waterproofing and 8k breathability

Red launches NEW EVO PRO Waterproof Changing Robe, with now industry leading 15k waterproofing and 8k breathability

Education Technology Day must be extended to prisons

Education Technology Day must be extended to prisons

Typically thought of as being an easy to clean area of the home, hard floors have risen in popularity in recent decades. Globally, hard floors are the most common floor type,2 and research released today by Dyson has uncovered poor cleaning habits that mean hard floors are likely to be harbouring an array of hidden nasties. This comes as 32% of Brits – equating to 21.6 million people in the UK – will use the same dirty mop head for six months or more before replacing it. What’s more, one in 20 also admit to keeping the same mop for a year or longer, and one in 10 think it is acceptable to use the same mop 100 times, spreading dirt around their floors every time they use it. Cross contamination is a primary issue for most common and traditional mopping methods with germs and bacteria further being unknowingly spread around homes as Brits use dirty water to clean floors.3 45% only change the water to new water between rooms, whereas 41% wait even longer until it looks dirty. This could mean that floors are being washed with dirty water, adding more dirt rather than taking it away. Surprisingly, almost one in 10 (9%) even admit to not changing the dirty water at all when mopping. Over a quarter (28%) admit to mopping their floors once a fortnight or less while over half (53%) admit they don’t regularly clean behind appliances and leave dirt to build up for as long as six months at a time. image002.jpg On how to achieve a perfect barefoot clean feel after mopping, Geli Lee, Dyson Engineer and Home Cleaning Expert offers their top tips for eliminating dirt around the home: 1. Create a cleaning schedule to stay on top of dirt build-up. In the last year, there has been a 15% global reduction in the number of people who maintain regular cleaning schedules. 47% of the British public admitted to only being motivated to clean when they spot visible dirt or dust.4 Regular floor cleaning with a wet hard floor cleaner like the Dyson WashG1™ removes more stubborn dirt than vacuuming alone. It is important to have a debris free surface, clear any clutter from the floor or other surfaces. Choose the right machine: Different vacuums are designed for different floor types and home sizes. Some machines will be engineered with hard floors in mind and will struggle on thick pile carpets, for example. Choosing the right machine for your home will make a big difference to the ease and speed with which you’re able to clean your home. Clean your floors ‘little and often’. Washing your floors frequently in areas that receive more foot fall will help to stop dirt building up and getting trodden into your floor. Using a dedicated wet floor cleaner on hard flooring such as the Dyson WashG1 is helpful for this, as the versatile format means it vacuums and washes the floor simultaneously. Cleaning schedules have also become less regimented. In recent years only 41% of people claim to have a regular cleaning schedule, and 60% admit to cleaning reactively; being motivated to clean only when there is visible dirt or dust5. It’s perhaps not surprising, that a fifth of people are still concerned their floors are dirty after they’ve mopped them (22%) and one in four6 feel extremely worried about indoor dust at home. Geli Lee, Dyson Engineer and Home Cleaning Expert reveals why it is important to change the way we mop: “Cleaning your hard floors properly and regularly is important for maintaining a healthy environment around your home. Without a proper cleaning routine, dirt may unknowingly build up and spread around your home. It is evident from our research that current mopping habits mean British households aren’t cleaning their floors as effectively as they should. “From ignoring problem areas where dust and debris build up, cross contamination with dirty water to not replacing mop heads or inconsistent cleaning, current mopping behaviours may be making floors dirtier as opposed to cleaner. Moving away from traditional methods, wet floor cleaners like the Dyson WashG1 simplify the floor cleaning experience and provide a modern efficient and hygienic solution” To help take the guesswork out of mopping, the brand new WashG1 is Dyson’s first dedicated wet floor cleaner that tackles wet and dry debris in one go. Engineered for hygienic cleaning and maintenance, the WashG1 is revolutionising wet floor cleaning, removing the need for multi-products and multi-steps to achieve a barefoot clean feel around the home. To put the product to the test, Dyson have cleaned one of London’s most iconic landmarks The Victoria and Albert Museum. From cleaning the grand marble floors housing the most prestigious exhibits, to cleaning up leftover food in the Gamble Room Cafe, the WashG1 had a dirt busting tour of the museum leaving it spotless. Images can be found here. The WashG1 introduces Dyson’s engineering expertise to cleaning hard floors. With a 1 litre clean-water tank to cover flooring up to 290m2, the Dyson WashG1 uses a combination of hydration, absorption, and extraction technologies to remove wet and dry spills and stains simultaneously. The Dyson WashG1 is available to purchase now from Dyson.co.uk, retailing at £599.99.

