Mould is an unpleasant appearance inside or on the outside of houses, on wood cladding, stone, tiles or marble. The black, green or dark blue stains are unsightly and can be dangerous for sensitive, allergy-prone people. Indoors, mould often occurs in old, damp, unventilated houses, but also in new ones where the time needed to remove moisture from the walls has not been respected, where there are double-glazed windows but not adequate ventilation, or where the insulation has not been well thought out or executed. Black areas appear in corners, behind furniture, in the bathroom or kitchen and are accompanied by a specific damp earthy smell. Sometimes only the smell appears, a certainty that somewhere, hidden from view, it exists. Outdoors, they thrive where there is high and persistent humidity: on marble and stone, on the wood of houses, fences, arbours or pergolas. Mould needs to be removed because its persistence can lead to health problems for the inhabitants of the house or destroy the materials on which it grows outside. An effective solution is Bochemit Antifouling, distributed by Deposib Expert. It can also be used to season weathered exterior wood or log houses and cabins.
What is and how to use Bochemit Antifoulants
Bochemit Antifouling is a liquid product formulated to attack and remove mold and mildew that has developed both inside and outside the home. It has antibacterial and disinfectant action, with very fast visible effect. It is recommended for the removal of various types of mould that occur in the household. It can be used to remove mould from walls and plaster, stone, marble and granite cladding, wood, tiles, glass and silicone. It also has a bleaching effect and can be used to restore the original appearance of wood and wooden elements blackened by the sun's UV rays.
It is easy to apply, undiluted and takes effect very quickly. Gloves, goggles and protective equipment are recommended. The most effective application is with a spray pump because it can reach the most hidden places. The base chemical is sodium hypochlorite, which is known to be effective against mould. It can be used without problems to remove mould from walls, ceilings and floors, around sinks and bathtubs, on the tiles of houses, on exterior wood, stone, granite or marble fittings. Avoid use on coloured textiles, metal and varnished wood as it has a discolouring and oxidative effect. In the case of varnished or oiled wood, it should be tested beforehand on a hidden area, so as not to alter any dyes that may break down under the action of hypochlorite.
The product also has a strong disinfectant effect. It can be used to combat the SARS CoV-2 coronavirus and is very good for disinfecting surfaces. In this case it is used diluted 1:9 with water (1 part disinfectant to 9 parts water). The disinfectant effect is also used to treat pallets used for transporting food. In this case the pallet is immersed in a solution of Bochemit Antifouling.
Bochemit Antifouling is manufactured by the Bochemit division of the Czech group Bochemie, a well-known producer of chemicals for the manufacture of disinfectants needed by hospitals, car batteries or textile protection. The group's Bochemit division was formed in 1968 and is dedicated to treatment and protection of wood. In Romania, Bochemit products are distributed by Deposib Expert and authorized distributors. The product is available in 0.5, 5, 15, 50 and 500 kg packs. A quantity of 5 kg can treat, used undiluted, between 30 and 60 m². The 0.5 kg pack has a spray nozzle included.
Cleaning unprotected blackened wood and log houses with anti-mould solution
Bochemit Antimildew is a popular solution for cleaning weathered wood. Wood that has been left outside without being protected with oil or varnish, or wood that has not been properly cared for after being protected, turns a dark grey colour over time. It is a cumulative effect of mould that occurs due to persistent high humidity in the wood and UV radiation affecting it, changing its colour. This is the case for fences, wood-clad houses, wooden outbuildings, gazebos or pergolas. Sometimes, after installation, the wood is left like this with the idea that it will be protected in a few months' time. It's just that during this time the colour of the wood changes.
Cleaning with Bochemit Antifouling is very effective, returning to the original colour quickly, in about 30 minutes after application. Sometimes, if the blackening is severe, 2-3 applications are needed to return the wood to its original colour. However, you should be aware that the effectiveness of the solution decreases as the time the wood has been left unprotected increases. Good results are obtained if this time is less than 2 years. After cleaning, it is recommended that the wood is left for a few days before applying any other treatment, so that the solution evaporates. Then, to prevent attack by mould, fungi and insects it can be treated with Bochemit Opti F+. For protection against humidity and UV radiation can be used Bochemit Estetik Protective Oil
Bochemit Antifouling is also effective for wood decay in log or roundwood houses, wood that is not treated in dryers before use. Such houses need time for the wood to dry and the house to settle. During this time, however, the wood changes colour. Treated with Bochemit Antimildew, the wood returns to its original colour within 30 minutes of application.
What it is and why mould occurs
The smell we get when there is mould in the house is similar to mushrooms, and that's because mould is a fungus. In fact, there are several types of fungi that can appear as green, blue or black stains on walls, furniture, floors, ceilings, wallpaper, textiles, carpets, tiles or food. There are hundreds of thousands of types of mould-causing fungi and nearly 100 can be found in our homes. The common denominator of these fungi is that they multiply by spores which spread very easily at the slightest draft and cause the characteristic smell.
The main cause of occurrence is humidity. Mould likes moisture very much and thrives where it is persistent. Moisture from seepage or leaks is important, as well as moisture from condensation and increased humidity in the air. The normal indoor air humidity is between 40 and 60%. When the humidity rises above 60%, especially between 75 and 90%, the optimum conditions are created for mould growth and development. High temperatures also contribute to the optimal conditions.
The best solution for these conditions to occur is ventilation. Air circulation is what dries, what regulates humidity. If there is no ventilation system that automatically regulates the humidity level inside, ventilation must be done all the time, even on cold winter days and especially where the air humidity may increase as a result of daily activities: kitchen, bathroom, laundry drying area. Ventilation is very important in homes where double-glazed windows have been installed because they provide a very good seal and the building no longer has air exchange with the outside. If such a room is cooked in winter without ventilation, condensation will form on the walls, especially in the corners where there is usually a break in the insulation (if the house is thermally insulated) and the wall is much colder. The most exposed areas are behind furniture, where air circulates much more slowly.
Moisture is what creates the conditions for mould to grow outside. Water that stagnates on stone, tiles or marble, moisture absorbed into wood and which, for various reasons, persists for a long period of time, results in black or greenish stains. If the mould is not removed and the favourable conditions persist, it continues to develop, penetrating deep into the substrate on which it has been fixed, and thus cracks appear in the stone or marble or can lead to rotting in the case of wood. Protected wood is much less exposed to mould, but if moisture stagnates (shaded areas in the north, cladding that does not allow air to circulate, base of the building where water is permanently present), mould can also appear on protected wood.
Preventing mould is what gets you out of trouble.
Mould removal solutions have no preventive effect, so if you don't remove the cause, it will reappear after a while. It is good to see what the cause is at the first signs because the effects on those in the home are unpleasant, especially for children, the elderly and those prone to allergies. The effects range from irritated eyes, skin blemishes, runny noses to fatigue, headaches or lung damage.
Thinking about and fitting the right insulation to the house, installing professional ventilation systems with control over air temperature and humidity when the house is well insulated, constant airing of the house, correct heating are just a few of the solutions that lead to the elimination of mould. Do not mount large furniture on outside walls, especially if they are not thermally insulated. Don't let water puddle on bathtubs, sinks, in the shower or under them. Build so that you have easy access where water might accidentally get in. Don't block air circulation, it's the most effective way to dry out damp areas.
Last but not least, work with professionals if you need to insulate your house or apartment or when replacing windows with efficient ones (2 or 3 layers of glass). If they are not done well, they can bring you more problems than you had before.
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