Damp and mould

You can help reduce damp and mould caused by condensation in your home by:

• hanging your washing outside to dry or in the bathroom with the door closed and a window slightly open or an extractor fan on - do not put it on radiators or in front of a heater
• always cooking with pan lids on and turning the heat down once the water has boiled
• running the cold water first then adding the hot when filling your bath - it will reduce steam by 90% which leads to condensation
• making sure your tumble dryer is vented to the outside (if it isn’t a condenser dryer)
• not using your gas cooker to heat your kitchen as it produces moisture when burning gas
• avoiding the use of bottled gas heaters as they produce about 8 pints of moisture from an average-sized gas cylinder
• using a dehumidifier which reduces moisture levels
• opening windows whenever possible and ensuring any vents are open to allow air to circulate around your home
• ventilating your kitchen when cooking or washing up by opening a window slightly or using your cooker extractor hood or extractor fan
• ventilating your kitchen and bathroom for about 20 minutes after use by opening a small top window or using an extractor fan
• ventilating your bedroom by leaving a window slightly open at night (if this doesn’t reduce the security of your home), or using trickle ventilators on your windows

Allow air to circulate around clothes and other stored items to reduce the risk of mildew. Keep a small gap between large pieces of furniture and the walls. Where possible, place wardrobes and furniture against internal walls. Pull shelves away from the backs of wardrobes and cupboards. Never overfill wardrobes and cupboards, as this restricts air circulation. 

Find more information on energy support for households on GOV.UK.