When you own a conservatory it does require careful maintenance. One of the most important maintenance regimes is to deal with the problem of mould. The early sights of mould in your conservatory can be heart-breaking after all the efforts you have put into adding one to your home. If you’ve a flowerbed of plants in your conservatory, then it may be a moss killer that you’re on the look out for.
It is also the best stage to deal with the problem. Mould tends to grow exponentially and you have no time to waste. Preventing mould and fighting it requires a multi-pronged approach and in this post, we shall take a look at how you can deal with the existing problem of mould in your conservatory and also discuss active steps you can take to prevent this problem or reduce their intensity.
How to Remove Mould from Conservatory Blinds
Blinds are one of the most important decorating elements of your conservatory. Apart from their practical purpose of protecting you against the sun’s rays and offering you a sense of privacy they also add to the overall appeal of the room. But your conservatory blinds often see mildew and mould infestation.
The condensation on your conservatory windows helps mould grow. Mould spores then start gathering around the porous surfaces of the fabrics and also along the walls. The first sight of black mould in conservatory around your blinds isn’t the most pleasant sight.
The problem with black mould is their visibility and they immediately spoil the aesthetic appeal of your conservatory. The good news is you can easily remove them and here are some basic steps to get rid of mould infesting on your blinds:
- Fit The Blinds Well – If you fit the conservatory blinds perfectly you will be able to reduce mould infestation. Here is an expert blog on fitting conservatory blinds perfectly and if you follow the steps you will reduce the chances of moulds.
- Remove Furniture and Plants – If you have any furniture and plants around the blinds remove them before you start cleaning to avoid the falling mould spores finding a new home!
- Brush off Dry Moulds – Take a stiff-bristled hand brush and carefully brush off all the dry mould in your blinds and areas around it. Vacuum the floors and the walls after you are done with the process to remove all the mould.
- Spray Clean – If the mould is wet, you can make use of spray cleaning and eco-friendly cleaning solutions to get rid of it. You can use this process to clean blinds made from plastic, metal, wood and faux wood or in other words the non-fabric type of blinds. Always remember to wear a mask when you are spraying the solution to avoid breathing it in.
- Cleaning Fabric Blinds – For cleaning fabric blinds you should make use of the most eco-friendly way of cleaning them. Mix 6 tablespoons of baking soda with a cup of white vinegar in a bucket of warm water and add in a few drops of fresh lemon juice to it. Soak the blinds for an hour or so before cleaning them and dry them in the shade. This helps in removing the mould and at the same time doesn’t damage the fabric of your blinds.
How to Clean Mould from a Conservatory Roof
Cleaning mould from the roof of your conservatory is perhaps the toughest challenge. You will have to thoroughly clean the inner and the outer portion of your roof. You may even need a conservatory roof cleaner to help you on your way.
Working at heights poses many challenges. If you have mobility issues you need to call in an expert team to take care of the project. Also, you need to use the right kind of conservatory ladder and other safety gear to prevent a fall and injuries. Follow these steps for best results:
- Identify your style of the roof – The most common types of conservatory roofs include Glass Roofs, Polycarbonate Roofs and uPVC Conservatory Roofs. Each of these roofing materials requires different approaches to cleaning them and getting rid of moulds.
- However, the one thing you must always bear in mind while cleaning your roof is to avoid using chemical agents. These are highly toxic and apart from posing health risks they also damage your roof in the long run.
- Take care with the interior – While the outer portion of the roof is easier to clean and dry you need to be a bit more careful while cleaning the interiors.
- The challenge here is to avoid leaving behind the moisture after you are done removing the mould. You are likely to have plants, carpets and expensive furniture inside the conservatory and you need to remove them all before you start with cleaning the inside part of your roof.
- Consider the weather – You must take up the cleaning exercise of your roof’s interiors on a warm and sunny day and avoid days or hours when it is dark and gloomy outside. Once you have cleaned it with water and an eco-friendly cleaning solution you need to wipe the surface dry with a soft cloth to remove any liquid that is sticking to the surface. Keep the windows and door ajar for a few hours to let the excess moisture escape.
