Spider plants, orchids and leafy palms can all help to remove mould spores in the home. From the bathroom to the kitchen, any room that suffers with humidity, damp, mildew or mould could benefit from one of these clever houseplants.
English Ivy: A Christmastime favorite that's a year-round keeper because it filters 78 percent of airborne mold in 12 hours.
English ivy, peace lilies, palms and snake plants are all mould-busters.
Use a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup (8 ounces) household laundry bleach per 1 gallon of water to kill mold on surfaces.
Spider plants thrive in humid environments, and do a great job at absorbing both moisture and pollutants from the air.
Many species of indoor plants can actually help absorb mold and spores. Studies have shown that rooms with air-filtering houseplants can improve this air quality by 60%. It is highly recommended to keep one good sized house plant per 100 square feet to help clean polluted or dirt-filled air.
Mold hates light. Other than moisture there's nothing mold loves more than dark places. An easy prevention against mold growth is opening your blinds and shades. If it's warm enough out, open the windows.
It is also very important that there is adequate ventilation in the room. Open a window or door so the mold spores can escape, instead of staying locked in your home.
Specifically, air purifiers with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters work great at removing mold spores. HEPA filters are considered to be rated MERV 17 or above, which means that the filters can trap more than 99.7% of air particles as small as 0.3-1.0 microns in size.
NASA recommends one plant every 100 square feet - which is about 9.2 square metres. In a home of about 1800 square feet in size (roughly 167 square metres), NASA recommends 15-18 houseplants.
The most common toxic indoor plants are dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane), philodendron (Philodendron), and aloe vera (Aloe Vera). These plants contain a chemical called calcium oxalate raphides or “raphides,” which can cause mouth, throat, nose, eyes, and skin irritation in humans.
Snake Plant
'Not only is a group more effective at removing mold, but it's also more aesthetically pleasing,' she says. As well as helping to reduce mold, this low-maintenance houseplant also removes airborne toxins.
However, plants can also help remove mould from rooms by releasing phytochemicals that suppress mould spores and bacteria. In fact, rooms with plants have 40 to 60 percent fewer mould spores and bacteria. Bathrooms, kitchens and rooms that suffer with humidity, damp, mildew or mould could benefit from houseplants.
Plants are natural dehumidifiers because they absorb water from their surroundings through their leaves and release moisture back out through transpiration. This process helps regulate humidity levels and create fresh air in any space! And some plants are better than others.
"Another benefit of having plants in your bathroom is their ability to reduce the excess ambient moisture which can prevent mold and mildew issues," she explains. They can also purify the air, Mast says, which can make your bathroom even more of a haven.
For Your Houseplants
You will want to just add just a tablespoon or two of milk to a quart-size pitcher filled with water. Mix it and then pour the diluted milk into the soil once or twice a month. I've tried it and had great success with my Jade Plant, English Ivy, Parlor Palm, and Spider Plant.
Rock Salt. The most popular DIY dehumidifier is the one that works the best—rock salt. Rock salt naturally absorbs moisture out of the air, making it a great choice to use as a dehumidifier.
Yes, if you have damp and mould in your home you're more likely to have respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma. Damp and mould can also affect the immune system.
Causes and signs of condensation
Air can hold moisture - the warmer the air, the most moisture it can hold. If moist air is cooled by contact with cold surfaces, such as walls, windows or mirrors, the moisture condenses into water droplets (known as condensation). Mould often occurs because of condensation.