Archive for category: Tips

Always had trouble with mould around your home but do not know how to kill mould? Killing mould around the home is a tricky business. Removing mould, on the other hand, is fairly straightforward. However, these are not the same thing. Removing mould does not solve your mould issues. So, before we get to our solutions to remove mould, we are going to discuss what causes it and how you can stop it from returning.

What causes mould in the home?

Mould in the home is caused by damp, and there are several types of damp that cause mould to build up. However, the most common in homes in the UK, and the one we’re going to focus on here, is condensation.

Condensation occurs when there is a lot of moisture in a home. Common places to find this type of damp are usually in places like the bathroom, kitchen or laundry room. However, it can be anywhere in the home where ventilation is reduced. Without proper ventilation, moisture in the home cannot escape, and this causes condensation.

When there’s a big difference between the temperature inside the home and outside, the moisture in the air will settle on any cold surface. This is the same reason the mirror steams up when you have a shower. Air can only hold so much moisture, and as it hits a cold surface, it turns back into a liquid and forms droplets of water.

This water will cause damp spots around windows, mirrors and any cold surfaces and eventually cause mould unless the area is adequately ventilated. Mould grows in patches of black spots, known as black mould, and if your mould is caused by condensation, you’ll likely find them around the windows of your home. If the mould in your home is caused by another damp issue, you may find the black mould growing on your walls, ceiling, or flooring.

How to prevent mould in the home

The tips for removing mould we are going to give you in a moment are not preventing mould from returning. They are simply removing the mould that is there. The only way to prevent mould from returning is to treat the damp issue that is causing the mould in the first place.

How to stop condensation

If condensation is the cause of your damp issues, better ventilation in a room can solve this. A dehumidifier can also help to reduce the water in the air, reducing condensation. As can heating your home evenly. If your dampness is not caused by condensation, the treatment of the damp can be much more severe and expensive. Again, this is not something we will ll go into here, but solving the damp issues causing your mould is the only way of preventing it in your home.

How to get rid of mould in the home

Removing mould from your home can be done with very simple cleaning solutions like bleach and a bicarbonate of soda and vinegar solution. Simply spraying the mould with the solution of your choice (bicarb and vinegar) and scrubbing it with a microfibre cloth is enough to remove mould from just about anywhere.

This is not a treatment for mould, nor will it stop the mould from returning. This is simply a way of removing the visible mould from around your home. From there, the cause of the mould and a treatment plan should be put in place to stop it from returning.

How to remove mould on walls

You can remove mould from the walls of your home with a bleach and water solution. This is one part bleach to four parts water. Spray the solution on the affected area of the wall, give it a scrub with a cloth and pat the wall dry afterwards.

Just as above, though, this is not going to treat the mould. For that, you can use mould-killing paint. This does destroy the mould and works very effectively. Mould-killing paint is available in the most common colours, so there is no need to paint the entire wall with mould paint, just the affected areas.

A lot of people also swear by using Mould Magic Extreme to kill the mould around the home. This stuff is extremely powerful and works very well at killing visible mould, so it is well worth a try.

All of these methods will kill the visible mould in your home, but they will not stop it from returning. If the damp causing the mould issues in your home is not treated correctly, then mould will continue to grow in your home no matter what methods you use to remove it.

How to treat damp walls before painting

Before painting your walls, you need to treat mould and get rid of any black mould and mould spores. However, before you do this, the cause of the damp issues must be treated. Rising dampness, condensation, and any excess moisture or high humidity should be removed from the home. From there, you can clean mould off of your walls and prepare them for paint.

After treating the cause of the excess moisture, you’ll need to let all painted surfaces that have been affected by the mould dry fully. After this, you can prepare them for paint. Here is a step-by-step guide to treating damp walls, removing mould spores and black mould from your walls and giving them a coat of paint.

Remove mould and damp stains

Wash all infected areas with a good quality damp or mould removal spray. This will get rid of mould on the walls. To ensure the mould and mildew removal has been successful, you may want to repeat this step. Mould spray is widely available, but ensure that the one you use is good quality.

Repair cracks or holes in interior walls

You can now use a filler to fill all cracks and holes in the walls. Some people use a waterproof sealant for this task, but if the damp issues have been solved, a standard wall filler will work fine for this.

Sand down the area

Once the filler has dried, you can sand the area. You may find new areas that need to be sprayed with a mould removal spray during this process. You may also find new areas needing to be filled. The more time you spend sanding and reapplying mould spray and filler here, the better the end result will be.

Wash away the residue

Now the walls are nicely filled and sanded; you can wash away any residue of the mould spray and any other excess water or filler. You can use water and a damp cloth for this, but many people use a mould removal spray here to ensure that every mould spore has been removed. Leave your walls to dry overnight before the next step.