How to Stop Mould in Your Conservatory
They say prevention is always better than a cure and the more you focus on taking preventive measures, the less are the chances of a mould infestation in your conservatory. Let us take you through simple tips that will help you in stopping mould infestation in the conservatory –
- Fix Leaking Roofs
If you have a leaking conservatory roof you need to start fixing this problem before you try any of the other preventive tips we are mentioning here. Even the smallest of leakages in your conservatory’s roof will lead you to a never-ending battle with mould. You can check out here what experts have to say about fixing a leaking conservatory roof.
- Insulate Conservatory Roof
Roofs are one of the most common areas of a mould infestation in your conservatory as we have already discussed. One of the best ways to prevent that is by insulating the roof. By insulating the roof you will be able to keep your conservatory warm which will reduce the chances of mould infestation along the roof. You can read through the basics of conservatory roof insulation where different insulation techniques have been well summarized.
- Ventilate The Conservatory
This might sound counterintuitive to what we have mentioned above but ventilating the conservatory regularly helps in fighting the problem of mould. The simple way of ventilating the conservatory would be to keep the windows ajar when the sun is out. This will help in reducing the moisture content in the air side and fight mould. But make sure the windows aren’t kept open when it is moist and damp outside.
- Deal With Condensation
Preventing mould also involves reducing condensation in a conservatory. If you are seeing the frightening sight of condensation trickling down the windows of your conservatory you need to be prepared for mould. Steaming around your conservatory windows is a natural phenomenon and there are several steps you can take to prevent that.
- Ventilate the conservatory as we have mentioned above and you can do so by installing trickle vents. If installing trickle vents sounds expensive you can try out inexpensive condensation catchers. You can also invest in double glazing of the glass if you haven’t done so.
- Be careful about the number of plants and the kind of plants you have in the conservatory. Too many plants increase the problem of condensation. You should try having plants such as peace lilies, reed palm and Boston ferns as they help in absorbing moisture and aiding in your fight against mould.
- Clean Your Furniture Regularly
You should clean your conservatory furniture on a regular basis to prevent mould from growing there. While you may not face this problem with rattan and wooden furniture if you are using fabric furniture you would notice this problem during the wet season. Always keep an eye on the fabric to prevent the growth of this unwanted fungus.
- Don’t Dry Clothes
It’s raining outside or the conditions are overcast and you immediately think of your conservatory to dry your clothes! While the thought process is normal the consequences are disastrous. Drying wet clothes in the conservatory is one of the most contributing causes towards mould. Never turn your conservatory as an extension of your laundry.
- Install a Heater
Conservatories are always imagined as a warm and cosy place in your home. You may have built one in the sunniest part of your home and also invested in large windows to let in the sunlight. But if that doesn’t keep your conservatory warm enough it can also lead to the problem of mould. You can get rid of this problem by installing a conservatory heater. It will not only keep the room warm but will also help in preventing the growth of mould. Sometimes it may even take a greenhouse heater if the space is big enough.
- Don’t Let Moisture Settle
Don’t allow any kind of moisture to ever settle in the conservatory. If your kids have accidentally spilt their drink, wipe it off immediately. This is important because you never know what might trigger mould infestation in the room.
- Prevent Mould in Home
Last but not the least, all your efforts at fighting mould in your conservatory can fail if other areas of your home are infested by mould. They can quickly travel from one area of your home to another and show signs of growth. If your active steps in fighting mould in the conservatory are failing it may be due to their growth in other areas of the home. Do keep a close watch on your bathroom, kitchen and basement as they often see mould growth.
- Use a Dehumidifier
If you’ve already tried some of the preventive measures we have mentioned above and the problem with moulds still persists you should immediately install a dehumidifier in your conservatory. As the name suggests a conservatory dehumidifier helps in reducing the moisture levels inside the conservatory and prevents mould. You should choose one based on the size of your conservatory and the intensity of mould infestation.
To sum up, mould in conservatory is a problem that most people have to deal with when they own one. You aren’t alone and shouldn’t feel disheartened seeing early signs of mould in your conservatory. While mould infestation tends to vary depending on the climatic conditions you live in and other structural factors in your property you can fight them and win the battle.
Just follow the tips and ideas we have mentioned above and you will enjoy all the beauty and warmth of your conservatory. If you are still not able to deal with the problem of mould, you need to get in touch with a company that specialises in mould cleaning. They will bring in the right tools and expertise to deal with the problem and once done you can follow the preventive measures we have mentioned above and keep mould at bay.