TAKING ACTION..
Simple steps to reduce mould risk at home (steps that are supported by UK housing and public-health)
1. Ventilate little and often
- Open windows 5–10 minutes, once or twice a day, even in winter (known as “cross-ventilation”)
- Always ventilate after:
- showering
- cooking
- drying clothes indoors
Short bursts of ventilation reduce moisture without significantly cooling the home
2. Keep a consistent indoor temperature
- Aim to keep your home at 18–21°C
- Cold surfaces + warm air = condensation
- Consistent heating helps walls stay warm and reduces moisture settling
3. Manage indoor humidity
- Ideal indoor relative humidity: 40–55%
- Regularly above 60% = high mould risk
A simple digital humidity monitor can be very helpful
4. Avoid trapping moisture
- Don’t push large furniture hard against external walls
- Leave a gap of 5–10 cm for air circulation
- Avoid heavy curtains touching cold walls
- Open trickle vents if your windows have them
5. Be careful drying clothes indoors
- Only dry washing indoors if:
- the room is well ventilated
- a window or extractor is open / on
- Never dry clothes on radiators without ventilation
Indoor laundry releases litres of moisture into the air.
6. Use extractors properly
- Use kitchen and bathroom extractor fans during and after use
- Keep doors closed so moisture doesn’t spread through the house
- If fans are noisy or ineffective, they may not be working properly
7. Deal with condensation early
- Wipe down wet windows and surfaces daily in winter
- Don’t ignore recurring condensation — it’s an early warning sign
Mould can begin to grow within 24–48 hours on persistently damp surfaces
Simple and effective measures to help you
Monitor moisture levels in your home
Monitor moisture levels in your home
Monitor moisture levels in your home
Every home should have a rechargeable hand held moisture meter. Check known damp spots on floors and walls to quickly identify problem areas. Once damp is identified, address the cause, and deploy de-humidifiers promptly to help prevent mould growth.
Quick, easy to use and rechargeable. We have tested this model ourselves (around £25):
Screen for airborne mould
Monitor moisture levels in your home
Monitor moisture levels in your home
If you are concerned about invisible mould, simple Agar plates can be used as a basic environmental screening tool - plenty are available on Ebay (approx £12 for 6). Windows must be shut for 2 days before the test, the plates are left out for an hour, sealed and left to culture in a warm dark place for 5 days to give an indication of airborne mould presence.
For full instructions, send us a message.
NB: This is an indicative screening tool — not a measure of health risk
Explore environmental exposure
Monitor moisture levels in your home
Explore how mould may affect the body
Concerned that mould may be contributing to your symptoms?
Hair is often used in toxicology testing because it can reflect cumulative exposure to substances in the environment.
So hair testing may offer useful contextual information when considering environmental factors, including mould.
(Less than £20)
Gut HQ- Biometric Hair Test - sensitivities
NB: This test is not diagnostic.
Explore how mould may affect the body
Explore how mould may affect the body
Explore how mould may affect the body
Buy an Organic Acid Test (OAT) from our partner Functional Nutritionist company: Gut HQ. A simple non invasive test through urine to check for markers associated with mould or yeast overgrowth and their impact on your metabolic systems. Useful when there is no visible mould and mould may not be an obvious cause of chronic health problems. Also checks overall health. Quick turnaround (10 days)
For full details click here (£329):
https://guthq.com/shop/ols/products/organic-acid-test-oat
Explore potential mycotoxin exposure
Explore how mould may affect the body
Explore potential mycotoxin exposure
Buy a Mycotoxin test to explore potential exposure to mycotoxins from mould - particularly useful if you've already completed an Organic Acid Test - or have visible mould and want further context.
Simple non invasive urine test, quick turnaround.
For full details click here (£410):
https://guthq.com/shop/ols/products/mycotoxin-test-mosaic-diagnostics
Combined body & mould assessment
Explore how mould may affect the body
Explore potential mycotoxin exposure
But the OAT + Mycotoxin test, at a cost saving.
When there is visible mould and you're experiencing ongoing symptoms, this combined test can help build a clearer picture of how yeast and mould overgrowth, and mycotoxins may be affecting yoiur body.
Because mycotoxins have a half life, results from the Mycotoxin test may also offer useful timing context around exposure.
For full details click here (£624):