Apply a waterproof seal

Once the wall is dry, it is a good idea to apply an anti-mould paint as this will prevent the regrowth of mould spores. This works particularly well in rooms with poor ventilation or if you are drying clothes indoors in this area, for example.

You will need to prime or seal the wall before you paint anyway. Using a sealant designed to stop mould growth can massively help with your mould problems.

Paint your walls

Once the undercoat is dry, you can paint your walls as you normally would. If all the mould has been removed, there should be no discolouration of your new paint, and the internal walls with mould issues should look just as good as the rest of the walls.

How to remove mould from ceiling

Before we tell you how to remove mould growth from a ceiling, we urge you to invest in long rubber gloves and a good protective mask. Wearing eye protection is also recommended. Oh, and please ensure the room you are working in has good ventilation. When you remove mould from any surface it can release mould spores into the air. If you have inadequate ventilation, you can breathe them in.

To get rid of mould from your ceilings, you can use a mild detergent in some warm water or make a solution of white vinegar or diluted bleach. Give the area a good scrub, leave it to dry and repeat if needed. This will not solve your damp problems, but it will remove the visual signs of the damp. You can then follow our steps for painting walls with mould above.

Does bleach kill mould?

Bleach does kill mould, but it does not stop it from returning. Sadly, when the conditions are right, mould will continue to grow no matter what cleaning solution, mould paint or mould and mildew cleaner you use. The only way to stop mould from returning is to solve the issue that is causing it in the first place. For most, this is condensation, and it is relatively easy to solve condensation issues with a bit more ventilation and a dehumidifier.

Does vinegar kill mould permanently?

Vinger is fairly effective at removing the most common household moulds, but it does not kill every kind of mould. If the root cause of your mould issues is not treated, then mould will return no matter what you use to remove it.

Read our article on how vinegar can be used to clean silver.

Is bleach or Vinegar better to clean mould?

The mildly acidic nature of vinegar makes it better for killing mould than bleach. However, it cannot kill all kinds of mould found around the home. Also, if the damp conditions that mould loves are not solved, the mould will return no matter the cleaning product you use.

What kills mould the fastest?

Hydrogen peroxide kills mould faster than anything else. However, this can be very dangerous to use. If the area in your home with mould has poor ventilation, or you do not have the correct PPE, we would strongly suggest using a mould removal spray or white vinegar to remove your mould. In most cases, these are more than adequate to remove mould

Conclusion

We hope this look at killing mould in the home has been helpful. Just remember, removing the mould is fairly straightforward, but stopping it from returning can only be done once you have found the cause of the mould. For more cleaning tips, explore Cleaning Express some more. Or, for our help with all your home cleaning needs, get in touch today. We can be cleaning your home as early as tomorrow.

Ah, the toilet, a humble place of reflection, relaxation and possibly radiation, depending on what you ate the night before! The toilet is a place that all of us will visit daily, yet many of us still struggle to keep clean even when you have a toilet brush! One of the biggest issues for any toilet in the UK, a plague on our toilets, if you will, is limescale.

Removing stubborn bits doesn’t have to be difficult, though. Below we have some tips on cleaning a toilet and getting rid of pesky limescale for good. These methods work on all limescale around the home, too. So don’t be afraid of grabbing some rubber gloves, taking a deep breath and fighting limescale in every room of the home! Before we get to how to remove limescale from a toilet, we first need to understand limescale. Its likes, dislikes, and why it is even in our toilets in the first place. By knowing and understanding these unsightly stains, we will be better equipped to tackle it head-on.

What is limescale?

Limescale is a chalky substance that loves to attach itself to anything it comes in contact with. From toilet bowls to glass shower screens and taps, limescale can build up on pretty much every surface that it comes in contact with.

 Limescale stains

As you likely know, limescale is in the water that we use in the home. Well, sort of. You see, calcium bicarbonate is in our water. This is a soluble chemical present in all hard water areas in the UK. Calcium bicarbonate turns into calcium carbonate over time, and it is this little creature that we know as limescale.

 Hard water supply

Around 60% of the UK is considered a hard water area, so calcium carbonate affects over half of the population. And London, where Cleaning Express is based, is no exception to this. As a result, our expert cleaners have years of experience fighting this foe and have some clever cleaning hacks to help you quickly and easily get rid of the limescale from your toilet.

How to remove limescale from a toilet below waterline

Removing limescale from below the waterline in a toilet can be very tricky. After all, any cleaning products you add to the toilet are diluted by the toilet water. While you could turn off your water supply and let the toilet fully drain to gain access, there is an easier method that works even without removing the water from your toilet bowl.