Typically thought of as being an easy to clean area of the home, hard floors have risen in popularity in recent decades. Globally, hard floors are the most common floor type,2 and research released today by Dyson has uncovered poor cleaning habits that mean hard floors are likely to be harbouring an array of hidden nasties. This comes as 32% of Brits – equating to 21.6 million people in the UK – will use the same dirty mop head for six months or more before replacing it. What’s more, one in 20 also admit to keeping the same mop for a year or longer, and one in 10 think it is acceptable to use the same mop 100 times, spreading dirt around their floors every time they use it. Cross contamination is a primary issue for most common and traditional mopping methods with germs and bacteria further being unknowingly spread around homes as Brits use dirty water to clean floors.3 45% only change the water to new water between rooms, whereas 41% wait even longer until it looks dirty. This could mean that floors are being washed with dirty water, adding more dirt rather than taking it away. Surprisingly, almost one in 10 (9%) even admit to not changing the dirty water at all when mopping. Over a quarter (28%) admit to mopping their floors once a fortnight or less while over half (53%) admit they don’t regularly clean behind appliances and leave dirt to build up for as long as six months at a time. image002.jpg On how to achieve a perfect barefoot clean feel after mopping, Geli Lee, Dyson Engineer and Home Cleaning Expert offers their top tips for eliminating dirt around the home: 1. Create a cleaning schedule to stay on top of dirt build-up. In the last year, there has been a 15% global reduction in the number of people who maintain regular cleaning schedules. 47% of the British public admitted to only being motivated to clean when they spot visible dirt or dust.4 Regular floor cleaning with a wet hard floor cleaner like the Dyson WashG1™ removes more stubborn dirt than vacuuming alone. It is important to have a debris free surface, clear any clutter from the floor or other surfaces. Choose the right machine: Different vacuums are designed for different floor types and home sizes. Some machines will be engineered with hard floors in mind and will struggle on thick pile carpets, for example. Choosing the right machine for your home will make a big difference to the ease and speed with which you’re able to clean your home. Clean your floors ‘little and often’. Washing your floors frequently in areas that receive more foot fall will help to stop dirt building up and getting trodden into your floor. Using a dedicated wet floor cleaner on hard flooring such as the Dyson WashG1 is helpful for this, as the versatile format means it vacuums and washes the floor simultaneously. Cleaning schedules have also become less regimented. In recent years only 41% of people claim to have a regular cleaning schedule, and 60% admit to cleaning reactively; being motivated to clean only when there is visible dirt or dust5. It’s perhaps not surprising, that a fifth of people are still concerned their floors are dirty after they’ve mopped them (22%) and one in four6 feel extremely worried about indoor dust at home. Geli Lee, Dyson Engineer and Home Cleaning Expert reveals why it is important to change the way we mop: “Cleaning your hard floors properly and regularly is important for maintaining a healthy environment around your home. Without a proper cleaning routine, dirt may unknowingly build up and spread around your home. It is evident from our research that current mopping habits mean British households aren’t cleaning their floors as effectively as they should. “From ignoring problem areas where dust and debris build up, cross contamination with dirty water to not replacing mop heads or inconsistent cleaning, current mopping behaviours may be making floors dirtier as opposed to cleaner. Moving away from traditional methods, wet floor cleaners like the Dyson WashG1 simplify the floor cleaning experience and provide a modern efficient and hygienic solution” To help take the guesswork out of mopping, the brand new WashG1 is Dyson’s first dedicated wet floor cleaner that tackles wet and dry debris in one go. Engineered for hygienic cleaning and maintenance, the WashG1 is revolutionising wet floor cleaning, removing the need for multi-products and multi-steps to achieve a barefoot clean feel around the home. To put the product to the test, Dyson have cleaned one of London’s most iconic landmarks The Victoria and Albert Museum. From cleaning the grand marble floors housing the most prestigious exhibits, to cleaning up leftover food in the Gamble Room Cafe, the WashG1 had a dirt busting tour of the museum leaving it spotless. Images can be found here. The WashG1 introduces Dyson’s engineering expertise to cleaning hard floors. With a 1 litre clean-water tank to cover flooring up to 290m2, the Dyson WashG1 uses a combination of hydration, absorption, and extraction technologies to remove wet and dry spills and stains simultaneously. The Dyson WashG1 is available to purchase now from Dyson.co.uk, retailing at £599.99.

Housing shortfall calls for public-private collaboration

Housing shortfall calls for public-private collaboration

Seven ways to decorate your home when renting

Seven ways to decorate your home when renting

65% of Brits are concerned about marine life

65% of Brits are concerned about marine life