Professional Home Cleaning Reduces the Health Risk of Mould

A briefing paper for the Canterbury District Health Board, said: “The housing environment (in New Zealand) is a key setting with impacts on human health. Housing factors which contribute significantly to health outcomes include temperature, humidity and ventilation, overcrowding, affordability and fuel poverty.” 

The paper further said that direct effects of cold homes on health included excess mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory disease amongst the elderly, increased respiratory problems in children, increased illnesses such as colds and flu, mental health problems and the exacerbation of conditions such as arthritis. 

Humidity level in your house is thus a decisive factor on human health. High humidity reduces indoor temperatures during winter, paving way for cold home conditions which adversely affect your health. The saturation of moisture content causes dampness, which leads to the over growth of mould and dust mites in your homes.

How to get rid of mould

Mould will grow in often neglected places such as wardrobes, under carpets, behind curtains and furniture in humid conditions. A quality home cleaning service will check these problematic areas and remove all traces of mould and mildew during the cleaning process. However, when you clean your home yourself, it is highly likely that you may overlook such matters.

Here’s a DIY method to kill visible mould: Apply methylated spirits (denatured alcohol) to the affected area, and let it remain there for half an hour. Repeat this process once more and see that signs of the mould have disappeared.  Finally, wipe the area with a clean cloth to completely remove mould spores. Throw away the cloth after use to prevent any leftover mould spores growing back.

Lemons and green home cleaning

Lemons can be used as a good natural cleaning substance, which will also leave your house smelling fresh. The citric acid in lemon makes it a strong disinfectant. It has also low pH and antibacterial properties. Harsh and toxic chemicals in many cleaning products will have negative effects on your health, so it’s good to resort to natural cleaners.

Stove cleaning: Stove gets dirty if you don’t clean it regularly. Take a lemon piece and rub it over the stove surface; then sprinkle some baking soda and using a soft sponge, begin to scrub. When hard stains are loosened, wipe the surface with a cotton cloth to get perfect clean.

Microwave cleaning: Take half cup of water into a microwave-safe bowl. Mix it with the juice of half of a lemon.  Place the bowl in the microwave and heat it for 3 minutes or until it boils. Now, let the boiled lemon water stay in the microwave for five to 10 minutes to kill all the bacteria and remove bad smell. The vapours will help to loosen up stubborn stains and any food particles stuck in the oven. Now open the microwave door and clean it with a damp cloth.

Residential cleaning

Till recently, the demand for house and apartment-cleaning services was most popular with people of higher than average wealth looking for a little more free time – especially in two-income households. Market research conducted a few years before said that married couples with college degrees, 45 years old or older, always depend on reputed home cleaning service in New Zealand.

However, the latest trend shows that people of all walks of life are inclined to avoid the cleaning chores in their daily routine because everybody can now afford reliable house cleaning services in New Zealand.

Select Home Cleaning provides professional home cleaning service in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch - dependable and affordable award winning home cleaning by fully trained owner operators. Call a home cleaner now on 0800 000 907 for a cleaning job or for a free quote on house cleaning.

How to Deal with Moisture & Mould Problems in Your Home

Surveys had revealed that many New Zealand homes are poorly insulated and cause health problems- latest survey being the HRV State of Home Survey which interviewed over 1400 New Zealanders, also found out that 56% of landlords refused to do anything about poor insulation when contacted by tenants. The survey was conducted by Buzz Channel in collaboration with a Professor of Sociology at Auckland University of Technology, on 20^th July, 2016.

The survey revealed that the presence of excess mould is a cause of worry in around 50% of the rented homes in New Zealand affecting the health of the tenants. And as a result, the renters take more sick leave than the national average, the survey said. 

Addressing the mould issue

You can find traces of mould behind the bed, in the bathroom or dotting the kitchen ceiling, and if not controlled, it’ll creep into every nook and cranny.

Being a responsible home cleaning service, Select Home Clean in New Zealand regularly publishes efficient mould removal methods on their blog site.

If you have rented a house, you should first check it thoroughly to ensure that there is no mould problem in the house. If you notice it later, landlords may not accept they're responsible for the mould because there is no clear-cut responsibility laid out in the law. And tenants will have to go through housing tribunals or the courts to prove their case.

If you see that there are leaky taps, broken gutters or windows that don't seal properly, immediately report the matter to the landlord and get it repaired. It’s also important to call professional home cleaners occasionally to perfectly clean your house so that the possibility of mould developing is avoided.

How to get rid of mould in your home

Mould is classified according to the place where it occurs, like non-porous, semi-porous and super-porous. If the mould has heavily infested a super-porous surface, such as a textile, carpet, clothing, cardboard or furniture, you may need to discard that item because the mould can't be removed completely.

First, vacuum up the mould with a vacuum cleaner that has appropriate filter for absorbing the mould spores. If the filter is not a good one, you may end up making the problem worse by spreading the spores and mould vapours around.

Next, remove all the left over traces of mould with the help of diluted vinegar.  Prepare a solution of vinegar and water in the proportion of 80:20 in a large container, and then pour it into three buckets. Dip a microfiber cloth in the first bucket and clean a patch of mould. Before using this cloth on another colony of mould, clean it in the second bucket and again in the third bucket also to remove all mould spores so as to avoid cross-contamination. This way, repeat the process till the mould presence has been completely removed.   

If the use of vinegar has left streaks on the cleaned surface, clean it further with bleach to remove discolouration.

When to call the mould removal experts

If the mould affected area is comparatively larger, it’ll be dangerous to your health, releasing toxic spores and vapours, possibly resulting in hypersensitivity or allergic reactions with itchy skin rashes, and asthma and flu-like symptoms. In such instances where the mould covers an area greater than three feet by three feet, it’s advisable to call professional home cleaners to deal with the mould problem.

Get a free house cleaning quote today by calling the Select Home Cleaners on 0800 000 907.