How can I clean up my environment at home?
Prof. Malcolm Richardson
Regional Mycology Laboratory, Manchester UK

There is evidence that occupants of damp or mouldy buildings are at increased risk of respiratory symptoms, that remediation of dampness can reduce adverse health outcomes, that exposure to mould increases the risk of various conditions and that allergic people are particularly susceptible.

Fungi are ubiquitous microorganisms that require water but will grow on most materials, and in the UK there is visible mould in 5.4% of properties.  Both condensation and penetrating dampness promote mould growth, which can occur on wallpaper, grouting and silicon bath sealant, in air conditioning units, behind partition walls and in dust. 

Where mould is identified, the contamination should be controlled at its sourced, the signs of contamination physically removed and any moisture problem corrected. For maintenance purposed, surfaces should be kept clean and dry, porous materials and dust and debris should be removed and ventilation units should be well maintained and checked for proper functioning.

Continuous monitoring includes looking for signs of condensation and checking for the smell of damp. Recommended cleaning methods include: air-based methods (e.g. HEPA vacuum techniques); and liquid based methods (e.g. damp wiping with bleach; steam cleaning; high pressure washing). Regular, thorough, deep dusting is highly recommended.

With thanks to Fran Stokes