This is what to do if you suffer from damp and mould in your home

Here is some helpful advice from the NHS on the health implications and what you can do about.

Can damp and mould affect my health?

Damp and mould can affect your health, meaning you are more likely to have respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma.

Moulds produce allergens, irritants and, sometimes, toxic substances.

Inhaling or touching mould spores may cause an allergic reaction, such as sneezing, a runny nose, red eyes and skin rash. Moulds can also cause asthma attacks.

How do I get rid of damp and mould?

If you have damp or mould in your home the first thing to do is find the cause. Damp and mould can affect your health, so it's important to get rid of it.

What causes damp and mould?

Damp and mould are caused by excess moisture. Moisture in buildings can be caused by leaking pipes, rising damp in basements or ground floors, or rain seeping in because of damage to the roof or around window frames.

In a newly built home damp can occur if the water used when the house was built is still drying out.

Excess moisture indoors can also be caused by condensation. Condensation forms when the air indoors can't hold any more moisture. Cooking, showering, drying clothes indoors and breathing without adequate ventilation can all cause excess moisture. Droplets can form on indoor surfaces such as mirrors, windowsills and on walls, particularly when they're cold.

What can I do to reduce moisture in my home?

• Putting lids on saucepans, drying washing outside and avoiding using paraffin or bottled gas heaters• Opening the bedroom window for 15 minutes each morning• Making sure your home is well insulated• Heating your home a little more• Ventilating rooms regularly and leaving doors open to allow air to circulate, unless you're cooking or showering• If you're cooking, showering or bathing – opening the window, putting the fan on and closing the door of the room you're in

Repairs may be needed to get rid of any leaks or to improve ventilation. Once your home has been repaired, or if your home is damp because it's newly built, it may take weeks of heating and ventilating it to dry it out.

How to remove mould

Once you've identified and fixed the source of moisture in your home you can get rid of any mould. You may be able to remove mould yourself, or you may need to get a professional to remove it.

Only remove mould yourself if it's caused by condensation and covers an area less than 1 metre squared (1x1 metre or 3x3 feet). Don't try to remove the mould yourself if it's caused by sewage or other contaminated water.

Protect yourself from mould spores by wearing goggles, long rubber gloves and a mask that covers your nose and mouth. Open the windows but keep doors closed to prevent spores spreading to other areas of the house.

Have a plastic bag ready to take away any soft furnishings, clothes and soft toys that are mouldy. Soft furnishings should be shampooed and clothes professionally dry cleaned.

• Fill a bucket with water and some mild detergent, such as washing-up liquid or a soap used for hand-washing clothes• Use a rag dipped in the soapy water to carefully wipe the mould off the wall. Be careful not to brush it, as this can release mould spores• When you've finished, use a dry rag to remove the moisture from the wall• Afterwards, put the rags in a plastic bag and throw them away• All the surfaces in the room should be thoroughly cleaned by either wet wiping or vacuuming to remove any spores