The best limescale remover

We’d like to introduce you to two of the best cleaning products to have in your cleaning cupboard. These two cleaning products can be used separately, but when you bring them together, it is like the Avengers of cleaning! Every single home in the UK should have these cleaning products at its disposal, and they can be used everywhere limescale lives around the home. We are, of course, talking about bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar!

How to mix vinegar and baking soda

Wear gloves! To use bicarbonate of soda and vinegar to clean limescale from below the waterline, you first need to make a paste. Grab a bowl and add equal parts of bicarbonate of soda and vinegar. For this cleaning task, the more, the merrier, pour vinegar (about 1 litre) and a few cups of bicarb will work fine. Give the solution a mix until you have a paste. Then, add it to the toilet bowl and leave it to soak for as long as possible, at least an hour. However, we know this is a time-sensitive cleaning operation! If you have two toilets in the home, though, cleaning one and asking everyone to leave it alone while you do will ensure better results.

As the toilet is soaking, the paste will begin to break down the limescale and anything else in the toilet. Next up, you can grab your toilet brush or a strong bristle cleaning brush and some gloves and give the toilet a good scrub. As the limescale from your toilet is removed, you’ll see the colour of the water change. This is good; the solution is working.

Now, because of the paste, the water in the toilet will probably be murky, so you won’t be able to see whether the limescale has been completely removed. So, give the toilet a good scrub for several minutes, then flush the toilet and let the water settle. You should see a sparkling toilet, cleaner than you’ve ever seen before. If the limescale build-up was very extreme, you may need to repeat the process, but in most cases, the limescale below the waterline in your toilet should now be gone! Regular cleaning will now help you stay on top of the limescale and prevent it from returning.

How to remove limescale from the toilet rim

Removing limescale from the toilet rim can be very tricky as you need a cleaning solution that can defy gravity and cling to the rim of the toilet. Thankfully, you have one. Create a thick paste of vinegar and bicarb, and just before you apply it to the rim of your toilet, give the rim a wipe to remove any water. Then, once the rim is dry, cover it with the solution. Drying the rim first will ensure that the solution can stick. After the solution has had time to work (again, an hour of soaking will give the best results), you can scrub the toilet rim to remove the limescale buildup.

How to remove limescale from a toilet bowl

Many bowls have a thin line of limescale deposits on the back of the toilet bowl where the water comes out of the tank as you flush. This is really common, and our old friend’s vinegar and baking soda can come to the rescue here too.

The process for cleaning this part of the toilet is exactly the same as the rim. Create a thick paste, dry off the area, apply the paste, leave it to soak, and get to scrubbing. You’ll quickly notice the limescale build-up has broken down and been removed.

Using lemon juice

An alternative way to remove stubborn stains is lemon juice! Vinegar can be used with lemon juice. This combination works great and. The lemon juice needs to work its magic for about an hour, as when soaked it helps break down the calcium carbonate. After that, do some scrubbing and see the difference!

Using coca cola

Yes, the acidity of coca cola helps too. Pour coca cola and let it sit overnight. Flush the toilet and scrub if needed.

How to prevent limescale from returning

Once you have gotten rid of the limescale, we’re sure you’d like to keep it away. The best way to keep toilet limescale away is regularly cleaning your toilet. All of the usual products will work great for this, toilet bleach, for example. Try and clean your toilet every week, at least, and don’t be afraid of putting on some gloves and putting in some elbow grease. The cleaner you can make the toilet on a regular basis, the less likely it is that limescale will return.

Limescale removal methods to approach with caution

There are several methods of removing limescale off of the toilet that we would like you to approach with caution. The methods themselves are sound in principle but a little tricky to get good results with and could potentially damage your toilet if done incorrectly.

Using sandpaper

To remove stubborn stains from bowls, some people swear by using sandpaper, and this does make sense. Using an abrasive like sandpaper will remove limescale buildup and make your toilet look great. However, it is very easy to scratch the toilet by using sandpaper. And any scratches will not only look bad but also give the limescale another place to cling onto.

If your limescale build-up is extremely bad and you have tried every method in the book to get rid of it, then using sandpaper may be the only way to remove it. However, please be careful, and try to avoid touching the porcelain as much as possible.

Using a pumice stone

The same reason applies to using a pumice stone to clean thick limescale off of a toilet. While the method is sound and does work very well, you can easily damage your loo and the porcelain if you don’t use it correctly. So, we’d recommended keeping this trick in your back pocket just in case your stubborn limescale ever builds up too much for other methods to deal with, but we wouldn’t recommend trying this one first.

We hope this look at how to remove limescale from a toilet has been helpful. For more tips, please explore Cleaning Express further. Or, if you aren’t as excited about removing limescale as us, and we can completely understand if you are not, why not give Cleaning Express a call and book in for a deep clean? We’ll get rid of your limescale and a lot more!

Additional reading

How to clean a bathroom