Five Ways to Stop Mould from Growing in Your Home

By Tegan Osborne

ABC Lifestyle

Topic: Home

Wednesday, 3 June 2026, at 12:29 pm

Cleaning surfaces helps prevent mould.

Winter brings a higher risk of mould in homes, especially in colder areas.

Mould can grow quickly and cause health problems.

To stop mould, we need to know what it is and what it needs to grow.

Mould is a type of fungi that eats organic matter and makes tiny spores.

Heike Neumeister-Kemp is a mycologist from Perth.

Mould spores are always in the air and on surfaces.

Common types of mould are named by their color, like brown, green, and black mould.

The color of mould does not tell us how harmful it is or what type it is.

We need a lab to identify the type of mould.

Some mould, like black mould, is very toxic to humans.

The good news is that we can prevent all types of mould in the same way.

Mould needs water and organic matter to grow.

Controlling moisture and dirt can stop mould.

Mould spores need water, food, oxygen, and the right temperature to grow.

When mould has these things, it grows.

Preventing mould is about limiting its food and water.

Here are five ways to do it.

1. Keep your home surfaces clean.

Mould needs organic matter to grow, like skin cells and dirt.

A small amount of dirt is enough for mould to grow.

Regular cleaning is essential.

Cleaning walls and windows once a year helps.

Use washing-up detergent and water to clean.

Clean before mould becomes a problem.

There are products that can protect surfaces from mould.

These products should be non-toxic and approved.

Mould often starts in winter in cooler parts of Australia.

2. Control the humidity.

Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air.

A hygrometer can measure humidity.

Keep humidity below 60% to prevent mould.

Ways to control humidity include:

Dehumidifiers can help, but they may not be effective in all cases.

Moving a dehumidifier to different areas can help.

Larger spaces may need more than one dehumidifier.

Using air con on dry mode can also reduce moisture.

3. Stop condensation.

Condensation on windows and walls can cause mould.

This is a big problem in winter, especially in colder areas.

Jason Chapple is a master water restorer.

When warm air hits cold windows, moisture appears.

This is often worst in bedrooms.

While we sleep, we add moisture to the air.

To avoid mould from condensation:

Wet window sills can cause mould.

4. Do not add moisture to the air.

Some activities can put a lot of water vapor into the air.

There are easy ways to avoid raising humidity:

Run the fan for 10-30 minutes after showering.

Choose a clothes dryer that collects moisture.

Do not use unflued gas heaters.

5. Fix water leaks and spills quickly.

Mould can grow on wet surfaces in 24-48 hours.

Fixing leaks and drying spills quickly is important.

Uniform mould is often caused by condensation.

How to clean new mould:

Cleaning mould can throw harmful spores into the air.

Some people should not clean mould themselves.

If you can clean mould, wear protective gear.

Use a solution of vinegar and water to clean.

Washing-up detergent and water can also be used.

The goal is to remove the mould, not just kill it.

If you do not fix the underlying water issue, cleaning will not last.

Does clove oil work to clean mould?

Clove oil is not recommended because it leaves an oily film.

Clove oil does have antimicrobial properties.

But there is little research on using clove oil to clean mould in buildings.

The effect of clove oil fades as it evaporates.

Any oily film can collect dust and support new mould growth.

More home tips

Topic: Explainer

Topic: Home

Wednesday, 3 June 2026, at 12:29 pm

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