Stop Your Curtains Getting Damp and Mouldy
It’s time to bid farewell to summer for another year and start facing the reality that soon it’s going to be cold and damp for a while. As we enter those colder months and condensation appears on the windows, we thought it was a good time to share some tips on preventing mould and mildew growing on your curtains.
What makes mould and mildew grow?
Interestingly, it’s not directly the condensation on your windows that causes mould and mildew because most curtains don’t come into contact with it. Mould and mildew grow when there’s moisture and warmth in the home, which condensation does contribute to.
Just like everything absorbent in your home, as temperatures go up the moisture in the air evaporates and is absorbed into the fabric. As they cool, the moisture changes back from its gaseous state to being closer to its liquid form. In absorbing this moisture, they also take in any bacteria it holds. Repeated over time, this is what causes the nasty growths.
The difference between mould and mildew
Mould is a broad term that encompasses multiple identical nuclei and can grow beneath and penetrate the surface of affected material. Mildew is a type of mould that grows on the surface and can therefore be much more easily treated/removed. When its live, moulds are orangey or reddish in colour. The black patches we see are actually the hibernating mould spores waiting for the sun to warm them up and bring them back to life.
Where does all this moisture come from?
We live in a pretty humid climate in New Zealand at the best of times; in some areas it’s even greater. But it’s not all weather related. Cooking, showering, drying clothes, unflued gas heaters and simply breathing and existing all produce moisture content within our homes.
Preventing moisture build up and/or drying out your home
- Install a home ventilation system of some kind.
- Crack the windows a little during the day to allow a bit of cool air to flow through your home. North facing windows are best....
Keep reading: www.curtainclean.co.nz...
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
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32.1% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
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67.9% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
Poll: How are your manu skills?
Waikato MP Tim van de Molen could have inadvertently been gifted his new election campaign slogan after taking out the Waikato Times political manu challenge.
Guest judge Alia McQueen said the National Party MP showed loads of “style and energy” as he out-bombed his parliamentary colleagues at Saturday’s impromptu manu challenge at Wellington Street Beach in Hamilton.
How are your manu skills? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
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0% I'm pretty good
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0% Need work
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0% I've never tried
Do you recognise these people?
Police investigating a serious assault in Matangi are asking the public for help in identifying the offenders.
Two people were trying to speak to the occupants of a dark-coloured Ford Falcon on Saturday night that was doing noisy burnouts in the semi-rural area.
Anyone with information should contact 105 either over phone or online by clicking “Update Report”. Please use file number 260301/0526.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
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